Lake Texoma hiking, biking, ATV, and equestrian trails are ready to explore and take you on a Lake Texoma backpacking trip, ATV, or an equestrian adventure.

The best known and most popular Lake Texoma hiking trails are located in Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Juniper Point Public Use Area West, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Eisenhower State Park, operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Even more Lake Texoma trails are located around the lake with various landscapes and viewpoints along the shorelines and in the wooded areas with sweeping views and abundant wildlife.

Eisenhower State Park Trails

Eisenhower State Park at 50 Park Road 20, Denison, Texas,  75020, just a few miles northwest of Denison, offers super cool hiking trails, bicycling trails, and  ATV trails. You can download its trail map or visit its interactive trail map website.

For hiking and backpacking, Ike’s Hike and Bike Trail is about eight miles in total throughout Eisenhower State Park with 14 access trailheads that take you along the Lake Texoma shoreline around to four points of interest, Buttonbush Scenic Point, Five Star Red Oak, a red oak woodland area, Ammonite Crossing with fossil beds, and the vista at Lover’s Leap.

OHV Trails at Eisenhower State Park

The Main OHV Trail Access road takes riders to the various trails in the OHV park. The park requires an OHV permit to use these trails. These trails run through backcountry woodland areas with wildlife viewing opportunities.

The Blackland Ramble OHV Trail for experienced ATV riders is a 0.6-mile loop,  and the Pee Wee Practice Area for less experienced riders is a 0.5-mile trail with interlocking loops.

The Timber Rattler Trail is a 0.7-mile ATV loop with a few offshoots. The Big Woods Canyon OHV trail is a 0.7-mile trail with two loops. The Ironweed OHV Trail System is a 3.3-mile trail for skilled riders.

Cross Timbers Trail

The famous Cross Timbers Trail is one of the most unique trails in North Central Texas. Hikers, campers, and mountain bikers use this trail. The Cross Timbers Trail is a little over 14 miles long, with campsites along the way. Hikers and bikers need to plan their trip, whether it is for a day trip or the entire two-day trip.

The Cross Timbers Trail has several trailheads, three primitive campsites, strenuous hiking and biking stretches, and plenty of wildlife viewing, and there is no water available. You must pack in everything you need and leave nothing but footprints.

This trail begins at Juniper Point West, runs through Cedar Bayou Marina with a store and kayak rentals, Paw Paw Creek Resort to Paw Paw Point, and ends at Rock Creek Camp on Rock Creek Road. You can begin at the trailhead at Juniper Point, park for free, or at the trailhead at Cedar Bayou Marina for a $5 parking fee. If you hike the whole trail, it is best to arrange a ride back to your vehicle from Rock Creek Camp.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Trails

Hagerman HNWR offers five hiking trails. HNWR is open from sunrise to sunset and is day use only. Haller's Haven Trail is a 2.7-mile, partial loop for beginning skill levels with two ponds and a view of the refuge from the top of a hill. The Raasch Trail is an easy 3-mile hike through a range of wildlife habitats and birdwatching points.

The Harris Creek Trail is ADA accessible, with a 1.25 and a 2.25 mile loop for easy hiking with several ponds and a photo blind. This trail can get crowded during peak season. The Crow Hill Trail is a 0.75-mile loop for moderate skill levels with shade. The Meadow Pond Trail is 5.7 miles long and is mostly paved with gravel that takes you to Deaver Pond and ends at Meadow Pond. American lotus flowers bloom in July. 

Big Mineral Camp Horseback & Hiking Trails

This trail is located near Sadler, Texas, on the southwestern shores of Lake Texoma on the Big Mineral arm. It offers two horseback riding and hiking trails that are 15 miles long in total along the shoreline and wooded areas of Lake Texoma. This camp is primitive, with tables only, has no water, and you must pack in everything for your ride or hike and carry out your refuse. There are no corrals for horses.

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

The Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge at 12000 South Refuge Road, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, has three trails. The Craven Nature Trail is partly paved with an asphalt surface that is wheelchair accessible and has a boardwalk along Dick’s Pond. It is about a mile long.

The Oklahoma Legacy Arboretum Trail is a short trail that winds through butterfly and hummingbird gardens to the Cumberland Overlook and the John Bruno Memorial, which displays wildlife murals. The Sandy Creek Trail Is a fishing trail used to access a creek near the Cumberland Pool. It has excellent birding and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Platter Flats Campground: Horseback and Hiking Trails

Platter Flats Campground is near Calera, Oklahoma, on the far northeastern shores of Lake Texoma. This camp is well-known for its equestrian trails. Its amenities include 26 family campsites with electrical/water hookups, 37 equestrian sites with hookups and 20 equestrian sites without hookups, a sanitary dump, restrooms, a group picnic shelter, showers, a boat ramp, and a dock.

The Platter Flats Campground Rules:

• Self Service campground – entrance gates are open from 6 am – 10 pm.
• All sites are reserve only.
• Each camper must go online, call, or scan the QR code, which is provided on site post, with their smartphone to reserve their site.
• Water is available at the entrance site.
• Don’t Move Firewood:  Protect your forest from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site.
• Sites A1-A38 are available for equestrian camping, but a horse is not required to camp on these sites.
• Some sites in Platter Flats will be closed during the off season beginning Dec 1, Sites B1-B18, B24-B26, A1-A7 & A27-A38, are open All Winter.
• Boat ramp is open.  Pay boat launch fee at the vault located at the front of the  park.
• Park is fully open starting April 1st.