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Print Friendly MapThe SoPac Trail is a part of the City of Dallas trails system. This trail, located in East Dallas, runs for 5.7 miles along an unused Southern Pacific (SoPac) railbed owned by DART. While the tracks and ties of the old railroad are long gone, the corridor's gentle grade and ample tree cover are precisely what make this a great place to walk and bike.
The trail's north endpoint is located on Greenville Avenue. From there, the trail very briefly heads north and steadily goes uphill before curving 180 degrees to head south and then over a bridge, which crosses above Greenville Avenue. As you cross the bridge, you can look down and see where you started.
The route continues south to Winstead Drive, running along the edge of Harry Moss Park and then through industrial, commercial and residential areas. In most cases, the trail either crosses intersecting streets via bridges or underpasses, which allows for riders to cross safely while maintaining their momentum.
The best part of this trail is its connections to other trails, which means that each trip on the SoPac Trail has the potential to become a sort of choose-your-own-adventure. It intersects with the 1.4 mile Flag Pole Hill Trail which runs east to Flag Pole Hill Park; the Ridgewood Trail, which heads west and provides access to the Katy Trail; the 9-mile White Rock Lake Trail loop. The SoPac trail ends with a connection to the Santa Fe Trail, a 4.7 mile rail-trail. And more trail links are planned: in the future, the SoPac Trail will connect with the Cottonwood Creek and White Rock Creek trails.
Parking options for the SoPac Trail include Ridgewood-Belcher Recreational Center (6818 Fisher Rd, Dallas); from there take the Ridgewood Trail east to the SoPac. Trail users can also find park in White Lake Park (4311 W Lawther Dr, Dallas) and use the White Lake loop trail to get to the SoPac. Visit the TrailLink map for all options and detailed directions.
I love this trail to take a break from the sun at Whiterock Lake. It connects near winstead and the dam. It provides lots of shade and bridges.
One of the better mostly flat trail that cuts thru the middle of north dallas and connects to Flag Pole, Ridgewood, White Rock and Sante Fe Trails. Usually see patrol riding and walking around. Could use a cleaning at times due to debris from the trees mud etc. also wish walkers/joggers would stop hogging the trail and stay to the right so cyclists could have room to pass as well as inconsiderate dog owners with their dogs on long leashes realize its a mixed use trail and to stop letting their dogs crap on the trail and not cleanup afterwards.
I love it on the trail
Thanks City of Dallas and all those on the SoPac Trail neighborhood planning teams. The SoPac Trail is getting more active by the day and will really come to life this spring (2020) when the sod greens up and with the planting of a Butterfly Garden, just past the Mockingbird overpass. Surface is clean, flat and perfect for runners, walkers and cyclists. Neighbors have also been planting trees, agave, wildflowers and keeping the trail tidy. A creative plan to paint over graffiti is also in the works. More info at Friends of the SoPac Trail on Facebook.
This is a trail that currently connects the Ridgewood trail( located to the south west) to the Flag Pole Hill trail( located to the north east). This section of the SoPac trail is concrete paved and is as straight as an arrow. It is well shaded with trees on either side. It continues onwards north but I turned off it at State route 12/E Northwest Hway to join the Flag Pole Hill trail. Where the Ridgewood trail currently joins onto the SoPac trail there is an unpaved section that heads south under the Dart line - this will be paved eventually to continue South to White Rock lake. Will be great to see it completed.
After running White Rock Lake Trail along the West Lawther side, one night, I reached the parking lot at Garland Rd near the spillover. The night was pitch dark and I could see this trail leading into a tree line. So being in an adventurous mood I decided to take it. Maybe because I had already ran about 6 miles and had never been down this trail, it seemed to go on forever. I had no idea where I was because on both sides are thick tree lines. At one point I crossed over a bridge. For some reason all I could keep thinking about was the ghost of White Rock, who is said to haunt this particular corner of the lake. I could see coyotes crossing the trail about 30 yards ahead of me and could hear them in the trees. Eventually I ended up connecting with the White Rock Lake Trail and was able to make it back to my car at West Lawther and Mockingbird.
-No views (just trees)
-Pretty flat
-Paved surface
-I never new this stretch of trail had a name until tonight.
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