As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this post may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Disclosure in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CF.
“The fundamental idea behind the parks is native. It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us. The parks stand as the outward symbol of the great human principle.”
~Franklin D Roosevelt
Biking in Oak Point Park Plano
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve, Plano’s largest park, is 800 acres and extends from Parker Road on the south to Chaparral Road on the north and from Spring Creek Parkway on the west to Los Rios Boulevard on the east. The park boasts 3.5 miles of concrete trails and 5 miles of soft surface trails located along Rowlett Creek.
Plano loves these trails and park!
The nature trails are open from sunrise to sunset daily. And yes, you’ll want to head out by sunset as it gets very, very dark in there. We usually start from Bob Woodruff park which is where we live and have biked as far as the Cinemark theater on Legacy. I know, right? That’s a long way but we love having the option to avoid traffic and take the trails all the way.
If you start from Oak Point, the best spot to park is off of Los Rios Blvd and Jupiter area; they have a large parking lot next to the Retreat Center. Or, you can park off of Spring Creek in the smaller lot and travel through the tunnel seen below. ⬇️
This fun tunnel transports you underneath Spring Creek Pkwy and connects Collin College to the park. So fun!
Rest areas are built into the boardwalk, perfect for a place to rest my legs or take a quick Insta of my bike.
If I stop for an Instagram shot, I will totally lose track of my husband who does NO social media at all. LOL. Thankfully, bikes have to stay on trail so I’ll run into him eventually. This is my Cannondale lefty mountain bike =) It’s a damn good bike for all kinds of trails which is important because Brian and I love mountain biking RCP, Erwin Park or heading out to places like Solavaca Ranch in Glen Rose (make sure to have a chilled beer after that trail, goodness gracious!!). However, you don’t need to own a mountain bike to ride Plano’s trails, afterall they don’t allow bikes in the dirt trails (don’t attempt y’all, head to Arbor Hills or Erwin for off roading). You can grab a bike from a garage sale, Target, Amazon, or a cycling store nearby. If you can afford a bike from a specialty store or my list below, then invest in one and it will be with you for a long time.
The boardwalk is one of my favorite areas of this expansive park. Its shaded and super cozy with all of the tree coverage.
Because this is Plano’s largest park, we could really spend hours if not even the whole day exploring, biking and adventuring. The Camelbak is one of my most important purchases I made for all of our explorations. It contains a blister pack for water (see built in straw on the side), holds a snack, my keys, iPhone, windbreaker and even a bike lock. Its slender and straps on around the waist and there is minimal bouncing.
Make sure to head out prepared . . like y’all need to have the gear to have a successful and enjoyable trip. Trust me! Plus, if you are well-equipped you are able to stay out longer.
To prep, you can head by Cadence Cyclery in McKinney or Performance Bike in Plano (this is where we get our tune ups for our Cannondale bikes).
You can also see recommended gear here:
- Mountain bike
- Bike helmet
- Camelbak or Hydration Pack
- Biking Gloves (please please please! Skinned hands and knuckles are no bueno, cover those hands)
- Glasses (clear glasses to protect your eyes from pebbles that might fly up)
- Phone Bike Mount
- Bike Odometer
You might also like:
Leave a Reply