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Level: Intermediate
Length: 23 mi (37 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Other
Elevation: +402/ -336 ft
Total: 282 riders
Mountain Biking Northshore Trail
#5 of 279 mountain bike trails in Texas
The most well-known and most used trail in the entire metroplex. This is an old motorcross trail that was first used to cycle on by Tom Deans, a long-time DORBA trail steward. The trail is ONE WAY now, going counter clockwise. This trail runs between Rockledge Park and then west, past Twin Coves Park on the north shoreline of Lake Grapevine. Total of 22.5 glorious miles of multi-terrain, multi-skill-level trail. The East side loops 1-4 (east from MADD Shelter) are good for intermediate riders while the West side loops 5-7 (west from MADD Shelter) are considerably more technical. There are several "rock gardens" on this side, very technical to ride through. Watch out for hikers and other bikers speeding around bends. An average of 800 bikers visit per week, so be extra careful!!
(Copied from Dorba.org)
First added by blakeovard on Jul 18, 2007. Last updated May 11, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
There are 5 main trailheads; Murrell Park MADD Shelter, Lakeside, Boy Scout Camping Area, Twin Coves Park, and Rockledge Park. The MADD Shelter, Lakeside and Boy Scout Camping Area Trailheads are FREE to enter, trail map and information in kiosk at MADD shelter trail head.
1. Murrell Park MADD Shelter: From FM 2499, turn west on FM 3040. Take your first left onto McKamy Creek Road. When the road ends at Simmons, turn left, keep going till you enter park. At the stop sign at the park entrance (gatehouse/guardshack), turn right, go down road 1/2 mile and turn right on Green Oaks Drive, this takes you straight to the trailhead. MADD shelter is on Google maps, this is recommended use for directions.
2. Lakeside: Address: Edgmere Road. From FM 2499, take Lakeside Parkway west to traffic circle, stay on Lakeside (left), to next traffic circle turn right on Edgemere Road, bike entrance, Sunset Point boardwalk (Google maps) off Edgemere Road, trail head on the right. Limited parking is on trail side of street.
3. Boy Scout Camping Area: Address: 2908 North Park Drive. From 2499, take Lakeside Parkway west to traffic circle, turn right on Sandy Lane, turn right on Heritage Lane, Heritage turns into McPherson Lane after you cross Canongate Drive, turn right on Elmwood Drive, turn left on North Park Drive and follow the road to the trailhead parking lot. Please do not park in front of either of the swinging gates (they have signs).
4. Twin Coves Park: Fee to enter park by vehicle Address: Twin Coves Park Rd. (Google Maps) RV park managed by The Town of Flower Mound is now open as of 7/7/17. From FM 2499, turn west on FM 3040. Take your first left onto McKamy Creek Road. When the road ends at Simmons, turn right. Turn left on Wichita Trail. The park entrance will be on the left and minimal free parking is almost immediately on the left before officially entering pay station at park just down the road.
5. Rockledge Park: Fee to enter park by bicycle or vehicle. Rockledge park is located at Long Prairie Road, Address: 3600 Pilot Point, Grapevine, TX 76051
(Copied from Dorba.org)
Featured in
Great trail system, easy to hard stuff, some nice rock gardens, some flow, wish we had something this good in Houston!
| ThankClosed as of May 6, 2019
| ThankThe west side of North Shore is technical. Lots of rocky sections that will test your handling abilities.
| ThankAmazing trail. Best in the DFW Metroplex. Something for everyone. Be sure to go to the far north part of the trail for an intense workout. There is an xterra race that uses that route.
| ThankGreat trail. In dallas for vacation and hit this trail today. 13 miles round trip with some good drops and climbs here and there. Awesome signs and well maintained
| ThankIt's easy to see why so many people like this trail. There is something for everyone in this massive DFW trail.
