Hi! I’m Keela McGraw, Arlington Texas Today co-founder and REALTOR® with CearnalCo, REALTORS. Thinking about selling your home? I’d love to help you. Click here to request a free home value report.City life can downright exciting.
Yet with the high-speed hustle urban living demands, sometimes the desire for the serenity and solitude of nature can have you jumping out of your skin for a few moments off the beaten path.
While stressful mid-week afternoons, weekends booked until next year and tight budgets may make that wilderness escape feel impossible, don’t give up yet.
Reality is, you don’t even have to leave Arlington to find some unforgettable outdoor gems the might just allow for that mental breather for which you’ve been longing or provide the ideal environment for hours of tech-free family fun.
With the six diverse locations of natural bliss listed below, you’re sure to find a few outdoor activities in Arlington that cater to your interests.
Outdoor Activities in Arlington
1. River Legacy
Hikers, bikers, and paddlers rejoice! In addition to a beautiful landscape, with the city entirely out of sight, River Legacy Parks offers patrons 7.8 miles of hiking and bike trails for a range of skill levels, a 10-mile, singletrack mountain bike trail (built and now maintained by the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association), and paddling trails for kayakers and canoers.
Deemed a “1,300-acre urban oasis” by the city of Arlington, the park’s tranquility and overlooks provide great spaces for meditation, and its eclectic play spaces, including a dinosaur playground, allow kids to embrace their imaginations.
For the animal lover, River Legacy is the place to see some of your favorite creatures in their natural habitats. Frequently spotted wildlife include bobcats, turtles, butterflies, and more than 225 species of birds, including the bald eagle.
Working in conjunction with and next door to the park, River Legacy Living Science Center plays an essential role in wildlife, ecological and the environmental and conservation efforts and education throughout the Arlington community.
2. Lake Arlington
Whether you’re up for testing your athletic prowess with a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard, feeding the ducks, baiting your hook or simply enjoying a relaxing day on the boat and taking in a gorgeous sunset, Lake Arlington has it all.
One of two entries to Arlington’s paddling trails and the first paddling trails in Dallas-Fort Worth, Lake Arlington connects the lake and the Metroplex’s famous Trinity River. Paddling trails are open daily, from dawn to dusk.
Home to the annual Lake Arlington Bass Classic, which boasts more than $25,000 in potential prizes, and the Kayak Bass Classic, the lake is prime for sport fishing all year.
For information on minor boat ramp and paddling fees, visit Arlington Parks and Recreation’s website.
3. Veterans Park
Veterans Park hosts the only 18-hole disc golf course in Arlington, one of two city-sponsored equestrian trails, 1.5 miles of hiking and biking trails, practice fields, a performing arts stage, playgrounds for the kids, picnic shelters, free Saturday morning composting classes, wildscape and xeriscape gardens.
While the park now caters to a plethora of outdoor interest, it is first and foremost a tribute to local residents who have made the ultimate sacrifice through their service in the United States military. With high-flying flags and a beautiful memorial honoring our late veterans, Veterans Park is an ideal location to reflect on the cost of our freedom or one’s own military service or remember fallen friends and family members. It’s also an ideal location for a history lesson with little ones.
4. Crystal Canyon Natural Area
Experts believe Crystal Canyon Natural Area was once a marine environment as a result of the discovery of marine shales, siltstones, mudstone containing inner beds of calcareous fossil clams, gypsum layers and fine grain sandstone within the park’s grounds. The 40-acre eco-preserve has educational signs posted frequently on the trail to help visitors identify different plant and animals. A trailhead complete with fossil-and-crystal-finding opportunities and information also makes this park unique.
5. Southwest Nature Preserve
Located in Southwest Arlington, Southwest Nature Preserve is the epitome of a true nature lover’s sanctuary. Undisturbed by man-made influence, the preserve’s land is a picturesque 58 acres with dramatic views, a Cross Timbers ecosystem, diverse wildlife and three ponds for catch-and-release fishing.
6. Viridian Park System
As an Audubon International’s “Gold Signature Sanctuary” certified neighborhood, Viridian has committed to keeping 50 percent of its property as wetlands, lakes and open space. The community has built a number of small parks, each with a specific purpose in mind, and Lake Viridian is home to generous amounts of wildlife, including foxes, bobcats, ducks, pelicans, blue herrings and more. Lake Viridian also hosts a sailing center open to both residents and the public with state-of-the-art sailboats, classes, and camps.