Knob Hills Trail

The backcountry of Texas isn't normally sought out for a hiking trip. Thankfully, the northern rural area of Roanoke provides one of the most diverse and rugged terrains to explore with Fido. One trail in particular, the Knob Hills Trail, provides a dog-friendly place to explore some of the natural wonders and wildlife in the northern part of the city.

The trail itself is pretty primitive, only marked by small signs with a crushed stone, sand, and grass pathway that follows through short forests, wetlands, and meadows. The trail isn't just one big loop either, it is made up of smaller loops making it great for marking your place in case you and Fido need to turn back early. The 3-foot long path starts off at the parking lot off the highway, which has a nice lot with picnic tables, trash cans, and an information kiosk. No bathrooms or water here, so be sure to bring some before heading out.

After starting out, you'll immediately be met with plenty of natural vegetation and room to explore. Shortly after beginning, the trail will follow along Denton Creek, providing wildlife viewing of birds and plenty of areas for photos. The trail follows along the creek for a little more than 3 miles before it comes to the eastern top of Grapevine Lake. The trail hugs the northern shore and provides access to the natural beaches, where you and Fido can swim or fish in peace thanks to its secluded spots along the trees.

At this point, the loop turns to head back through to the parking lot. Along the way, the trail is also open to bicyclists and horses, with chances to see other natural animals like deer, groundhogs, snakes, frogs, and every now again a stray cow.

The peaceful hike is pretty quiet thanks to its rural feel and secluded location, giving you and Fido plenty of one on one time. Coupled with that, the easy terrain makes it pretty fun to just go for a walk and explore and with how much area there is, you're going to want to come back, right?