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Print Friendly MapThe Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail stretches 6 miles from Lion's Park to Getzendaner Park in Waxahachie. For most of its length, the trail runs along or very near Waxahachie Creek. The trail passes Waxahachie Rodeo Arena and Fairgrounds, Rogers Street Bridge south of downtown Waxahachie, and the Old City Cemetery.
A small section of this trail (0.2 miles) is constructed on an abandoned railroad grade. The eastern half of the trail parallels Waxahachie Creek, an abandoned Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) rail line, and an active Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) rail line.
Access points for the trail with parking available are at Lion's Park, Rodeo and Fairgrounds, Rogers Street, and Getzendaner Park.
Started at Lions Club on a Sunday, no traffic, easy to park! Lots of activity on trail, not for speed biking but still enough room for everyone. I agree with other review about trail markings. I wish all did a better job. The construction was still happening but we had a trail clearly marked to navigate through it. When you get to the cemetery keep going, the trail picks up on the other side. When you're coming from the big city park and you come to the basketball court and parking lot, turn, go over the bridge. New parking lot and pretty sidewalk art trail takes you across the street. Adventurous, a little curvy and lots of beauty!
So far this place has some of the best trails for OneWheels. Always a great time!
Fist time there cycling. I entered at the Getzendaner Park side & the trail was only 1 1/2 mile long. I got to the 77 bridge which is under construction & I didn’t know what to do at that point which was very disappointing because from the reviews I thought it was a 6 mile trail. I will say if I was walking it was a very nice shaded trail. Tons of people out walking.
Our family really enjoys this trail on and off the path. It is serene, smells good and fun.
Initially just planned on riding the paved trail. I did not realize there was an off-road section. What a great surprise! The trail had a few surprises that I was not able to navigate and had to walk. Maybe when I get more experience I won't have to walk. Even though, the trail is safe and I had a great time.
The only down side is that the paved trail is blocked where it goes under Hwy 77 due to construction, so the path is not contiguous 6 miles.
Still a great ride and very nice place.
offroading, creek, cemetary, park, downtown. a little of everything!!
I'm a novice biker and I really enjoyed this trail. Very well maintained.
Wow. I moved here from out of state, and I feel SO frustrated with the lack of info on parking, maps of the trail, amenities, and trail conditions in Texas available on the 'net or at the parks. I am used to posted signage which gives you a visual of the trail and periodic "you are here" information along the path. This trail is no exception. Google Maps couldn't even get me there without several searches the closer I got to the trail, and there is NO signage anywhere in Waxahachie to help visitors find the trail. It's as if they're saying (and it's the same with every other Texan trail I've visited so far) "if you're not from here, don't come". Ignore Google Maps directions which take you onto I35E South and to a small parking area at the Waxahachie Depot at mile 1 3/4 .
That said, the best way to access this trail is to Google Getzendaner Memorial Park and begin your ride there. The park has plenty of parking, and there is easy access to water and bathroom facilities. The trail basically starts/ends here for cycling, although you can hike further using dirt hiking paths, and there are also "Health Stations" sited along the first mile or so where walkers can stop and do some fitness activities. At the Wags-A-Hachie Dog Park (about the 2 1/2 mile mark), there's a garden with info about native plants and benches for resting.
Also note there is a dirt "Mountain Bike" only trail (no walkers) which basically parallels the paved path, but forays into the surrounding countryside on occasion before meeting the main path again, and is very well marked. The paved trail has very good granite markers every 1/4 mile so you know how far you've come and how far until the end of the trail by checking out both sides. The trail is 7-3/4 miles according to the marker at Getzendaner Park.
Be prepared that this path winds back and forth, and you can't make any real speed. The scenery is lovely, and the path is mostly shaded with lots of benches situated along the trail. There is water available at the park, and at the Wags-A-Hachie Dog Park (about 2 1/2 miles) and again at the 5 mile mark, where I suddenly lost the trail at an (Unknown named) park. I rode around the park but never found where the path continues for the last 2 1/2 miles, so I turned around.
Also be prepared for horses (!) named LeBron and Shaq who appear out of nowhere, walkers with MP3 players blasting so they don't hear you ask for passing, and a lot of moms pushing strollers. With the path winding the way it does, I had a few close calls with people taking up the whole width of the path, and was almost kicked by LeBron. There was one other cyclist on the Saturday that I went.
In summary, this is a lovely park to walk, but I wouldn't drive there again to cycle. Except for a Subway on BUS287, I did not see any other places to eat, and unlike small towns back east, no signage to direct you back to the main highways. I literally used up my phone battery just finding the trail and getting back to the main roads because my phone kept losing service. It would be nice for a map of the park to be posted at the beginning so you know where different facilities are, and signage at the mystery park at the 5 mile marker to direct visitors to where the path continues.
We have been walking this trail for a couple of years now. It is clean and well maintained. There are some who ride bikes but the trail is nice and wide so there's lots of room and lots of stuff to see. If you feel like walking on the original trail...without the concrete, it's still there as well and walks a little closer to the creek. Your dog is welcomed (on a leash) as there is a dog park along the way. We have taken the trail from both ends, peaceful and lovely all the way. We enjoy the very nice butterfly gardens. Beautiful trail, nice people and one of our favorite places to take a long walk. :-)
It's very fast yet enjoyable ride. I rode the trail for the first time on 9/06/2014, and I had a great time doing. The entire trail is paved. The elevation is easy on the knees, so if you have a weak knee(s), this trail ables you to finish it without much strain on your knees. I will be riding this trail again with my family. I drove in from Desoto, TX to ride this trail. Time we'll spent.
The surface is smooth and paved. Most of the way is shaded by trees and in the spring/summer the trail smells like honeysuckle. At one point you ride by an appliance junkyard, which is not attractive, but also not a big deal.
I was a little confused about which way to go the first time I rode the trail. At one point it is not clearly marked, but luckily there were some other bikers nearby so I asked. When you come to the set of water fountains by the bridge, you should turn right and go over the bridge and then you have to cross the street to continue the trail. Visibility is good there so no worries about being run over. Visibility is not so great when you come to the other crossing by the rodeo grounds. Definitely slow down there as you go eastbound.
"My wife and I stopped by this trail on Saturday, 11/12/05, and were impressed with the surface. An all concrete trail that is level and uncrowded, we had a leisurely ride to the end and back. Nice scenery along the way. Good parking at mile marker 1."
"This is a very nice trail. I walked it as part of an American Volkssport Association (www.AVA.org) walk. I encounterd only three people other people on the trail, one being a city worker. The bridge was under repair, so it was not accessible.
If you're in the area you should try to make it to this trail."
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