Texas, the Lone Star State, is known for its hot weather, great BBQ, and live music. It’s also one of the largest US states, leaving no shortage of Texas dirt bike trails to explore.
Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area is a great dirt bike destination in Texas. It has well-maintained trails with terrain suitable for beginners and experts. There’s also Sam Houston National Forest, a favorite among dirt bike riders. Enjoy its beautiful trails and scenery.
Our top 14 Dirt Bike Trails in Texas are as follows:
- Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area
- Red River Motorcycle Trails
- Sam Houston National Forest
- Gator Run Offroad Park
- Hidden Falls Adventure Park
- Rio Bravo Motocross Park
- Cycle Ranch Motocross Park & Events Center
- Village Creek Motocross Park
- Trophy Club Park
- River Valley Motocross
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Swan MX Raceway Park
- River Run ATV Park
- 3 Palms Action Sports Park
You can’t go wrong picking Texas for your next dirt bike adventure. There are many trails to experience and challenging terrain to conquer. Read on to discover what makes these off road parks in Texas great.
14 Best Dirt Bike Trails in Texas
1. Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area
Known as one of Texas’s finest dirt bike trails, this Motorcycle loop is more than 27 miles. There’s also a shorter and easier 16-mile trail for novices.
Barnwell Mountain Recreational is around 1,850 acres, mostly forested area. The trails are reasonably maintained and marked, with mostly hard-packed dirt. Most of the trails will suit amateur dirt bikers, but you’ll find novice and expert level trails to suit you. The place is big enough.
Stay for a full day or the entire weekend. Overnight accommodations are available, but you’ll have to make reservations.
Barnwell Mountain is open only to dirt bikes and other offroad vehicles, and they don’t allow hikers, bikes, or horses.
2. Red River Motorcycle Trails
Nestled in northeast Texas, Red River Motorcycle Trails are part of a 2,700-acre park for ATV and dirt bikes. It is rated amateur to expert level, where you’ll find loose sand, clay and dirt, steep climbs and descents.
You’ll have to keep to the trails, so no trailblazing is allowed. Some of the most difficult trails in the country are found here.
The place is open to camping and RVs, and they have power but no water. They have two cabins for rent. They operate on the weekends from 8 am to 8 pm, but weekdays are also possible with a reservation. It offers a very scenic area where you can hike or lounge around.
3. Sam Houston National Forest
The dirt bike trails of the Sam Houston National Forest are located on the east side of Lake Conroe. They are part of the multi-use trails that double for hiking; there are around 85 miles of trails. OHV’s must be less than 50 inches wide and display a decal. Visit the USDA website for more information on rules and contact the Ranger’s office before heading out.
The trails at the national park are hard-packed mud and sand, crisscrossed by many creeks. As public property, the park is open all year, but they occasionally close due to weather, environmental preservation, or other reasons. Call before you make plans. Camping is allowed, and there are also water sport venues.
4. Gator Run Offroad Park
The Gator Run is the largest off road park in Texas. They have a bulldozer on standby, constantly making new trails and mud pits. They are open Friday to Sunday, from 8 am to 8 pm. All offroad vehicles are welcome. For weekday visits, you’ll need to call ahead.
The park also organizes events; visit their website to make reservations. Camping and RV facilities are available.
5. Hidden Falls Adventure Park
This is a privately owned 3,000-acre Adventure park with camping facilities, RV, bunkhouses, and even a motel. This operation is very organized. Visit the Hidden Falls Park website and social media pages. Find them on Facebook and Instagram. If you’d like to see the place with your own eyes, check out their YouTube.
The trails are hard-packed soil with very little loose dirt. There are lots of trees, some rocks, and steep hills. Most of the trails are single track with few hazards that cater to the amateur dirt bikers. They have 240 miles of off-road trails.
6. Rio Bravo Motocross Park
The Rio Bravo Motocross Park has been making off-road trails since 1972. The park has a membership system. If you’re not a member, call before you go. The operating hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They also open on the odd Wednesday, from 10 am to 10 pm.
Rio Bravo is a full-service family destination with barbeques, picnic area, restrooms, swimming pools, and a deck that overlooks the tracks.
The trails are mostly loose dirt and sand with many small and high jumps. They’re suitable for amateur and expert dirt bike riders.
7. Cycle Ranch Motocross Park & Events Center
If you’re looking to get married at a motocross park, this is your destination. Cycle Ranch Motocross Park doubles as an event center for concerts, benefits, birthday parties, and weddings. It is a 200-acre park, so they have the space to do whatever they want.
