5 Beautiful Spots for Hiking in Waco

By Kelsey Kennedy | October 28, 2024

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I chuckle a bit when people ask for the best hiking trails in central Texas, because let’s be real: Texas hiking just isn’t that exciting. However, I scoped out the best hiking trails in Waco because sometimes you just need to get outdoors and climb!

When the weather is perfect for hiking and you want to hit the trail, here are my five favorite places to hike in and around Waco.

Here’s Where To Go Hiking In Waco

1. Cameron Park

Well, Cameron Park is the best hiking spot inside Waco city limits…duh. It’s a massive 416-acre city park that was donated to the city in 1910 by Flora B. Cameron, and it’s honestly Waco’s crown jewel. If you love hiking, you can find lots of hiking trails in Cameron Park.

The most famous place to climb is Jacob’s Ladder. It’s a really steep (but surprisingly short) staircase up the side of a cliff, and I didn’t dress the part when I climbed it!

But if you want something a bit longer, there are 26 miles of trails in the Cameron Park Trail System. Bikers occasionally use the trails, so if you’re hiking, just look out for those mountain bikes coming up behind you!

Highlander Loop is an awesome 1.7 mile hike if you want something a bit challenging, and The River Loop Trail is flat and easy. But look at the trail maps when you arrive at the park and enjoy exploring the best hiking in Waco!

WEBSITE | 2601 Sturgis Rd Waco, TX 76701

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2. Lake Waco Hike and Bike Trail

If you’ve only ever driven through Waco on the drive down I-35 you might not know that there’s a huge lake on the western side of Waco. The Lake Waco Hike and Bike Trail is an awesome spot to enjoy a leisurely hike in Waco.

This one is a 5.6 mile out-and-back walk, so you can turn around at any point to make it shorter. It’s a paved walkway, and most of it isn’t shaded. So…while the view is nice (you’re walking next to a lake!), it’s more like a sidewalk stroll than a “hike.”

Also, one thing to know about this one: the bugs can get really bad and annoying! I like to wear bug spray anytime I’m close to a Texas lake, and just note that the gnats in the air can get kind of bad at certain times of the year. (Especially when it’s a very humid day.)

WEBSITE | Waco, TX 76708, United States

3. Woodway Park

Woodway Park is also located on Lake Waco, but it’s on the southern tip of the lake (versus Lake Waco Hike and Bike Trail, which is a lot further north.)

Woodway Park has a bunch of hiking trail loops that are around 1 mile each. You can see the map here. If you want something a bit longer, you can easily piece them all together.

There’s not a lot of elevation here, so all of the Waco hiking near Woodway Park is going to be more of a leisurely stroll than a strenuous hike. {Photo: Traci R., Yelp}

WEBSITE | 1625 Estates Dr, Woodway, TX 76712, United States

4. Cedar Brake Trail at Dinosaur Valley State Park

The hiking within actual Waco is pretty limited, but if you’re willing to drive an hour in any direction, you can find a lot of trails! One of the prettiest spots is the Cedar Brake Trail at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Its about 70 miles from Waco.

This is a slightly more challenging hike than the other one I mentioned, but let’s be real…this is still central Texas hiking, so no mountains here! But this is a nice 2.5-mile trail with a lot of hills and stairs. Be prepared to get your heart rate up! {Photo: Audrey H., Yelp}

WEBSITE | 1629 Park Rd 59 Glen Rose, TX 76043

5. Mother Neff State Park

Gorgeous hiking here! It’s only about 40 minutes from Waco, so if you have a free morning and you want to enjoy fresh air, it’s well worth the drive.

The Tower Trail Loop is really popular because of that cool water tower. You can actually climb it and enjoy the view from the top! There are several other 1.5-mile trails that are all relatively easy.

{Photo: Jake H., Yelp}

WEBSITE | 1921 State Park Rd 14, Moody, TX 76557, United States

To recap: if you want the best hilly climbing in Waco, your best bet will be some of the harder trails at Cameron Park. And if you’re willing to drive out a bit, you can enjoy a pretty wide range of terrains at Dinosaur Valley State Park and Mother Neff State Park.