The Trinity River. The words probably don’t inspire, right? If you’re like most Dallasites you instantly think of that dirty waterway that runs under I-35 south of downtown. Well there’s a lot more to it than that.
I recently paid my first visit to the extensive trails located between the levees. And it leads me to say the following sentence that I heretofore would have considered nonsense: The Trinity River area is beautiful. I’m not talking Rocky Mountains or Grand Canyon beautiful, but it’s beautiful in its own way. It offers spectacular views of downtown and the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge. The grasslands that line the Trinity sway softly in the breeze. Wildlife abounds. Imagine that. Birds and frogs and bugs and fish all right there within view of the Big D.
Did you know that you can ride a trail all the way from near Trinity Groves into Irving? Through the region’s extensive network of bike paths, one can ride all the way from Oak Cliff to White Rock Lake and beyond. Old rail lines have been reclaimed for hiking and biking.
Just as I was blown away upon discovering all the mountain bike trails in the region, the extended wet spell has forced me to take my mountain bike out onto pavement, asphalt and gravel to get some exercise and see the sights.
Did you know there’s a rapids area on the Trinity, designed to challenge kayakers? I had read about it, but now I’ve seen it. There’s a very cool old Santa Fe trestle covered in vines that looks like something from a creepy horror movie, yet is fascinating and beautiful in its glimpse into a forgotten era.
Did you know there are giant stone cattle sculptures in the Trinity River bottoms? Well, let me confirm there are. And they have names. One is Lucy. Another Margaret. I have no idea why they are there or who put them there, but they look like real cows chomping on the grass from afar.
There are boardwalks and bridges, park benches and observation decks scattered throughout the levees. And there is a ton of oversized construction equipment and materials to marvel at where all that bridge work is being done along I-35 and I-30.
You can ride your bike or just take a stroll and in minutes you’re in a whole new world, just a few hundred yards from where you have probably sped by hundreds of times in your car, never slowing down to notice what’s right there waiting to be discovered.
That’s what I’m thinking.
Rick Hadley
24/7 News