How to Navigate the Heights Hike and Bike Trail

The Heights is home to some of Houston’s most popular outdoor spaces, connecting neighborhoods, parks, and local businesses. What makes these trails so unique is how interwoven they are with the neighborhood. Whether you’re walking, running, or biking, this guide will show you how to use the Heights trail system, where to enter, and how to navigate closures and connections.

The Heights trail system is anchored by two main rail-trails (former railroad corridors) and White Oak Bayou. The railroad was called the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad. For short, people called it the “KT,” which evolved into “Katy.” Additionally, Heights Blvd and 11th St complement the grid and serve as connectors for creating loops around the area or connecting you directly with neighborhood amenities.

White Oak Bayou Greenway

Trail Length:

4.75

miles

White Oak Bayou Greenway is a major trail connecting the Heights to Downtown with a wide, paved path along the bayou. It links to the MKT Trail and 11th Street bikeway and anchors some of Houston’s most popular running and biking routes.
View more: White Oak Bayou Greenway
Heights Blvd Paul Carr Jogging Trail

Trail Length:

1.89

miles

Along Heights Blvd from I-10 to 20th Street, a shaded gravel path runs through the median and features the rotating True North sculpture exhibit. The path is for jogging only, but a bike lane runs alongside the corridor and is wider north of 15th Street.
View more: Heights Blvd Paul Carr Jogging Trail
Nicholson St Trail

Trail Length:

1.83

miles

The Nicholson Trail runs about two miles north to 26th Street, passing historic homes and community features like little free libraries. Along the way, it connects to parks including Herkimer, Lawrence, Love Park, and SPARK Park.
View more: Nicholson St Trail
11th Street Bikeway

Trail Length:

2.23

miles

11th Street and Michaux connect Stude Park to Shepherd with a protected bikeway and a neighborhood safe street design. Safety features include speed cushions, stop signs for cross traffic, and a pedestrian/bike refuge island at White Oak Dr.
View more: 11th Street Bikeway
The Heights MKT Trail

Trail Length:

4.3

miles

The MKT Trail follows 7th Street from Shepherd to Heights Blvd, then bends diagonally between Cortlandt and Sawyer Heights near Target. It continues along Spring Street before reconnecting to White Oak Bayou after the Hogan Bridge.
View more: The Heights MKT Trail

Step 1: Choose Your Entry Point

The trails are highly accessible, with multiple entry points depending on how you’re arriving. Popular access points include:

W 11th Street & Nicholson
Heights Blvd & Trail (7th St)
Stude Park
M-K-T Shopping Center

Tip: If you’re new, start near Donovan Park, there is ample street parking along Heights Blvd. The Farmers Market on the second and fourth Sunday is a great time to explore the trail.

Step 2: Understand the Trail Layout

The system is not just one straight line—it’s a network.

There are three main experiences:

Neighborhood trails
Linear Trail
Bayou trail (White Oak Bayou Greenway)

This means you can:

Do short out-and-backs (1–2 miles)
Create loops (3–6 miles)
Connect to longer regional rides (10+ miles)

Step 3: Navigate Closures & Detours

The two closures as of March 2026, are: the Studewood Bridge and where the trail goes under I-10 near Studemont.

Step 4: Use It for Your Goal

Running. Best sections: Nicholson Trail and Heights Blvd (flat, shaded). Ideal distance: 3–5 mile loops

Biking: Use bayou sections for longer rides, Connect to downtown or Buffalo Bayou

Walking: Short segments between parks and coffee shops, Great for daily errands or evening walks

Step 5: Make It a Destination

One of the biggest advantages of the Heights trail system is that you’re never far from something to do. Along the trail: Coffee shops, Restaurants, Small retail, Parks and green space. This is what makes it a trail-oriented development corridor, not just a recreational path.

Step 7: Safety Tips

Stay aware at crossings (Studemont, Yale, etc.)
Use lights if biking at dusk/night
Keep right, pass left
Watch for pedestrians in high-traffic zones

Why This Trail Matters

The Heights trail system is more than recreation—it’s:

A transportation corridor
A community connector
A driver of local economic activity
A model for trail-oriented development (TrOD)