A popular DORBA mountain bike area along the Trinity River with trails that are excellent for kids transitioning from paved paths to real dirt riding. The beginner loop is short and confidence-building with smooth flow features. More advanced trails wind through dense riparian forest with drops and rock gardens for older riders who want a challenge.
Over 100 miles of paved trails following the Trinity River and its forks through Fort Worth make this one of the longest urban trail networks in the country. Kids on bikes or scooters can ride for miles along flat smooth pavement with water fountains and playgrounds at regular intervals. The stretch through Trinity Park near the zoo is especially popular with families and connects to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Twenty-five miles of trails wind through forests, prairies, and wetlands where kids can spot a real bison herd and an active prairie dog town. The quarter-mile boardwalk over the marsh is a hit with younger kids who love peering down at turtles and frogs. Inside the Hardwicke Interpretive Center, hands-on exhibits teach about local ecosystems, and the staff runs excellent family programs on weekends year-round.
One of the last patches of untouched native prairie in North Texas, right on the edge of downtown Fort Worth. In spring the wildflower displays are spectacular, with bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush carpeting the hillsides. Kids love scrambling up the hills for the panoramic skyline views from the top, and the trails are short enough that even less enthusiastic hikers can handle the full loop. A playground and picnic area near the trailhead round out the visit.