Crosstimbers Trail

Fort Worth, TX · Tarrant County · 3.9 mi · Network

A rolling 3.9-mile network. Good shade throughout; water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortRolling
ShadeHigh shade
Certified dog policySource: Animal Control Laws | Fort Worth, TXBest in spring and fall; avoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Parking #2

Crosstimbers Trail is a 3.9-mile dog-friendly trail in Fort Worth, TX. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 1070 ft. Looking for more options in Fort Worth dog-friendly trails or across dog-friendly trails across Texas? Use the sections below for dog policy, access points, shade/heat, water, terrain, and safety.

Dog Fit

Dogs allowed status, leash expectations, and suitability by dog type

Dogs must be on a leash (max 6 feet) in all Fort Worth city parks. Owner must hold the leash at all times.
Suitability by dog type

By Dog Type

How this trail suits different kinds of dogs

Small Dog
Toy & small breeds
93%
Great fit
Manageable length
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
83%
Great fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Moderate — plan rest stops
Smooth surface — easy going
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
100%
Great fit
Usually quiet — fewer encounters
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
97%
Great fit
Soft natural surface
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Quiet — less stressful
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
100%
Great fit
Good training length
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
33%
Tough
Water nearby — no swim confirmed
Water along most of the route
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Well-shaded, waterside trail — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsSmall dogsEasy walksHeat-sensitive dogsReactive dogsWater-loving dogsFirst-time trail dogs

Most comfortable when

Avoid after heavy rain

Trail gets significantly muddy — surfaces become slippery and paws stay wet

Why this trail works

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • River or lake alongside much of the route
  • Natural, soft surface

Safety & Conditions

Hazards, heat exposure, crowd level, and nearby emergency vet context

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded
NEAREST VET3.1 km away

Terrain & Comfort

Elevation, surface, shade, heat, and water signals for dog hiking comfort

EffortRolling
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterModerate

Elevation & Width

The Crosstimbers Trail presents a moderate challenge in terms of elevation, with a total vertical relief of 233 feet across its nearly 3.

Trail Effort

Moderate

Gentle hills. Most healthy adult dogs will enjoy this.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:1,070 ftGain/mi:274 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 1,070 ft gain + 274 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
830 ft597 ft0 mi3.9 mi123
Trail Width
Narrow
Narrow
< 6 ft
In-between
6-10 ft
Wide
10+ ft
NARROWTypical: ~0 ftWIDE

Mostly single-file with tighter passing space.

Surface & Paws

The Crosstimbers Trail offers a predominantly natural surface, with about 95.

Surface

What your dog will walk on

Mostly: Dirt

Softer footing that can feel easier on paws and joints.

Soft footingSmooth / Paw-friendly
Surface along the trail
DirtConcrete0 mi3.9 mi123Natural/SoftHard

Top surfaces

Dirt
73%
Concrete
26%
Not mapped
1.5%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Dirt. A notable share is concrete (26%). Softer footing—can get muddy after rain. Generally comfortable for most dogs.

Best forrelaxed walksexpect mud after rain

Shade & Heat

The Crosstimbers Trail is exceptionally well-shaded, boasting 100% shade coverage.

🌳 Shade

HIGH

High shade coverage

100.0%
Shade along the trail
0 mi3.9 mi123SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
0%
Partial
0%
Shade
22%
Dense
78%

Quick read

Most of the trail benefits from consistent tree cover.

Water Access

The Crosstimbers Trail is fortunate to have several natural water sources nearby, including a stream, a river, and a lake or pond, with about 62% of the trail's length having water features.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 62%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby62%
Water along the trail
RiverStreamRiverDry — no water within 200 mRiverDry — no water within 200 mRiverLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondRiverDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamLake / PondRiverDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mRiverLake / PondStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 m0 mi3.9 mi123RiverLake / PondStream

Water types nearby

BeachRiverLake/PondStream

Beach • River • Lake/Pond

Quick read

You’ll likely pass some water. Carry water for longer stretches. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots8
Capacity
FeeFree

The Crosstimbers Trail is equipped with a decent array of amenities to enhance your visit.

Primary trailhead

Parking #1
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 On trail

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Yes access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~85 m)
Cross Timbers Park

7680 Douglas Ln, North Richland Hills, TX 76182

🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Distance not measured4.7 (245)

Amenities along the route

Nearby facilities around the start, middle, and end of this trail.

Amenities along the trail
🚻 Restrooms (1)Restrooms at 18.6 mi💧 Water (1)Water at 18.6 mi🛖 Shelters (1)Shelters at 18.6 mi🪑 Benches (2)22 benches near 18.6-18.6 mi🍽️ Picnic tables (1)Picnic tables at 18.6 mi🗑️ Waste bins (2)22 waste bins near 18.6-19.0 mi0 mi3.9 mi123

