There are two trails near the shores of Possum Kingdom Lake:

The entire trail system totals about 16 miles of trails. The Johnson Peak penninsula has about half of the trail length. The Redbird Trail section to the east, has the other half. There are numerous trail heads to start or end your ride/hike. Click to see Johnson's Peak Trail Map.

I recommend that you start at the eastern most trail head. there is a huge parking lot, restrooms, and the eastern half of the trail system has easier climbing to help you get warmed up for the Johnson Peak half, to the west.

Background:

Local Possum Kingdom resident Roger Wallace started riding on this penninsula on Possum Kingdom lake in 1987. It wasn't long before he started creating trails on it. Within a few years, he had created a dozen miles of trail.... all by himself. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 some avid mountain bikers got involved to help him out and get an agreement with the Brazos River Authority. David Michaels, and Larry Colvin, both of the Fort Worth Mountain Bike Association who are experienced trail builders, and were the driving forces in buildng Sansom Park trail in North Fort Worth, knew that a formal agreement would need to be reached with the Brazos River Authority. Before a mountain bike club would invest the time of its volunteers in a trail, they needed to know they were welcome, and that their input was respected.

But they quickly found out that what Roger had been saying was true. The Brazos River Authority would not listen to experienced mountain bikers, who knew what would get serious mountain bikers driving all the way out from Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Abilene, Lubbock, and further. The Brazos River authority didn't believe experienced mountain bikers and trail builders when they told them that primo mountain bike trail is singletrack, and there needs to be trail catering to not only beginners, but also intermediates and experts. Good mountain bikers like a challenge. And if you dumb down all the trail, then it loses its appeal to better riders. Can you imagine a ski mountain in Colorado with nothing but beginner trails????

The Brazos River Authority wouldn't listen. They had never built a singletrack mountain bike and hiking trail that appealed to real mountain bikers and hikers, but they thought they knew best. Instead of singletrack, designed to attract all kinds of riders and hikers, they dumbed it down. Singletrack IS more difficult to put in, but Roger had already done that part. Sure there were spots on the trail where you had to get off your bike and walk it for a few feet, because it was an intermediate level technical challenge to negotiate some rocks, but that is part of the allure of hiking and mountain biking. Singletrack is beautiful. Natural looking. But lthe BRA engineers didn't want

Now what we are left with is wide flat trail. that, they wanted to hop on their mini-bulldozers called Bobcats, crank it up, and plow over Roger's singletrack. The trail there today looks like the trail in a formal urban park. Stroller-friendly! Its not 1 to 2 feet wide. Its 6 to 8 feet wide. It looks like it was designed for ATVs, and baby strollers. If you like wide flat trail, you will love it. But why not have something for everyone? Why not show some respect for what real mountain bikers and hikers like?

At the Possum Kingdom Hike & Bike Trail, there is lots of good parking, nice restrooms, and even a water fountain. There are several campsites available around the trail.

click here to see the exact Google Map location of both trails. Be sure to zoom in and click on the blue markers for additional information.

How to get there:

go to Tarrant County via 121/820 to 20, or via 30 to 20

Go West on Interstate 20 west of Fort Worth

take the Weatherford Exit and go west on Hwy 180

Go through Mineral Wells then turn right onto 337

Turn left onto 254 when you reach Grafford

after 8 miles turn left onto 16

head south for 4 miles, then turn right onto Park Road 36

another 4 miles on 36 will bring you to Redbird Rd. Turn Left

the Trail Head is just a little way down on your right.

total distance is about 100 miles from Dallas, depending upon which part you live in.

you can Call the Brazos River Authority (the BRA) at (940) 779-2321 if you have questions about the trail, or would like to camp at their campground immediately to the west of the western Johnson Peak Trailhead.

If you ride this trail, and enjoy it PLEASE post a report on the Ride Forum of Dorba.org. Why? Because this trail in in danger of being sold to developers or being bulldozed. The more people who ride it, the more likely it will be saved. So if you ride it, help us spread the word!

Click here to read the history of Johnson Peak and learn where it gets it's name.