Waxahachie is approximately 15 miles south of Dallas, Texas. The city is known for crape myrtles, victorian houses and its historic courthouse. There are several parks located throughout the city. The most notable are those along the 4-mile hike and bike trail which follows Waxahachie Creek. This out-and-back trail is the perfect place to go biking, or hiking in Waxahachie, TX.
How to Get to the Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail
Waxahachie Creek flows through the south side of Waxahachie and empties into Bardwell Lake. There are four parks located along the hike and bike trail, one of which is a dog park. You can access the trail from any of these parks: Getzendaner Park, Richards Park, Wags-A-Hachie Dog Park and Lions Park. US-77 intersects this out-and-back trail, which begins just east of I-35.
Things to Do Along the Hike & Bike Trail in Waxahachie, TX
- Visit the Chautauqua Auditorium
- Bring your kids to the playground
- Walk your dog to the dog park
- Visit the rodeo complex
- Hike or bike 7.5 miles out-and-back
- Access miles of bike trails in the woods
- Find Sasquatch in the woods
This hike and bike trail is clearly measured with gravestone-like trail markers. We found the starting line near the creek at Getzendaner Park, and followed the trail southeast. The final stone at Lions Park is measured at 3.75 miles. Online trail calculations can be misleading, but you will reach 7.5 miles by completing the entire out-and-back trail.
Each park along the Waxahachie Creek Trail has different amenities. There are water fountains located at each park, and the trail is dog friendly. Additionally, some of the parks have unmarked bike trails looping through the woods on the opposite side of the creek. Follow the creek trail to find the best hiking in Waxahachie.
Getzendaner Park
Address: 400 S Grand Ave, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Hours of operation: 6am – 10pm
Getzendaner Park is just east of I-35, and is the most popular park along the Waxahachie Creek Hike and Bike Trail. This park has the most shade and a wide selection of playground equipment. A one-way street loops around the park. Picnic tables, trees, restrooms and parking spaces are within the loop.
Cross the bridges over Waxahachie Creek and you will find dirt trails with moderate changes in elevation. Sadly, tires and old appliances are resting in the creek, or along the bike trails in the woods. We followed the trails through the woods for two miles. They seem fairly easy to bike, but we did not run into any bikers on the trails. However, we did spot Sasquatch within the well-shaded woods. She must have traveled quite some distance because we last spotted her outside James Curry Nature Center at Canyon Lake.
Richards Park
Address: 505 S Hawkins St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Hours of operation: None
This park is named after Paul Richards, who played in the 1945 World Series. It contains a high school baseball field, next to a large cemetery, along the hike and bike trail. Richards Park is about one mile from Getzendaner Park. There are far fewer amenities, and the creek is temporarily out of view. Players were practicing in the morning as we hiked along Waxahachie Creek.
Wags-A-Hachie Dog Park
Address: 701 Howard Rd, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Hours of operation: 6am – 10pm
We love the name of this dog park along the trail in Waxahachie. Wags-A-Hachie is the first dog park in Waxahachie, and a great addition to the hike and bike trail. It’s right next to a rodeo complex, which probably smells amazing to the dogs. Unfortunately, there weren’t any dogs using the park while we were hiking the trail.
This dog park has two separate areas for large and small dogs. The gates are facing the hike and bike trail. Each has a transition area leading into the park. Inside the park you will find agility equipment, water fountains, a fire hydrant and some shade. Wags-A-Hachie is almost two miles from Lions park at the end of the hike and bike trail.
Lions Park
Address: 2303 Howard Rd, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Hours of operation: 6am – 10pm
Lions park is full of soccer fields and smaller playgrounds. It is between Waxahachie Creek and the water treatment plant. This is the end of the line if you begin from Getzendaner Park. However, you could also begin the out-and-back trail from this park.
Lions Park has a great view of the creek, much like Getzendaner Park. You may also see cattle and horses along the trail. Several bike trails run through the woods on either side of the creek. These may be more challenging than those on the north side of the trail based on the “expert” trail marker. We noticed more bikers along this part of the hike and bike trail. One of the bikers was carrying a large bird along for the ride!
Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail
There are other places to go hiking in Waxahachie, but they are not like this trail along the creek. I noticed the Waxahachie Creek Trail on the map and wanted to see what it has to offer. It does not disappoint.
Old debris along the trail could use some attention, but it has much more shade than we were expecting. In fact, there are miles of additional shaded trails in the wooded areas. Unique sights and opportunities can be found along Waxahachie Creek. Hiking in Waxahachie would not be the same without this hike and bike trail.
