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Print Friendly MapDeKalb Trace offers a rustic route through northeastern Texas, not far from the state’s border with Arkansas. The nearly 28 mile rail-trail stretches from Annona, east through Avery and DeKalb, and on to New Boston. Along the way, it passes through beautiful woodlands and rural landscapes. (Note that the final 12 miles between DeKalb and New Boston is an unimproved surface trail).
The route forms the eastern leg of the larger Northeast Texas Trail, which, when complete, will be the state’s longest trail at more than 130 miles. Other segments of the system include: Reno Rail-Trail, Trail de Paris, and Chaparral Rail Trail.
On the trail’s eastern end in New Boston, parking is available at T & P Trailhead Park (Highway 82 and Ellis Street).
Centrally situated along the trail, parking is available at DeKalb Industrial Park (West Grizzly Drive near Highway 259).
How did this get called a bike trail? It's just worn grass going thru DeKalb and once you actually find a path, it's high weeds and not maintained. Worst bike trail I have ever tried to ride. Lucky it's next to a road so you can at least get back and go home.
I had high hopes when the Hwy was widened as it included some funding to upgrade the old railroad track bed into a bike trail. I was incredibly disappointed. I don't know if the highway construction ran out of money or it was poorly designed but it fell way short of expectations. The surface itself was ok. Perfect for off-road, gravel grinding but the main disappointment was the destruction of the trees that separated the highway from the trail. It lost any real semblance of a trail and I can not recommend it. The good news is It looks like the trail west of Avery heading towards Clarksville is nearing completion and it has the appearance of being much better, although I haven't ridden on it. I have driven by it several times.
We ride our 4 wheeler on this trail, not really appropriate for a bike with all the mud and shrubbery growing up on the trail from DeKalb Texas to avery Texas...i like it for 4 wheeling 😉
The trail through DeKalb isn't very pleasant but just west of the local sawmill at CR3215 the trail turns into a nice rustic path. It's not gravel and I've only mountain/trail biked down it. And only 4 miles. But I've totally enjoyed it. I go down 2-3 times a week.
Have to agree with the other reviews. There is no 28 mile trail. We attempted to ride from New Boston to DeKalb, started out great with about 2 or 3 miles of nice paved rails to trail, then nothing. After that, we attempted to ride what could be considered a barely used farm road, but it was too difficult and ended up riding on the shoulder of the adjacent busy highway. Please change the length of the trail to approximately three miles, that would be more accurate.
After reading the reviews thru 1/21/17, how in the world did this trail get a four star average rating? I think a one-fourth or one-fifth would have been more accurate than a four. And I planned to come all the way from Wisconsin in February to ride it. I will find other trails, somewhere.
They were clearing the paved trail and it was looking pretty good from New Boston heading west for about three miles. Had a good ride then ran out of trail and couldn't find any trail signs. Rode down the road next to hwy 82 and followed a muddy dirt rd. for a half mile but no signs, so turned around and went back. If they are going to have a trail they should have it well marked.
I live along the trail. The beauty of the trail was destroyed by the road construction crew. It was a beautiful trail both for walking, riding horses and even bikes but all that is no more. Hopefully, TX DOT will repair the damage done and make it what it was.
Rode from New Boston. After .75 mi of paved trail, I ran into 12-18 inch grass. There is no gravel. There is a barely discernible track that might be useful MTB single track should the grass be cut. Typical Texas tall story.
East of DeKalb road construction has the trail torn up. Just West of DeKalb it is mostly grass! Very poor to consider this a bike trail! Drove miles out of our way and did not even unload the bikes.
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