Working out is great for your health, whether you do it on a treadmill at the gym or prefer to be outside. However, there is some research to suggest that an outdoor workout has even more benefits than indoor exercise. Researchers have found that outdoor activities—including walking, running and biking—have a greater impact on mental health and stress reduction than indoor activities.
Are you ready to move your workout outside? There is no shortage of urban and suburban trails and workout spots in North Texas. Here are a few of our favorites.
Katy Trail: A popular urban trail right in the heart of Dallas. With multiple access points along its 3.5 miles, Katy Trail is actually two separate paths—one 12-foot-wide concrete path for skaters and bikers, and one eight-foot-wide soft-surface path for runners, joggers and walkers. Katy Trail runs from the American Airlines Center and the West End to the Mockingbird DART station.
Klyde Warren Park: The downtown Dallas deck park is a hot spot day and night, with plenty of activities for park-goers of all ages. If group exercise is your thing, Klyde Warren Park is your place. Center yourself with a Tai Chi class, give yoga a try or get your sweat on at a weekly boot camp class. If you work in the downtown area and simply need a place to catch some fresh air over a lunchtime walk, Klyde Warren Park’s 5.2 acres of urban green space is the perfect spot to enjoy a bit of serenity in the hustle and bustle of downtown city life.
White Rock Lake: With the Dallas skyline as a backdrop, White Rock Lake is an oasis for fitness enthusiasts or those just looking for a scenic spot to catch some fresh air. The trail around White Rock Lake is a 9.33-mile loop with easy parking and access from numerous spots around the lake. The lake is a popular spot for cyclists, runners and walkers alike.
River Legacy Parks: Seeking shade from the Texas heat? River Legacy Parks West Trail in Arlington is a relatively flat 10-mile trail through a beautifully wooded area. The entrance to the trail is at 701 Northwest Green Oaks Blvd. Enter the park and head half a mile down Rose-Brown-May Parkway to Legacy Pavilion. You can park and enter the woods there.
Trinity Trails: An extensive network of crushed limestone trails along the Trinity River in Fort Worth. Trinity Trails offers runners and cyclists up to 20 miles of workout space, making it a great training spot for long-distance runners. The most popular leg of the trail— beginning at Henderson Street Bridge and stretching eight miles to Bryant Irvin Road—offers plenty to see, including the water of the Trinity River, the Fort Worth Skyline, Rosewood Park, the Colonial Country Club golf course and more.
Whether you exercise indoors or out, the important part is that you make physical activity a part of your daily life. Even if you can only catch 10 minutes here or there, make exercise a priority for your physical and mental health.
