Rides & Trails
Group Rides
DFW has a lot of great bicycle rides and trails, and some of the best are found in the Denton area. We’ve compiled a list of community bike rides that we participate in weekly, as well as some of our favorite Denton bicycle trails for you to visit. Looking for some folks to ride with in the community? New to the area and looking for good safe routes in and around Denton? Velo Republic has you covered. Check the links below for information on Denton rides and trails, and check the maps for starting locations for each.
Monday Denton Community Social Ride
Leaving at 6:00 pm from the North side of the Denton Old County Courthouse lawn on the square on Mondays except when above 100*F. A no drop community social ride with a 12 mile route usually around an hour in duration. It's soul existence is to build upon the our wonderful cycling community here in Denton. Led by local legend, multi-time masters National Champion, and current leader of Team Impact Racing, Christina Gokey-Smith. You couldn't ask for a better guide in to the local cycling community.
Tuesday Night Denton Women Cyclists Social Ride
Meeting at the parking lot of the Bayless-Selby House Museum, 317 W. Mulberry Street, at 6:45 PM and leaving at 7:00 PM. A helmet and lights are strongly recommended. Cancellation of the ride will be noted on the Denton Women Cyclists facebook page.
"We are dedicated to championing all women to cycling confidently in and around Denton streets in a relaxed environment. No one gets left behind(no drop) and everyone has fun. We are inclusive and welcoming of POC, LGBTQIA+."
Thursday Night East Side Social Ride
Presented by Corinth Cycling, the East Side Social Ride begins at 7:30 at East Side bar on 117 E. Oak Street off the square. Usually a 12 mile, no drop social ride that averages an hour in duration. Don't forget to get your token of completion from the ride leader upon return to exchange for a free beer of your choice from the bar. Cheers and tip your lovely bar tenders!
Saturday Morning Rides
Multiple levels of rides and a gravel loop leaving from the Wells Fargo parking lot on the square at 8:00 am most of the year and 7:00 am during the summer heat. Join the Denton County Cycling facebook group page for more information.
Connecting You to Rides & Trails
Denton Bicycle Trails
We are fortunate to have several fun off-road bicycle trails within a short distance from central Denton. Be sure to check DORBA‘s website to verify that a trail is open. (And every bike purchase at Velo Republic over $1000 comes with a 1-year DORBA membership!)
One of the Denton area’s best kept secrets. Conveniently located just off of the Denton Katy Trail in Corinth, there is a well-maintained and fun MTB trail that is about 6 miles. Experience level is beginner to intermediate.
Located near the Lake Ray Roberts Dam, Isle du Bois (or “IDB” as many area mountain bikers call it) is an intermediate to expert level trail with 9.5 to 11 miles of varied terrain including rocky technical sections, sand pits, and rock gardens. Be ready to climb!
Located on the other side of Lake Ray Roberts from Isle du Bois, this trail has a little bit of everything from beginner to intermediate trail with an additional expert section that may be easily bypassed for those who want to avoid it. The entire trail is around 9 miles.
Northshore Trail on Lake Grapevine
As the name would suggest, this trail is located on the north shore of Lake Grapevine. Northshore is probably the most popular trail in DFW and with good reason. At 22+ miles of trail, there is something for everyone here and it’s very easy to make a whole day or weekend of riding on this trail. The trail stewards here do an excellent job of maintaining and making additions to this trail. Due to its proximity to the lake, this trail has a tendency to be closed and stay closed for a while when it gets a lot of rain. So be sure to check DORBA before you head out there.
Knob Hills Trail is south of Denton, near Texas Motor Speedway but on Highway 377 (not Highway 35).
Frisco NW Community Park Trail
The Frisco NW Community Park Trail is opened in October 2012. It is being built by volunteers from Shawnee Trail Cycling, Frisco Cycling and DORBA. The City of Frisco owns the property, and all City of Frisco rules and regulations are applicable to this park.
The Denton Branch Rail Trail is constructed on the right-of-way of the former MKT Railroad, Denton Branch, between Denton and Lake Dallas. For 8 miles of its route, the new 8-foot-wide concrete trail follows along the commuter rail line, the Denton County A-Train, a 21-mile rail commuter line between Denton and Carrollton, where it connects to the DART Green light rail line into Dallas. Click here for a map of the Denton Rail Trail and a view of the many access points.
North Lakes Park Trail is adjacent to North Lakes Rec Center and sports complex. The trail features beautiful wild flowers and offers a number of activity options. You can view a map of the trail at the City Of Denton website.
Evers Park Trail is Denton’s newest bike trail, having been completed in November 2017. It’s on the north side of town and intersects North Lake Park Trail. You can view a map of the trail at the City Of Denton website.
