Trinity Strand Trail
Review: The Trinity Strand Trail is a short 2.5 mile paved trail that connects parts of the Dallas Design District. It’s a good trail for people who live in the area and want to get some exercise, or a way to get from one end of the district to another, and in the future will serve as a vital connection point between other trails.
Distance: 2.5 miles currently, with plans to expand in the future to 7.8 miles.
Area of Town: Dallas Design District
Facilities: None that i saw, although the trail does run along several restaurants
Suitable for: Running, Biking, Walking
Type of Trail: Paved Trail
Shade: No shade, wear your sunscreen!
Where to Park: The trail is accessible in multiple areas, I parked here. You can also park at the Turtle Creek Plaza on Hi Line Drive. To get here, turn at Meddlesome Moth and and drive past the Virgin Hotel to find the parking.
Official Website: Official Website
Nearby Trails: Trinity Skyline Trail / Levee Trail, Katy Trail
The Trinity Strand Trail extends through the Dallas Design District, near the Trinity River. In fact, the trail lies along what is known ‘the Old Meanders, the original spot where the Trinity River flowed. The current trail runs about 2.5 miles, running between Oak Lawn and Stemmons, meandering over and ending at Farmington, close to Medical Center Drive. I tried to get information on timing for the future phases, it appears from the official site that the funding has been secured, but no timing on the expansion.
Many Design District hotspots lie near the trail, including Rodeo Goat, Mama’s Daughter’s Diner, Slow Bone BBQ, and Noble Rey Brewing. For someone who lives in the area, it provides a nice outlet for easily navigating the area, or a place to get some exercise. I saw quite a few locals out walking their dogs or going for a bike / run.
I drove to the trail and parked about midway through the trail, off Manufacturing Drive. I then went to the right initially. There was no shade on the trail, so keep that in mind if you venture out. The trail hugs the Greenbelt, where Turtle Creek now flows. The grass was freshly mowed, but there was quite a bit of trash in and around the water, an unfortunately common occurrence here in the Metroplex. The trail goes behind many businesses, many of which have murals on their walls providing some visual interest.
When the trail ended at Turtle Creek Blvd I turned back, passing where i started, and continued to the left. This was more of the same, paved trail along the creek bed, alongside the industrial buildings. The trail did go underneath the Sylvan Bridge, where a homeless camp lay above the trail, and then circling up along a bridge that continues the trail towards its other apex. For those who want to visit the Trinity Skyline Trail while in the area, you can take the Sylvan Bridge, which has a dedicated pedestrian / bike lane, and go up the hill, and then take the right exit which will take you down to Trammel Crow Park, which is on the Trinity Skyline Trail.
Do I think this is a necessary trail worth visiting? No. If you live in the area or are there for the day, it’s a great local asset to get around or get some exercise. If you don’t live nearby, I don’t believe it’s worth visiting the Trinity Strand Trail. To be honest, the true benefit of this trail is as a connection between other trails. The HI Line connector trail is finally getting started (Link) which will connect the Katy Trail to the Trinity Strand Trail. There are also plans to connect the Trinity Strand Trail to the Trinity Skyline Trail in a better way. Once the expansion to the Strand Trail occurs, the Trinity Strand Trail should extend into the Medical District as well. These connections amongst others will finally bring the disparate trails in Dallas together, as well as provide access to the trails connecting Dallas and Fort Worth. One day the vision of biking from one end of the Metroplex to the other will be a reality!