Near the start

Water nearby • Restrooms nearby

💧Water
1
closest: 127 m • very close
🚻Restrooms
2
closest: 61 m • at the spot
🛖Shelter
2
closest: 84 m • very close
Show 3 more
🪑Seating
13
closest: 77 m • very close
🗑️Trash bins
6
closest: 5 m • at the spot
🅿️Parking
4
closest: 85 m • very close
Point details
  • Trash bins area
    5 m • at the spot
  • Restrooms area
    61 m • at the spot
  • Restrooms area
    65 m • at the spot
Show 25 more
  • Seating area
    77 m • very close
  • Trash bins area
    80 m • very close
  • Seating area
    82 m • very close
  • Trash bins area
    84 m • very close
  • Shelter area
    84 m • very close
  • Parking area
    85 m • very close
  • Shelter area
    87 m • very close
  • Seating area
    95 m • very close
  • Seating area
    96 m • very close
  • Seating area
    98 m • very close
  • Seating area
    102 m • very close
  • Trash bins area
    106 m • very close
  • Seating area
    111 m • very close
  • Seating area
    117 m • very close
  • Trash bins area
    124 m • very close
  • Water area
    127 m • very close
  • Trash bins area
    128 m • very close
  • Seating area
    137 m • very close
  • Seating area
    138 m • very close
  • Seating area
    141 m • very close
  • Seating area
    151 m • short walk
  • Seating area
    181 m • short walk
  • Parking area
    210 m • short walk
  • Parking area
    270 m • short walk
  • Parking area
    464 m • nearby

Near the middle

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
4
closest: 412 m • nearby
Point details
  • Parking area
    412 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    443 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    456 m • nearby
Show 1 more
  • Parking area
    465 m • nearby

Near the end

A few amenities nearby

🗑️Trash bins
1
closest: 17 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Trash bins area
    17 m • at the spot
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Parking availability unknown
Estimated capacity
8 parking locations
No known parking fee

Map & Route

Trail layout, trailheads, parking, and dog-relevant points of interest

Map

Explore More

Highlights, viewpoints, and bailout options

Highlights

Highlights

0 total
Closest: ·

No highlights are available for this trail yet.

Bailout & exit options

Exit options (Bailouts)

Bailout: mediumScore: 0.4

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 4Dead ends: 0Closest Start: 0 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 4Actionable exits: 4Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 0 mClosest near Midpoint: 10.2 kmClosest near End: 1 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi3.9 mi2.0 mi
4 actionable exits· closest 0 m from start
  • Route structure (network) supports alternate exits.
  • Entrance count is estimated from graph topology (proxy).
  • Graph-based route structure estimate using stored segment geometry.

Top exits near Start

Trail entrance / exit

Near Start · 0 m from start

EntranceDead End
0 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Current hazard level is marked as low. 5 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 2.0 mi

Unnamed clinic

2.0 mi from trail · Veterinary · 8609 Tribute Lane

City Vet

3.9 mi from trail · Veterinary

Fossil Creek Animal Hospital

4.0 mi from trail · Veterinary · 6370 North Beach Street

Chewy Vetcare

4.3 mi from trail · Veterinary

Summerfields Animal Hospital

4.4 mi from trail · Veterinary · 4536 North Tarrant Parkway

Hazards

Updated:

Low
Road: 1Bike: 1Water: 1

Primary concerns: Bike conflict (1), Water crossings (1)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 1
Water crossings
1
Cliff / steep edge
0
Bike conflict
1
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Crosstimbers Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Crosstimbers Trail. It is a dog-friendly trail where leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Crosstimbers Trail?

Yes, dogs must be on a leash on Crosstimbers Trail. Fort Worth City Code Chapter 6 requires dogs to be on a leash (maximum 6 feet) in all city parks, and owners must hold the leash at all times.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Crosstimbers Trail?

There is one drinking water fountain available along the Crosstimbers Trail. Given this limited availability, it is highly recommended to bring your own water and a collapsible bowl for your dog, especially on longer hikes or warmer days.

Is Crosstimbers Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

Crosstimbers Trail is exceptionally well-shaded, with 100% shade coverage. This makes it a comfortable option for dogs, even on brighter days, as the tree canopy helps keep ground temperatures cooler.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Crosstimbers Trail?

The trail surface is predominantly natural, with about 95.8% consisting of dirt, which is soft and gentle on dog paws. There are also small sections of concrete (about 2.3%), so be mindful of potential heat on these paved areas during warm weather.

How muddy does Crosstimbers Trail get after rain?

Crosstimbers Trail has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural dirt surface. It is likely to get quite muddy after rain and will take a significant amount of time to dry out, especially in shaded areas.

How crowded does Crosstimbers Trail get, and when is the best time to visit?

Crosstimbers Trail generally experiences low crowd levels, often due to limited access infrastructure. For a more peaceful experience, consider visiting during weekday mornings, especially before 8 AM, or during cooler, off-peak months.

What is the parking situation at Crosstimbers Trail?

There are 8 parking spaces available for Crosstimbers Trail, and there is no known parking fee. However, access to the trail is currently classified as restricted, and specific opening hours are not reliably known.

What amenities are available at Crosstimbers Trail (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

Crosstimbers Trail offers several amenities, including 7 benches, 2 shelters, 2 toilets, 6 picnic tables, 7 waste baskets, and 1 drinking water fountain. These amenities are likely concentrated near the trail's main access points.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Crosstimbers Trail (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The trail has a low hazard risk, with one non-risky road crossing and one water crossing. Heat risk is low due to 100% shade, but always monitor your dog on hot days. The terrain has a moderate elevation range of 233 feet with mostly gentle slopes. Night use is not recommended due to a lack of lighting.