Cycling in Texas: Big Rides, Big Landscapes, and Endless Adventure

Texas beckons adventurous cyclists with its huge, ever-changing terrain-think wildflower-dotted Hill Country, pine forests, urban greenbelts, arid mountains, and dramatic coastlines. For anyone pedaling across the Lone Star State, one thing stands out: while challenges exist, Texas’s cycling scene is vibrant, growing, and full of unique destinations worth the ride.

Among the state’s prime cycling locations, the Hill Country emerges as a standout, with routes winding through rolling limestone hills, fields of bluebonnets in spring, and quiet farm-to-market roads around towns like Fredericksburg and Dripping Springs. For epic climbing and scenery, head west to the Big Bend region, especially Big Bend Ranch State Park-home to the Fresno-Sauceda Loop, which the International Mountain Biking Association rated as “epic” for its challenging singletrack, remote setting, and unforgettable vistas. Fort Davis’s Scenic Loop offers one of the toughest road climbs in Texas, cresting above 6,000 feet and rewarding cyclists with panoramic mountain views and a detour to the McDonald Observatory.

Urban riders will find excellent cycling escapes on the Northeast Texas Trail-a 130-mile rail-trail linking the Dallas area to Texarkana, with a mix of paved, crushed stone, and gravel surfaces. In San Antonio, the River Walk Hike & Bike Path weaves alongside the city’s famous river, out to the historic missions and parks on a 30-mile stretch. Long greenbelts like the Salado Creek Greenway or Trinity Trails in Fort Worth offer well-maintained, shaded routes through city parklands. Houston boasts Buffalo Bayou and Terry Hershey Park trails, which thread through riverine parklands, while Austin features the Barton Creek Greenbelt and Southern Walnut Creek Trail, favorites for both mountain and road cyclists.

When it comes to everyday cycling and infrastructure, the friendliness of Texas’s major cities varies widely. Austin is far and away the state’s most celebrated bike city, regularly earning accolades for its culture, trail networks, and downtown bike lanes, though even here, advocates push for better safety and connectivity. El Paso and College Station frequently score well for infrastructure and commuter safety, while Houston and San Antonio continue expanding their networks, albeit from a lower baseline. Fort Worth, Dallas, and their suburbs offer growing but fragmented networks-good in patches but inconsistent across the metroplex.

Outside the big cities, cyclists will discover dozens of state parks with mountain-biking loops, gravel routes along ranch roads, and small-town rides that tap into Texas’s signature blend of rugged landscape and Southern charm. Despite logistical challenges, heat, and a car-centric culture, Texas’s cycling scene is energized and expanding-luring riders with big skies, bold rides, and a spirit of exploration that’s pure Texas.