Forget spin class, get on a real bike and hit the Katy Trail

June 17, 2:07 AMDallas City Guide ExaminerVanessa Brown

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Katy Trail

It took me way too long to check out the Katy Trail. Now that I have, I can honestly say I love it. It's a great way to get some exercise and fresh air all while staring at a view of the downtown Dallas skyline. 

I'm not a hardcore biker. You won't catch me in yellow spandex. I don't dress for the Tour de France. I ride a cruiser. Point is, you don't have to take biking that seriously to enjoy this beautiful stretch of path.

The Katy Trail is a privately maintained public park that extends 3.5 miles from SMU at its north end to the American Airlines Center in the south. It features a 12-foot-wide concrete trail, along with an 8-foot-wide soft-surface running path. There are more than a dozen public entrances. I particularly like the one at Knox. To get there, take the Knox / Henderson exit off Central Expressway and head west. The entrance is just beyond Travis Street. There is free 2 hour parking nearby.

Aside from the occasional power lines, the scenery is nice. It's mainly tree lined and it reminds me of the bike trails I used to ride on in Boise.

Plus, there have been several safety features added in recent years. There are 145 lights on the trail. They glow from 5 a.m. to sunrise and turn on again at sunset. Starting July 1st, they'll shine until 11 p.m through the summer months. Just to be cautious, I'd advise taking a buddy. If not, I'd wait until daylight.

You can view a map of the Katy Trail by clicking here. 

 For more info:  katytraildallas.org  /  214.303.1180