Rowlett Creek Preserve Trail

Trail News: Updated 07/05/2008

Rowlett Creek Preserve Trail Reopening - original Loop 6

The original Loop 6 [including the west side of the power line] is finally back in business after being closed for over 6 months.

The new sewer line construction [up the power line from below Miller Road to the Water Treatment Plant on original Loop 5] is all but complete. There is a small section of construction still being worked on very close to the Garland Water Treatment Plant. And since this section of Loop 5 is still under water [due to the construction], there isn't any reason that trail users should be in this area. There are still a few heavy vehicles coming up the power line, so keep a watchful eye when riding in the open.

With the assistance of several RCP FOTT's the west part of Loop 6 [and the east side closest to the power line] has been cleared of dead fall and weed whacked. The temporary by pass for Loop 6 [used in the past to keep all trail users on the east side of the power line] has been closed, so please turn left instead of right at the temporary directional sign [which has been modified to show the correct direction of travel]. There also have been several orange pin flags and marking tape added to the sections [entrances and exits] closest to the power line...to help keep users on the correct path.

ENJOY...and SYOTT,

Jack Sparkes

Directions to Trailhead:

Street Address: 2525 Castle Rd, Garland, TX.

Rowlett Creek Preserve located in north Garland (LAT 32deg 56' 46" LON 96deg 32' 58" MAPSCO 19A-V). The parking lot is at Centerville Road and Castle, just south of where Centerville tees into 190.

Trail Description:

This is an ever-growing loop that the trail steward, Earl Hammond, keeps adding to.
It seems every time I go out there, there's more to ride!

Entrance to Trail on loop 1
(Picture: Bill Stadelman)
Mostly flat and twisty, although Earl did manage to find some dips and whoop-de-doos in there.
You cross the creek early on, and come close to it on several other points, but be careful, or you'll wind up in it! He has several logs to jump, how many depending on who's moved what, and at one point you end up by the waste-treatment plant (no - you can't hold your breath until you get away from it, but it's not that bad...).
In case you were wondering where the hill at the end fo loop 8 came from, it was built by the East Texas Traction Company between 1912 and 1917.
In 1912 the electric railroad company started a rail line to run between Garland and Greenville. In 1917 the project was stopped and the rails and equipment salvaged. You can see two pilings on the East side of Rowlett creek if you stand on the bank at the last turn on loop8 and look across the creek. They were cut off at grade during the salvage operation and the creek bank has since eroded around it. I am sure that they will go one of these days in the interrest of progress.
The long drop on loop7 is also part of that historical railroad bed. It is fairly easy to follow the route of the rail construction from a current aerial photo by following several long thin ponds and tree lines in a smooth arc from the area on loop7 in a shallow arc arch east-north-east crossing Northeast Parkway as Castle and continuing east to the main body of Lake Ray Hubbard. If you are interested in the history of that railroad before all evidence disappears, there is a book available on railroad history in the area by Jerry Brewer.

There is now about 12 miles of trail, with more planned in the future.

Creek Crossing at the start of Loop 1a
(Picture: William Priddy)

Exiting the Creek Crossing at the end of old loop7
(Picture: Tom McMillan) Drop off into the creek crossing on old loop 7
(Picture: Tom McMillan)

Creek Crossing at the end of old loop7
(Picture: Scott A. Hunt) Some places allow you to get air
(Picture: Scott A. Hunt)

Rowlett Creek makes for an excellent night ride
(Picture: Scott A. Hunt) A good light system is highly rcommended
(Picture: Scott A. Hunt)

Glen's Wall Glen's Wall marker

Glen's Wall marker
Dennis & Wayne ride by the new Earl's Way Trail Marker

Earl's Way marker

Facilities:

Drinking Water Available

Porta-Potty

Paved Parking Lot

Gazebo, Charcoal Grill, and two Picnic Areas at Trail Head

Gas/Food at Centerville @ Hwy 66

Trail Maps:

Riders should not cross any private property signs at any point on the trail.

To save on downloadtime for this page I have created some links to other available maps that Earl Hammond has created using GPS technology:

Topo GPS Map of Rowlett Creek Preserve

GPS Map of Rowlett Creek Preserve, overlaid on aerial Photo

High Res PDF file available Here

			This is an ever-growing loop that the trail steward, Earl Hammond, keeps adding to. It seems every time I go out there, there's more to ride!
Entrance to Trail on loop 1 (Picture: Bill Stadelman)
Mostly flat and twisty, although Earl did manage to find some dips and whoop-de-doos in there. You cross the creek early on, and come close to it on several other points, but be careful, or you'll wind up in it! He has several logs to jump, how many depending on who's moved what, and at one point you end up by the waste-treatment plant (no - you can't hold your breath until you get away from it, but it's not that bad...). In case you were wondering where the hill at the end fo loop 8 came from, it was built by the East Texas Traction Company between 1912 and 1917. In 1912 the electric railroad company started a rail line to run between Garland and Greenville. In 1917 the project was stopped and the rails and equipment salvaged. You can see two pilings on the East side of Rowlett creek if you stand on the bank at the last turn on loop8 and look across the creek. They were cut off at grade during the salvage operation and the creek bank has since eroded around it. I am sure that they will go one of these days in the interrest of progress. The long drop on loop7 is also part of that historical railroad bed. It is fairly easy to follow the route of the rail construction from a current aerial photo by following several long thin ponds and tree lines in a smooth arc from the area on loop7 in a shallow arc arch east-north-east crossing Northeast Parkway as Castle and continuing east to the main body of Lake Ray Hubbard. If you are interested in the history of that railroad before all evidence disappears, there is a book available on railroad history in the area by Jerry Brewer.
There is now about 12 miles of trail, with more planned in the future.
	Creek Crossing at the start of Loop 1a (Picture: William Priddy)

Exiting the Creek Crossing at the end of old loop7 (Picture: Tom McMillan)		Drop off into the creek crossing on old loop 7 (Picture: Tom McMillan)

Creek Crossing at the end of old loop7 (Picture: Scott A. Hunt)		Some places allow you to get air (Picture: Scott A. Hunt)

Rowlett Creek makes for an excellent night ride (Picture: Scott A. Hunt)			A good light system is highly rcommended (Picture: Scott A. Hunt)

Glen's Wall			Glen's Wall marker

Glen's Wall marker			Dennis & Wayne ride by the new Earl's Way Trail Marker

Earl's Way marker