The largest urban bottomland hardwood forest in the United States, the Great Trinity Forest consists of 6,000 acres located minutes from downtown Dallas. Boundaries of the forest extend from the Santa Fe Trestle Trail, near Corinth Street and Riverfront Boulevard within view of downtown Dallas, to just past IH-20, along an 11-mile stretch of land that follows the Trinity River. Once the river leaves the forest, its continues for another 450 miles down to the Gulf of Mexico.

One-hundred-and-twenty acres of the forest is maintained and managed by the Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC) and serves as the flagship location for the National Audubon Society’s mission to conserve and restore ecosystems and habitats for the benefit of humanity and the Earth’s biological diversity.

The forest consists of numerous navigable trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians, wetlands, kayaking tours and well-maintained campsites. Programs are offered throughout the year related to local ecology, habitat study and stewardship. Built on top of a reclaimed former landfill, the TRAC building is one of Dallas’ most unique destinations for recreation and education where visitors can connect with nature.

Location: 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas. For more information, call 214-398-8722 or visit TrinityRiverAudubon.org.