10 HOUSTON PARKS FOR HIKING AND BIKING

In these crazy times, it is important to take time to clear our minds and go get some fresh air. Lucky for us Houstonians, our city ranks numero uno in the nation’s list of populous cities with total acreage of parkland! Here are some parks to enjoy. 

*Please use caution and follow CDC safety recommendations. 

Downtown

• Discovery Green Park is an 11.78-acre park in the heart of downtown Houston in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center and is filled with the most colorful gardens and different art installations. This park is great to have a picnic with the family, take a nice stroll or enjoy one of their many events throughout the year (hopefully soon)!
  Location: 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

• Tranquillity Park expands 2 city blocks in downtown Houston near City Hall and offers tranquil shady areas to get some fresh air. Fun fact: this park was named after the Sea of Tranquility where the first landing on the moon occurred during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The uneven grassy areas and the pool represents the cratered lunar surface!
  Location: 400 Rusk St, Houston, TX 77002
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

• Buffalo Bayou Park offers 4+ miles of winding paved hiking and biking trails and is a favorite among the locals due to the unforgettable views of the downtown skyline, the bayou and inspirational art installations such as the Cistern – underground art display.
  Location: 1800 Allen Pkwy &, Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77019 (Parking is available when you come from downtown on Bagby St towards Allen Parkway)
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

• Eleanor Tinsley Park is a park within the Buffalo Bayou Park and is named after Eleanor Tinsley who was a member of the Houston City Council for many years. This park is great for picnics, exercising and offers a great view of the downtown Houston skyline.
  Location: 18-3600 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019 (Parking is available when you come from downtown on Bagby St towards Allen Parkway)
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

Museum District

• Hermann Park offers about 2 miles of running and biking trails and is centered between Houston’s Museum District and the Texas Medical Center. There is also the beautiful McGovern Centennial Gardens where you will find a swirl-like path of greenery. As a kid, I would look forward to going to the Houston Zoo because it meant ending the day riding the train around the park and rolling down the hill at Miller Outdoor Theater. Now as an adult, I run at Hermann Park or join the free BON Running Club nearby on Tuesdays for a 3-mile run around the gorgeous oak tree-filled Rice University campus.
  Location: 6001 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

Memorial Area

• Memorial Park has 10+ miles for walking and biking and is near the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center making it one of the most popular parks in Houston. And can we talk about how this park turns 96 years old this year? Crazy. Before 1924, this was the site for Camp Logan, a U.S. Army training camp and was later dedicated as a memorial park in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.
  Location: 6501 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007. West of Downtown, bounded by I-10, West Loop 610, Crestwood, and Buffalo Bayou
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

Galleria Area

• Gerald D. Hines Water Park has 2.77 acres of greenery and is home to the 64-foot crescent-shaped water wall that circulates 11,000 gallons of water per minute! This Houston staple is great to take photos in the inner wall as the water cascades down (if you stand in the middle and look at the water wall, it will feel like the ground is moving upwards)!
  Location: 2800 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

West Houston

• Terry Hershey Park West Houston is one of my favorites for running as it offers 12.2 miles of Hike and Bike Trails. During college, I would take a study break and run on the Blue Jay Trail and the Cardinal Trail since they offer a gazebo, hills and wooden bridges – I love a good scenery. For biking, I suggest the Quail Trail as it is paved and expands from Eldridge Parkway to just before Beltway 8!
  Location: 15200 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079
  Dog-Friendly: Yes

• Ray Miller Park West Houston offers a 0.64 mile trail as this park is located in a residential area and has a shady gazebo and water fountains to enjoy.
  Location: 1800 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, Texas 77077
  Dog-Friendly: No

• George Bush Park West Houston has 10+ miles for hiking and biking and is located on the Barker Reservoir which lends itself to large areas to fly a kite (or in my case, attempt to fly a kite), play soccer and more!
  Location: 16756 Westheimer Pkwy, Houston, Texas 77082
  Dog-Friendly: Yes, there’s even a dog park, Millie Bush Dog Park named after President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush’s dog.

What’s your favorite Houston park to get some fresh air at? Make sure to take photos at your favorite park and tag @atastefultrip on Instagram or Facebook!

-Zoraida