The Elm Fork forms in Montague County and flows 85 miles southeast, where it meets the West Fork to form the main stem of the Trinity River. Despite being located in a large metropolitan area, the Elm Fork manages to sustain a variety of wildlife as the river meanders through the Blackland Prairies. The Elm Fork is generally a slow moving river, but one that is canoe-able, especially if you are interested in a getting on the river for just a few hours. If considering a canoe trip on the Elm Fork, check out this website http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/trinity5.html.

The Campion Trails in Irving, at Rochelle, on the border between Irving and Dallas provide wooded and paved trails for hiking and biking. The shady trails meander along the river and provide views from its bank of the river and its water life, as it meanders along.

The Campion Trails are part of the larger Bird’s Fort Trail Park. The paths were originally part of a wagon trail that settlers followed to cross the Trinity River in the middle and late 1800s.

The park is host to a great deal of wildlife, expect to see a variety of birds, animals, wildflowers and trees. Waterfowl, such as the Great Blue Heron and egrets are common sights.

The trail is suprisingly remote and it is easy to feel that you are far from the city when passing dark and foreboding swamps.

The variety of sights to be seen from the trails make them a great place to spend a few hours hiking. Even in the heat of summer, the shady trails are a good destination, as long as you go early and wear bug spray.

Elm Fork RIver Dam at California Crossing in LB Houston Park

Fishing is allowed on the river, but the Texas Department of State Health and Human Services has banned consumption on any fish caught from the Trinity starting at the 7th Street Bridge in Fort Worth to the Texas 34 Bridge southeast of Dallas. Perhaps we can take a lesson from New York regarding cleaning up our rivers, especially since there is a place to dump the contaminates so close, http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/062109dntexhudsonpcbs.1e2c014.html.

Elm Fork heading towards Dallas

When the Elm Fork crosses from Irving into Dallas it enters the LB Houston Park and Nature Center. The LB Houston is a great destination for mountain biking enthusisasts, offering seven miles of trails through woods and meadows. The trails are flat and are a good location for beginning riders to practice dodging trees and low branches. The park also has 16 lighted tennis courts and a golf course. In 2006, The Dallas Observer voted the LB Houston Trail as the best place to get muddy and I can’t imagine much has changed since then.

Heading further upstream, the Elm Fork passes under California crossing and heads towards its confluence with the West Fork to form the main stem of the Trinity River.

A small wooded park can be found near California Crossing. The road is currently blocked for construction of the Dart on Loop 12, but the road is still accessible from the Northwest Highway side. This small park is very pretty and offers a simple roofed structure, but the park is not always the safest place during the evening. Perhaps if more people make use of these parks and recreational facilities crime and unsavory occurrences will either find new locations to loiter or the police will provide better surveillance of the areas.