6 Best Spots For a Romantic Bike Ride In Houston
By Navdeep Khatri
Houston has plenty of places to help put your relationship in first gear. Instead of hitting the bars, grab the handlebars and head to Houston's bike trails. The city has been on a mission lately to connect and improve its 128 miles of trails, and some are ideal for a romantic ride. Here are our suggestions for the six best places for a romantic bike ride.
1. Buffalo Bayou Hike and Bike Trail
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This 15- mile paved path just west of downtown follows the Buffalo Bayou waterway. You and your sweetie will travel through parks, over bridges, and past native landscaping. The trail takes you through Buffalo Bayou Park, a 160-acre green space in the heart of the city. Once you’ve biked the 4.8-mile loop through the park, hop off at the Water Works at Sabine Street. Grab a skyline selfie here with the dramatic view of the city, or catch a performance at the Hobby Family Pavilion.
2. George Bush Hike and Bike Trail
Lakes, bridges, marshes, and a giant park make this trail a perfect romantic outing. The trail is on Houston’s west side near the Energy Corridor. The Boardwalk in George Bush Park crosses a swampy stretch of the Buffalo Bayou and is an excellent spot for wildlife viewing. The trail connects with the Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trail for an extended ride.
3. Hermann Park to Rice Village (via Brays Bayou Greenway Trail)
You can turn a bike ride into a day-long date on this stretch of trail. Just minutes from downtown, Hermann Park is home to the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park Golf Course, and a Japanese garden. You'll also find a reflection pond, McGovern Lake, and you'll ride past the city’s museum district. Grab a BCycle bike at the Lake Plaza or Hermann Park/RiceU METRORail station. Once you’ve enjoyed the park, head west on the Brays Bayou Greenway Trail to Rice University and Rice Village. Bike the 2.9-mile loop that circles campus, then grab a bite to eat in the village.
4. Memorial Park
If mountain biking is more to your liking, you’ll love Memorial Park. It’s one of the largest urban parks in Texas and offers an outdoor escape without leaving the city. You’ll find 10 miles of trails here for all abilities. The purple trail is good for beginners, while the green and orange trails are more challenging. These are multi-use trails, so you’ll be sharing them with runners and hikers. Not a mountain biker? There are two BCycle stations in the park and paved paths as well. Don’t forget the bug spray: the mosquitos here can take a big bite out of a romantic ride.
5. Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trail
This 10-mile trail follows the Buffalo Bayou in western Houston and offers shade and unspoiled scenery. Houstonians owe this natural splendor to environmental activist Terry Hershey. She helped stop a project that would have paved the banks of the Bayou along this stretch. The beauty extends into Terry Hershey Park, where you can choose between dirt and paved paths. Bring a picnic to enjoy after your ride in one of the park’s gazebos.
6. White Oak Bayou Trail
This is one of Houston’s longer bike paths at 17 miles. It starts on the eastern end of the Buffalo Bayou Trail and travels northwest to West Little Oak Park. Portions of this trail are decidedly unromantic as they pass through industrial areas. Don’t let that detract you. The magic happens as you pass through Woodland, Stude, TC Jester, and Watonga Parkway Parks. You’ll also roll through the historic Heights neighborhood, where you can extend your date-by-bike on the Heights Hike and Bike Trail.
You don’t need a bicycle built for two for a romantic ride in Houston: You just need the right pathway. The spots on this list will help you pump up your romance, and you’ll see some of Houston’s best scenery as part of your ride.
Navdeep Khatri is an avid cyclist and runner. He began his love of cycling and jogging as a college student when a bike and his feet were his sole means of transportation. Now, he and his wife share a car, but everyone in the family has their own bicycle.