[Redrider3141]

I'll be visiting family around Christmas up, north of Lewisville Lake in Dallas. Exploring Trailforks I see a couple of trail systems within a short drive of where I am staying. It will probably end up being a father/ daughter ride with my kid on a 24" wheel bike. She likes rollers and banks and can walk anything too technical. Any recommendations? Anything I missed?

1) Erwin Park, Front Runner based on googling
2) Hartlee Field, hard to tell but looks pretty boring from google earth
3) Ray Roberts, a little far, but looks like lots of variety.

 

[xjbaylor]

Erwin Park is my home trail, and would be great for you and your daughter. Nothing too challenging, and anything that a beginner might not feel comfortable with has an obvious bypass. They have recently added a few jump lines, so that could be fun as well.

All of that said, just know that our clay soil doesn't hold up well to rain. In the winter it can take 2+ weeks to dry out after a big rain, so if there is rain in the forecast you might as well not travel with your bike. Check out DORBA on Facebook if you need current trail conditions.

 

[zvonler]

The Northshore trail on Lake Grapevine is mostly flowy with some walkable technical bits. Lots of choices where to start on it, Rockledge Park is at one end.

 

[Jayem]

The Northshore trail is decently flowy and easy for the Eastern half, with a few little roots and things here and there that she still might want to walk, the Western side gets significantly technical for spots with some real steep climbs and some steep descents. If you were on the south side, I'd highly recommend River Legacy Park for your criteria, I haven't ridden those other North trails.

 

[fredcook]

You mentioned your daughter likes rollers and banks. There isn't anything that I would call roller or bank in North Texas. At least not as I would define it based on riding traditional bike parks.

One exception that kinda sorta has rollers, is Gateway. But it's not super close in FT. Worth. Might be worth the trip. It's a fun trail for younger/beginner riders, as well as those wanting to zoom and jump a little. Smooth and flowy, with manmade and natural humps, jumps, walls, banks, etc. Even some skinny and a seesaw. Nothing you can't ride around or roll over if you need to. Just don't expect bike park kinda stuff. I would, however, skip the east end loop. It can be steep, rocky, but does have some cool stuff too.

For a quickie, the short ride at Corinth Community Park can be fun. It's right there north of Lewisville and surprisingly remote feeling considering where it is. No banks or "rollers", but some dips and mild obstacles.

You mentioned Ray Roberts. Isle Du Bois can be pretty rocky. I would say its the Northshore west end times a factor of something. Johnson unit is the milder of the two trails at Ray Roberts. I would, however, skip the last loop at Johnson for the younger rider. It has a lot of rocky climbing, and again, more challenging than Northshore west. Both of these Ray Roberts parks are great riding, and are stacked loops, so you can make them a shorter or longer ride. And both of these parks have some concrete paths should you want to skip trail riding (too wet, etc.). Plus, there's the lake, hiking, picnicking, fishing, etc. More other stuff top do. Makes for a nice there.