The gazebo and square in Carrollton (Taken on 20 July 2019)

Outdoors

Hiking near Carrollton

National forests, parks, lakes and recreation areas with hiking trails near Carrollton, closest first.

22places to hike
9 mito the closest
6within 30 miles
October–Aprilbest months

Good to know: Carry more water than you think you need, check the managing agency’s page for trail closures and fire restrictions, and start early on hot days.

Closest picks

1

Grapevine Lake

9 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers

Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.

2

Lewisville Lake

9 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers

Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.

3

Hickory Creek (TX)

11 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers

Hickory Creek sits on the extremely popular Lewisville Lake near Dallas, Texas. The almost 30,000-acre reservoir attracts a fair amount of visitors in summer months with warm water temperatures and excellent fishing opportunities.

Map of all 22 places

Map of 22 places loads as you scroll.

Within 30 miles (6)

9 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers

Grapevine Lake

Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
  • Nature education

9 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers

Lewisville Lake

Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
  • Nature education
  • Picnicking

11 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

Hickory Creek (TX)

Hickory Creek sits on the extremely popular Lewisville Lake near Dallas, Texas. The almost 30,000-acre reservoir attracts a fair amount of visitors in summer months with warm water temperatures and excellent fishing opportunities.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Water Access

11 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

Murrell Park

Murrell Park offers day use facilities, boat ramp access and primitive camping on scenic Grapevine Lake, in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Canoeing
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Jet Skiing
  • Kayaking
  • Mountain Biking

24 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers

Lavon Lake

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby McKinney features natural history exhibits and nature trails.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Nature education
  • Picnicking
  • Water sports

26 mi south · US Army Corps of Engineers

Joe Pool Lake

Joe Pool Lake is a 7,400-acre impoundment located in the southern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Horseback riding
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned

30 to 75 miles (7)

41 mi southwest · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

North Holiday Park

Holiday Park dayuse area (North Holiday Park) is on the west side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas, accessible from US Hwy 377.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Picnicking
  • Swimming
  • Wildlife viewing

42 mi southwest · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

Rocky Creek Park (Benbrook Lake)

Rocky Creek Park is on the east side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas, accessible form Granbury Road or McPherson Road. Day Use picnicking, hiking & horseback trails, and fishing are available.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking
  • Wildlife viewing

43 mi southwest · US Army Corps of Engineers · Campground

Holiday (Texas)

Holiday Park campground is on the west side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas and accessible from US Hwy 377. Camping, hiking & horseback trails, boat launch, fishing & wildlife viewing are available.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Wildlife viewing

52 mi south · US Army Corps of Engineers

Bardwell Lake

Bardwell Lake is located in the Blackland Prairie region of southwestern Ellis County. Built in 1965 for flood control by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bardwell Lake is located two miles southwest of Ennis off of State Highway 34.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking
  • Water sports
  • Wildlife viewing

53 mi north · Fish and Wildlife Service

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946 to provide habitat for migratory birds, wildlife, and plants native to the area. The 11,320-acre refuge is an overlay of the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Motor Boat
  • Nature education

61 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers

Lake Texoma

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites you to visit Lake Texoma, the largest lake in capacity in the Tulsa District and the twelfth largest in the United States.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
  • Nature education
  • Off-highway vehicles

73 mi south · US Army Corps of Engineers

Navarro Mills Lake

Navarro Mills Lake holds the state record white crappie at 4lbs 9 ounces.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking
  • Picnicking
  • Swimming
  • Water sports

75 miles and farther (9)

77 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers

Cooper Lake

When complete, will impound the South Sulphur River in Delta and Hopkins Counties.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
  • Nature education
  • Picnicking

83 mi south · US Army Corps of Engineers

Whitney Lake

There are 10 Corps of Engineers parks, one state park, and three additional parks managed by Hill County or private individuals. Equestrian riders have a great place to explore rolling hills and woods in the McCown Valley Equestrian Area.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
  • Picnicking

85 mi north · Fish and Wildlife Service

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 560 national wildlife refuges that form a network of United States lands and waters managed specifically for wildlife.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Motor Boat

98 mi south · US Army Corps of Engineers

Waco Lake

The largest lake in the United States to be located entirely within a single city's municiple boundaries.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
  • Nature education
  • Picnicking
  • Water sports

100 mi north · Bureau of Reclamation

Arbuckle Lake

Lake of the Arbuckles is forned by Arbuckle Dam which is a feature of the Arbuckle Project . The lake is located at the confluence of the Buckhorn, Guy Sandy, and Rock Creeks.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Picnicking
  • Recreational Vehicles
  • Water sports

102 mi north · National Park Service

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Springs, streams, lakes - whatever its form, water is the attraction at Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Paddling

109 mi northeast · Bureau of Reclamation

McGee Creek Reservoir

McGee Creek Dam and Reservoir project includes water conveyance facilities, public recreation facilities, a wildlife management area, and a natural scenic recreation area.

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Picnicking

127 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers

Pine Creek Lake

Pine Creek Dam is located on Little River, approximately eight miles north of Valiant in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. The lake extends into Choctaw and Pushmataha Counties.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Nature education
  • Picnicking
  • Water sports
  • Wildlife viewing

135 mi south · US Army Corps of Engineers

Belton Lake

Historical sites include the old "Charter Oak" on the Leon River, near the City of Belton, and the Stage Coach Inn in nearby Salado. Tour Miller Springs Nature Area located below Belton Dam.

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnicking
  • Water sports
  • Wildlife viewing

Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Carrollton. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.

Get outside around Carrollton

Korean festival in Carrollton's Koreatown video thumbnail

THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT

Korean festival in Carrollton's Koreatown

Food stalls and crowds at a Korean festival in Koreatown Carrollton. A Short shared by Carrollton City Limits.

Watch on YouTube ↗
Downtown Carrollton video thumbnail

THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT

Downtown Carrollton

A quick look around downtown Carrollton and its painted water tower. A Short shared by Texas Family.

Watch on YouTube ↗

More outdoors near Carrollton

Questions

Where is the closest place for hiking near Carrollton?

Grapevine Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 9 miles west of Carrollton as the crow flies. Next are Lewisville Lake (9 mi) and Hickory Creek (TX) (11 mi).

When is the best time for hiking near Carrollton?

Based on Carrollton’s average highs, October–April. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.

Who manages these places?

Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.

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