If you're on the east side of the trail, expect fun flowy singletrack. Terrain is mostly loose over hardpack with the occasional rocky sections and the trail is very well thought out and takes advantage of the elevation changes perfectly. Climbs are mostly short and manageable, with a few seriously gnarly scattered about. Nearly every climb is followed by a fun descent, and what's really amazing is how fast you can go (and for how long), considering this is fairly flat terrain surrounded by houses. There are a handful of jumps, drops, and rock covered technical climbs scattered throughout, and its well marked and VERY easy to navigate.
If you take the West side, you're in for a much more challenging and "Rocky" experience. The elevation changes aren't all that different from the east side, but there are LOTS of rock gardens with BIG rocks, perfect for catching your pedal or derailleur on, and usually there are only one or two very technical paths through.
If you're visiting DFW This should be the first trail you ride. It has multiple trailheads, but the best one to start from is probably the MADD shelter in Murrell Park.
(Note: Northshore trail and "Grapevine lake" trail are all really the same trail, which is Northshore. And although it says that the trail is 19 miles its really closer to 22)
| ThankDFW trail FTW
| ThankGood diversity for intermediate trails, very crowded.
| Thankgreat trail system
| ThankAs an Intermerdiate MTB, this was really a fantastic trail. Well indicated, the round trip loop was a hoping 32 KM. Quite flowly, and not too technical (except for some parts).
| ThankFun trail a must ride in DFW
| ThankGreat trail, lots of fun. Occasional small jumps and drops. Watch out for trees and dog shit.
| ThankGood long trail, perfect if you have the right type of bike unfortunately I have a hard tail dj so this trail sucked when going through several rock gardens plan on going back with the proper equipment
| ThankDFW riders swear by this trail. It was relatively flat, with features at each end. The sand made it feel like we were riding on a beach. We asked a local if this was normal and he stated that it's best to ride a couple days after it rains. I should probably give this trail another chance, but there's just too many good trails in the area.
| ThankFun one direction single track. Has flowy sections and technical areas and spots with roots and rocks. Multiple loops so you can decide on how many you want to connect. Great views of the lake and even a nice breeze. I'm from Cali so this was a very different style of riding and I enjoyed it very much
| ThankIt cost $5 to park at this location. Good trail the west bound direction is smooth and flows really good. The east bound direction is a lot more technical. Trail is a set of 7 loops for a total of 22.5 miles. For full trail map and some free parking options check out DORBA's website. http://dorba.org/trail.php?t=19
| ThankFor current trail conditions check DORBA.org. Site gives conditions and describes the other trails around North Texas.
| ThankGreat trail has it all.
Consider this a "home trail", since this is where most of my offroad riding happens. Rode here alot 2014 and before the great flood of 2015. After the flood, the trails were even more fun since the conditions changed. The west side is nice and technical, the east side has some faster flowing sections.
| ThankWest Loop Open. Just about 10 miles in great shape. There is one bridge that is sketchy near Twin Coves, needs wood and backfill. Only one small section is closed, but the alternate path makes it so you may not even notice. Great work everyone. Thanks to all.
| ThankI'm going to be doing a series of reviews on trails that I regularly ride (at an expert level, wink wink). My review will be focused on what to expect and what you should do if you are bringing along your wife or girlfriend (assuming she is a beginner/intermediate level rider) for a day of fun.
This trail has it all. Start off from the parking lot at the Murrell Park entrance (water and porta-potties there) and head West where you will run into the MADD Shelter (a picnic table with a roof) about 1.5 -2mi up the trail. From there you can jump on the eastbound trail and ride back to the parking lot where you came from. The further East you go the less technical (hard) features you will come across. The further West, the harder it gets and your woman will be mad at you (I am assuming your woman rides at a beginner/intermediate level). If she is BAMF (which tons of women riders are) you wont be reading this review, just got ride the whole thing, it's awesome.
Trail is great because it can be as long or as short as you want it to be, with lots of places to bail out and take the road back.
| Thank