National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
74 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service
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Outdoors
Biking and mountain biking near Tyler
Trails and recreation areas near Tyler open to biking and mountain biking.
5places to ride
74 mito the closest
October–Maybest months
Good to know: Wilderness areas are closed to bikes; check each area’s trail rules and yield to hikers and horses.
Closest picks
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
96 mi east · Fish and Wildlife Service
The Red River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was created legislatively by the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act - signed into law on October 13, 2000. The first land purchase was made in August 2002 consisting of 1,377 acres.
Joe Pool Lake
99 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
Joe Pool Lake is a 7,400-acre impoundment located in the southern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Map of all 5 places
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30 to 75 miles (1)
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
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- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Off-highway vehicles
75 miles and farther (4)
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
The Red River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was created legislatively by the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act - signed into law on October 13, 2000. The first land purchase was made in August 2002 consisting of 1,377 acres.
- Biking
- Birding
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake is a 7,400-acre impoundment located in the southern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
Grapevine Lake
Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Whitney Lake
There are 10 Corps of Engineers parks, one state park, and three additional parks managed by Hill County or private individuals. Equestrian riders have a great place to explore rolling hills and woods in the McCown Valley Equestrian Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Tyler. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Tyler
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Day Trip to Tyler
A full episode of The Daytripper exploring the Rose Capital and its rose garden.
Watch on YouTube ↗
A WALK AROUND TOWN
A Walk Through the Tyler Rose Garden
A tour of the Tyler Rose Garden in full October bloom, shared by Visit Tyler.
Watch on YouTube ↗More outdoors near Tyler
Questions
Where is the closest place for biking near Tyler?
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (USDA Forest Service), about 74 miles southeast of Tyler as the crow flies. Next are Red River National Wildlife Refuge (96 mi) and Joe Pool Lake (99 mi).
When is the best time for biking near Tyler?
Based on Tyler’s average highs, October–May. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.