Lake Whitney sits on top of the beautiful Hill Country of Texas about 50 miles south of Ft. Worth, Texas, and 35 miles northwest of Waco, Texas, just a few miles west of Hillsboro, Texas, on the Brazos River. 

At Lake Whitney, morning and evening are the best times to see white-tailed deer, armadillos, raccoons, and skunks, plus there are 190 species of birds throughout the year flying around. Wildflowers put on an impressive show spring through fall.

List of Lake Whitney Hiking Trails

Lake Whitney State Park Trails

Lake Whitney State Park, operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), offers scheduled hikes, star parties, ranger programs, and a trail guide map at their park office on the eastern shores of Lake Whitney. The park office is located at 433 FM 1244, Whitney, Texas. From Whitney, Texas, take FM 933 south to Lee Avenue/FM 1244 west, and follow that to the park office. It has two trails.

Lake Whitney Hike and Bike Trails

The Two Bridges Trail is a 0.9-mile easy trail that winds through a post oak forest. The Towash Forest Trail is an easy 1.2-mile trail used by hikers and bicyclists featuring splendid views of Lake Whitney and the Grand Prairie. Visitors can also hike around the three camping loops in the state park. Dogs are welcome on a leash.

Hopewell Trail at Plowman Creek Park

The Hopewell Trail at Plowman Creek Park is 12.5 miles long. This centrally located trailhead allows hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian riders easy access to the trail  and an option to explore one-half of the trail for shorter hikes. People can travel north on the trail to Kimball Bend Park, or head south to Lakeside Village and Powelldale Mountain.

For mountain biking, the southern half of this trail is flat to gently rolling hills, making it an easy to moderate ride. The other half of this trail offers more challenging riding and hiking. There are creek crossings, loose and sharp rocks, and low hanging limbs. Common wildlife sightings include birds of prey, deer, foxes, raccoons, songbirds, and waterfowl.

The gates are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a night exit. Plowman Creek Park is located on the Brazos River a few miles north of Lake Whitney and is located on the west side of the river on FM 56, approximately one mile south of Kopperl, Texas. Hikers and bicyclists need to watch out for horseback riders.

Cedar Creek Park

Cedar Creek Park is located on the northeastern shores of Lake Whitney on the north side of the Cedar Creek arm. This park does not have designated hiking trails, but people like to walk around the campsite loops and there are no fees. Wildlife is abundant at this park. From Whitney, Texas, take FM 933 north to FM 2604 west, follow it to Cedar Creek Park Road, and go south into the park.

Lake Whitney Horse Trails

McCown Valley Park

The McCown Valley Day Use area hosts an equestrian trail riding area, the McCown Equestrian Area, and an equestrian camping area. Riders will discover 3,000 acres of public land on these trails. Shoes or boots for your horse are not a necessity because of the soft footing. The sand is deep in some areas and may fatigue your horse if it is not use to this kind of workout.

Avoid riding off trail along the shoreline and beware of possible mud bogs, especially if the lake level is low. Some trails are heavily wooded, with lots of shade, and other trails are in the open. The trails are mostly flat, except for one small area. Several trails are wide and will accommodate wagons and carts. There are 29 equestrian campsites.

The overnight group camping area has ten covered stalls provided by Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association (TETRA), and ten electrical hookups with water. Running water is located in both the day use and overnight group campsite, and there are portable restrooms. The parking area is large, with plenty of room to maneuver a truck and trailer. Gate access to the trails is located on the southwest side of the day use area. The gates are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

From the City of Whitney, Texas, go north on FM 933 to FM 1713. Turn left on FM 1713. Continue on FM 1713 until the road forks. Stay left at the fork, and this road becomes Spur 1713, which dead ends into the park. There are two gated entrances. The gatehouse on the right is usually open for all park visitors. Call before you plan a trip to make sure this park in open or to see if you need to make a reservation to camp with your horse or horses.

Hopewell Trail and Equestrian Camping at Plowman Creek Park

Trail users can access the 12.5-mile Hopewell Trail at Plowman Creek Park. A centrally located trailhead allows hikers, mountain bicyclists, and equestrian riders easy access to the trail, and an option to explore one-half of the trail for shorter visits. Visitors can travel north on the trail to Kimball Bend Park, or head south to Lakeside Village and Powelldale Mountain.

Overnight equestrian camping is adjacent to the trailhead. There are ten RV campsites or primitive camping in the equestrian area. Riders need to be aware of rocky trail surfaces, low hanging limbs, and creek crossings. Water is available at the trailhead areas at the Plowman Park access. Please keep all equestrian gates closed because loose cattle graze this trail. This trail has three main access points. Poison ivy and sumac are common on trail shoulders.

Plowman Creek Park is located on the Brazos River a few miles north of Lake Whitney and is located on the west side of the river on FM 56. approximately one mile south of Kopperl, Texas. Hikers and bicyclists need to watch out for horseback riders. The gates are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a night exit.

Lake Whitney ATV Trails

There are no ATV trails or parks at Lake Whitney.

Other Lake Whitney Access Points

There are ten U.S. Corps of Engineers parks, three private parks, and the Lake Whitney State Park on Lake Whitney. Explore Lake Whitney access points on our Lake Whitney Boat Ramps Map.