Bay Area Hike & Bike Trail

Trail
10.00 Miles
N/A
Free
1point5stars (1.50)1
3point5stars (3.50)
halfstar (0.50)
N/A
Yes
Yes
No
2700 Bay Area Blvd
Houston
Harris
More Info
Photos
Another View Of The Trail
This is where the trail passes over the Horsepen Bayou on Bay Area Blvd. (Photo by Blaze)
Another View Of The Trail
This is along Kirby Road. (Photo by Blaze)
Armand Bayou Nature Center
The trail passes and goes along the Armand Bayou Nature Center for a good ways. In the remote wooded areas of the ABNC, you may see some white tailed deer (I did). (Photo by Blaze)
Long Straightaways
At times, the road seems to go on forever. It can be boring and the roar of traffic nearby provides no solitude. This photo was taken along Red Bluff Road. The Armand Bayou Nature Center is on the right side of the fence. (Photo by Blaze)
Bay Area Park
Bay Area Park is a scenic park along the way. Good place to rest and stretch. (Photo by Blaze)
Trail Near UofH @ Clear Lake
Apparently this trail is also part of a marathon trail. (Photo by Blaze)
Piers At Clear Lake Park
These piers are popular with people that like to fish. (Photo by Blaze)
Log Entries
Long Loop
By Blaze on 3/2/2013
Rating: 1point5stars Difficulty: 3point5stars Solitude: halfstar
Distance: 9.00 Miles Duration: 3 hours

Before I start my log, let me state up front that the total length of this trail is approximately 10 miles.  The Harris County Precinct 2 Parks & Recreation website states it is a 5.2 mile trail, but that is WRONG.

The Bay Area Hike & Bike Trail is a long loop with a "tail".  I did not hike the "tail", only the loop, which is why I hiked 9 miles, not 10.  The trail goes around Pasadena Lake, but you don't realize it since the lake is narrow and cuts through one part of the trail.  The trail is paved (partly concrete, partly asphalt) that is sometimes on the right hand side of the road and, for some segments, is on the left hand side of the road.  The signage is not that great, so be sure to look to see which side of the street it is on.

This trail is primarily for bikers, but also good for distance joggers and hikers.  Be sure it's within your capability because you don't want to get stranded somewhere along the way.  There is little to no solitude on this trail since you walk along busy streets where cars roar by at 40-55 mph, but there are some parks along the way you can stop and rest.  One of them is Clear Lake Park, another is Bay Area Park, and the other is the Armand Bayou Nature Center.  I recommend you park your vehicle at one of these parks and use it as a start/finish point.  Just be sure to get back before sunset so the gates aren't locked.

If you're really ambitious, you can catch the Armand Bayou Hike & Bike Trail at the intersection of Red Bluff Road and Bay Area Blvd.  You can my log of that trail here.

To read my log of Clear Lake Park, click here.

To read my log of the Armand Bayou Nature Center, click here.

 

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