Dana Peak

My go to trails because it's close to home. I have traveled and rode many trails here in Texas, Wahington and everywhere between. I feel fortunate to have some of the best so close to home. Great trail system for anyone. The black trails are doable for a decent rider meaning not a pro. So many trails you can do 20 miles with out riding the same ones over and over. Try a park to park meaning Dana peak to still house park and back and throw in some black like divisidero, leviathan, barbed wire and ring mountain and that's one hell of a day.
Thanks to those that maintain and continuously add cool trail.

8 mile ride great fun going back

Great trails for beginners and intermediate riders. A variety of trails and connector trails. My 13 year old son loves it out there.

You can get some decent descents in if you are willing to earn them.

Closed as of today due to flooding.

Have not been here in 15 years. Wow very nice. Some of the best I have rode in TX. Just did the fence line trail, only had less than an hour to ride today. Will he back for sure. My only concern is the trails are not marked very well, you must pay attention.

Whew, haven't been to Dana Peak since mini bikes were tearing up the "trails" there. So, yeah, left the area long before mountain biking is what it is today. I did like most riders and initially started at the west end at Dana Peak Park. I was surprised as to how many riders were there. Pretty busy with all levels of riders. I rode some from west to east, and started wondering where the more challenging stuff was I read about. Being impatient, I decided to start over at the eastern end in Stillhouse Park. 1st observation... while the west end is pretty busy, I was the ONLY rider at the east end. Literally the only car parked there. And yes, more fun right at the start, and you get into more challenging stuff in about 1 1/2 miles. I didn't see a single rider until around mile 5. While I came across a couple dozen riders on the western sections of this trail, I saw only a total of four on the eastern 2/3's of it. Apparently most riders don't venture far from the west end. Personally, I think I'd prefer riding from Stillhouse Park to Dana Peak Park and back. That way, the ride starts out interesting, with a flat easy ride halfway through, and then return through the better stuff. Dana Peak is a typical Central Texas trail with some hard pack, and limestone fixed and loose rock climbing and descending. Interestingly, very few roots that I recall. Nothing overly technically challenging, but those not used to cardio or grinding up may find themselves huffing and puffing on the hills. Some might find negotiating loose pack coming down the hills a bit of a challenge. Some of the trail is wider than single track on the west end, but there's plenty of nice old school hand cut single track. I rode it on a 130mm/130mm trail bike, but an XC FS or hard tail will do just fine here. As for difficulty, some sites rate it as 'intermediate' to 'very difficult'. I think it's more beginner to intermediate, but difficulty rating is always subjective. If you're a North Texas/DFW rider, Dana Peak is technically/aerobically similar to Knob Hill, which is rated beginner to intermediate. All in all, a nice trail worth riding. I will stop by here again for a quick fun ride when passing though Bell County. Thanks to those who maintain it.

Gotta love these trails! A little bit of everything. From flat smooth trail to advanced climbing and downhill. The further you go back the better it gets!

Great mix of climbs and flow-y downhills and flats. Nice scenery changes between the lake, hills and cedar trees. Lots of trails to mix and match for new routes. Just fun all the way around!

Trail is closed for today only

This place is a lot of fun. Our first time was my wife and I and she's mostly a beginner and we're over 55 years old. We went from the parking lot towards Harker Heights,that is a really good short run relatively flat single track a few miles then we headed back towards the parking lot and we did Fence Line then Twin Peaks then 1-9er. she complained about 1-9er a little bit as it was getting hot but we had a blast. Then I went back a few days later and I did the fence line, twin peaks, 1-9er now when going counter clockwise on 1-9er I took a right at the top of the little climb, if you go left there you're going to be making a circle but going right your going to be getting on a out and back ride with some really nice riding with lots of technical sections I went as far as the split where the old washing machine is, I was running out of water and I was spent. We are here from Minnesota. Don't have to shovel sunshine.

These are some of the best trails in Texas. I have been riding MTB here since 1991. Before that I rode a mini bike here in the early 70's. The trails have most aspects of mountain biking and there are some technical areas contrary to previous reviews. Best kept secret in Central TEXAS!

This is a really nice trail system. Make sure you do not ride after a rain. The clay out here is real thick and will stop your chain from moving. There is a great mix of terrains on this trail. Have fun exploring because this trail is not marked very well.

Trails are not marked. Ride at your own risk. It is a good time and trails are fast and flowly.

Closed due to flooding.

I learned to ride on this trail and went on to ride all through Germany, Austria, and Swiss Alps. I came back years later and still have fun. It has some technical stuff the farther you get into it and it seems to be more and more maintained. I highly recommend it.

Fenceline is not rideable and should be avoided in order for it to dry out.

Dana Peak is pretty fun. It's pretty fast and flowy. There isn't much in the way of long brutal climbs but a lot of short punchy descents and ascents. You'll be hard pressed to find any real technical sections here including rock gardens, or large hucks or drops. There are some roots. It makes up for that with serious flow and speed.

The trails are not marked so you'll learn everything by landmarks. The lake, the peaks, the "lost and found box intersection". One you're at the lost and found box, if you head up in to the woods onto what is called the 1-9er trail that is where the real fun & flow starts. Pretty much from there you always have 3-4 ways of getting somewhere and they are all fun and flowy. Follow these trails with the lake on your right and it can take you about 6-7 miles to Stillhouse park. So out and back that is a really fun 14 mile ride. Hitting everything this trail system has to offer I've seen people get more than 20 mile rides out at Dana Peak. Worth mentioning that the new kiosk at the trail head with the map gives you the general gist of things but it doesn't come close including all the awesome trails that are out there past the 1-9er trail.

Also worth noting you'll probably avg. 9-10 mph on this trail if you avg 7 mph on really, hard technical stuff.

Have fun! I always do.

Closed due to fire today...

This place is convenient to Fort Hood and has everything for every level rider. If you want smooth flat trails, rocky terrain, tight woods, fast downhills, decent air, and scenic views then this is the place. Don't let it fool you. There are some very technical portions to this place. It's fun for almost everyone.
Watch out for hikers and runners, though. Ha!