Hiking and biking the trails, and what to do after rain.
Written by OnMap.meAbout Oak Cliff Nature PreserveUnofficialPublished 2 min readShort answer
There are 8 miles of multi-use trails. Bikes yield to pedestrians. The trails can handle activity after most rain, and anyone who meets mud should stay on the trail and go through it, not around it.
In detail
How the shared trails work, and the Conservancy's guidance for mud and puddles.
Open the trail map.
The interactive trail map is at bit.ly/ocnp. Bring a cell phone to pull it up, and plenty of water.
Share the trail.
The trails are entirely multi-use. Normal yielding practices apply, so bikes yield to pedestrians. Riders are asked to ride in control and slow down when they see others.
Choose a trail.
The White Trail sees the most traffic. The trails farther from the trailhead are the ones where a visitor is more likely to be alone.
Check the status after rain.
DORBA has recognized this as a "rain or shine" trail. The preserve page links the DORBA trail page for current trail status.
Go through mud, not around it.
If there is no dry space on the trail next to a muddy spot or puddle, ride or walk through it. Going around wet spots damages or kills the vegetation and widens the trail.
Remember it is wild.
The preserve is home to a variety of wild species. The Conservancy asks for proper preparation and precautions.
Tip. The Conservancy's advice for anyone who does not want to get muddy is to avoid hiking or biking here for several days after rain.
Call the park if
- You want the current trail status after heavy rain
- You find a damaged trail or dumping in the preserve