Nature Spots You Can Access From Inner-Dallas Neighborhoods
While some may think of Dallas as a concrete city with nowhere to hike, bike, or enjoy nature, this is far from the truth. In fact, visitors and residents don’t even have to go outside the city limits to find greenspaces. Whether you’re looking for a forested area, a lake, a creek, or a river, there are plenty of neighborhoods that make exploring nature easy.
Oak Cliff Nature Preserve
Oak Cliff Nature Preserve is a hidden nature gem in the middle of Oak Cliff. This 121-acre preserve is home to fields of wildflowers, creeks, and forests, plus eight miles of mountain biking and hiking trails.
Westwood Park, Elmwood, and the southern part of Oak Cliff are some of the closest neighborhoods to Oak Cliff Nature Preserve. With Kiest Park to the east of the preserve and Pecan Grove Park and Briar Gate Park to the southwest, Oak Cliff, Westwood Park, and Elmwood residents have plenty of outdoorsy areas to enjoy, whether walking, biking, or riding a scooter.
White Rock Lake
White Rock Lake covers 1,015 acres of Northeast Dallas. With 9.33 miles of hiking and biking trails, a dog park, and kayaking and boating opportunities, it’s the most heavily used nature area in the city.
Dallas neighborhoods surrounding the lake are prime property for homeowners with active lifestyles. Bordering the lake entirely on its eastern side, Lakewood is an upscale area with homes priced into the millions. To the south of Lakewood is Lakewood Hills, which is still close enough to reach the lake on foot or by bike.
Forest Hills, Little Forest Hills, and Casa Linda border the lake on the southwestern side, while The Peninsula and Old Lake Highlands border it on the northeast side. These areas all have comparable price points to Lakewood. The closer to the lake, the higher the price point.
For those looking for something slightly more affordable, consider the neighborhoods on the outer edges, such as Eastwood which has a median home price of $303,500.
Trinity River Corridor
The Trinity River is 710 miles long, and it just so happens to run through Dallas. Within Dallas proper, the Trinity River is known as the Trinity River Corridor and consists of 20 miles and 10,000 acres of river, wetlands, and natural environments. There are multiple ongoing projects to hone these areas and make them user-friendly with trails, paths, and navigable waterways.
The Trinity River Corridor runs through West Dallas, and it’s these Dallas residents (especially those who live south of Irving Boulevard and north of Singleton Boulevard) who have less than a 20-minute walk to the Trinity River. Trinity Groves falls within the West Dallas zone, and it’s probably the best jumping off point to the Trinity River Corridor, as many trailheads begin here. It also offers direct access to the Margaret Hill Hunt Bridge which connects to Downtown Dallas.
The river meanders south along the edge of Kessler, Oak Cliff, and Bishop Arts in a small stretch between I-35 and I-30. Those who live near Kessler Parkway Park or Lake Cliff Park are a short distance from the river.
From there, the Trinity River heads further south near the neighborhoods of Cadillac Heights, Bonton, and Joppa in South Dallas—historic neighborhoods that were settled by freed slaves. Currently, the Trinity River hasn’t been as built up in this section of Dallas, so residents won’t find a lot of trails. However, as the years go on and the Trinity River Corridor Project continues, there’s no doubt that these areas will be of interest to homeowners in the future.
Harry S. Moss Park and the White Rock Creek Green Belt
Harry S. Moss Park offers 5.46 miles of biking and hiking paths in a wooded area in northeast Dallas. It’s connected to the White Rock Creek Greenbelt, a nature area comprised of one park after another that reaches between Harry S. Moss Park and White Rock Lake.
On the west side of the White Rock Creek Greenbelt and Harry S. Moss Park is the neighborhood Vickery Meadow. Those living in the north section of Northeast Dallas and residents on the west side of Lake Highlands also have easy access to the White Rock Creek Green Belt and Harry S. Moss Park.