The look of the place is a well-kept sanctuary, with mature oak trees. They have a huge pavilion with a cafe. The cafe serves organic options. They also have bathrooms, showers, and a pro shop. Contact them for cabins, RV, and camping reservations.
The tracks are mostly loose dirt, with many jumps, best for amateur riders. Experts and thrillseekers may find their tracks a little tame.
8. Village Creek Motocross Park
The best place for events, Village Creek, is the premier motocross playground of north Texas. They always have something going on. The event calendar at this park is always full.
Village Creek Motocross is a smaller park with manicured lawns and 6 miles of trails. They’re well kept, with plenty of jumps, and cater to amateur dirt bikers.
9. Trophy Club Park
If you’re looking for a Dallas bike trail, the Trophy Club Park is not too far. The park is a golf-centered kind of club, but they have everything from horse trails, boating, and dirt bikes. Trails for dirt bikes are around six miles. They’re open every day.
The trails at Trophy Club Park are best for novices. It’s mostly loose dirt and mud, with very little hard-packed soil.
10. River Valley Motocross
This little park of 200 acres is located in Boyd, Texas. The bike trails are all loose dirt, with more jumps that can be counted. There’s plenty of space and few riders, excellent if you enjoy having the place to yourself.
River Valley Motocross is known for its wonderful staff and great hospitality. It is perfect for a day trip if you’re looking for MX tracks close to Fort Worth.
11. Emma Long Metropolitan Park
The Emma Long Metropolitan Park is a city park in Austin. They’re open seven days of the week, from 7 am to 10 pm. It’s a convenient destination for dirt biking if you live in the city with around 9 miles of trail to explore. Camping is allowed, but you’ll have to make a reservation with park management.
The main loop trail is single-track, with double-track access trails. The soil is hard-packed, with packed-in rock and loose softball-sized rocks throughout the sections. The trails also offer numerous large rock step-ups, steep faces, and vertical climbs for advanced and expert riders. The park itself is a relaxing environment, as you’ll expect from a city park, with plenty of shade. The trails at Emma Long Metropolitan City Park range from advance to expert and are not for amateurs.
12. Swan MX Raceway Park
Swan MX Raceway Park is the Disneyland for dirt bikers in Texas. With carefully designed and maintained trails, this park charges an arm and a leg for entrance fees, but it’s worth it.
Swan MX is a haven for amateurs and vets, which you should experience at least once in your life. It is the oldest racetrack of its kind in Texas. They host the Annual Texas Pro-Am Challenge. Check their website for their event schedule.
13. River Run ATV Park
The park is 2,000 acres of private land with the Neches River running through it, hence the name: “River Run ATV Park.”
This is a full-service area with 39 cabins for rent, RVs, and camping. Don’t forget to make reservations.
They have 50 miles of marked bike trails, made mostly of mud. Go through some woods, and enjoy the scenery. River Run ATV Park is best for all skill levels, including amateurs and experts.
14. 3 Palms Action Sports Park
3 Palms is a dirt trail sports complex, right next to the highway. They offer some exciting obstacles and tracks that are well-groomed and watered. There’s also a lake in the park to cool down.
3 Palms Action Sports Park is an organized park that often holds events. They have 5 dirt bike tracks, all skill levels, and two peewee tracks for beginners. 3 Palms also has camping and RV options. They’re close enough to the highway, so you also have access to nearby hotels.
Conclusion – 14 Best Dirt Bike Trails in Texas
So, what are the 14 best dirt bike trails in Texas? To summarize, here they are once again:
- Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area
- Red River Motorcycle Trails
- Sam Houston National Forest
- Gator Run Offroad Park
- Hidden Falls Adventure Park
- Rio Bravo Motocross Park
- Cycle Ranch Motocross Park & Events Center
- Village Creek Motocross Park
- Trophy Club Park
- River Valley Motocross
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Swan MX Raceway Park
- River Run ATV Park
- 3 Palms Action Sports Park
There are so many other dirt bike trails in Texas that are truly exceptional. Dirt bike places such as Austin Motocross Park, Canadian River ATV Park, Sabine ATV Park, General Sam’s Offroad Park at Huntsville, and the TMTC Barnwell Mountain Rec are fantastic places to go dirt biking.
Whether it’s groomed human-made dirt bike tracks or rough, natural terrain, you’ll find a fantastic trail to ride in the Lone Star state.
Kris is an avid off-roader and outdoor enthusiast who loves to brave the elements and take on challenging terrain. He also enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with others so that they, too, can appreciate the ride.
About Kris