Every once in a while, life throws you an unexpected turn that paints a giant ear to ear grin on your face. Such was the case that sunny fall afternoon I decided to ride the Trinity Skyline Trail quietly hiding down by the river on the other side of the levee in downtown Dallas. What I discovered was not only more than I had anticipated but as numerous signs along the way proclaimed “Your New Favorite Trail”.
While there are a number of dedicated places to park along the trail, I chose to begin my ride at the southern terminus of the trail at the Trinity Overlook beside Commerce Street. There is a small sign posted at the entrance limiting parking to one hour but because the area was pretty much empty and it was a weekday, I figured I could (and did) get away with parking for a little longer.
The ride began with a swift ride down a steep incline to the river bottom between the levees. From there a cement trail follows the course of the river northwest with an up close and personal view of the Dallas Skyline. Impressive to say the least.
As I rode along the west side of the Trinity River, I kept wondering how and where the trail was going to cross the river. Did they build a new bridge for the trail only, would the trail share the road with traffic while crossing, was I stuck on that side of the river for the duration?
The answer to my dilemma came in the form of a brand new elevated bridge crossing the river at Sylvan Avenue delegating the older bridge sitting proudly underneath to trail traffic only. From that point on the trail shadows the course of the Trinity River northwest towards Irving.
This section of the trail flows through waving fields of tall grass between the levee on the east side and trees along the river on the west. The powers that be have seen the wisdom of allowing trees and other vegetation to grow along the banks while keeping the area along side free of anything other than grass. The river can freely overflow its banks, flooding the area between the levees as it speeds past Dallas on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile the trees stabilize the river banks, providing aquatic habitat and mitigating the effects of straightening the river.
As I continued my ride, the sights and sounds of urban mayhem were replaced with a vast field of grass swaying in the breeze filled with the sounds of wildlife thriving in a sea of green terrafirma highlighting the contrast between cold cement and warm earth. On that sunny fall day, I had the trail all to myself – not another soul the entire trip. The trail is brand, spanking new and I’m guessing unknown to anyone save a few lucky souls who’ve stumbled upon it.
The trail ends where it connects with the southern portion of the Campion Trail in Irving. There is a large park there with baseball fields, playgrounds and a parking lot. So you can start on the northern end or the southern end depending on which way you want to ride into the wind or more importantly which view you want to end your ride looking at. For my pedaling pursuits, I’ll go with ending the ride watching the Dallas Skyline grow nearer, bigger & more beautiful.
On a sunny fall afternoon, riding along the Trinity through an undulating field of green, serenaded by the sounds of nature with the sun warming my face I was summoned by the world to live in the moment. A moment that has never existed before and will never exist again, a moment to treasure as it unfolds, a moment that will be remembered for what was revealed and experienced within myself.
