AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Joppa Preserve

Overlook–Trinity River Viewpoint, 16 lakes

7.9 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 2 hr 39 min

Overlook–Trinity River Viewpoint, 16 lakes is a 7.9-mile out-and-back in Joppa Preserve near Fruitdale, TX. The route passes Little Lemmon Lake, Trinity River Viewpoint, Raccoon Pond and 11 more before reaching Overlook at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi374 – 420 ft8.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Trinity Forest Trail 32.70597, -96.73764
Nearest town Fruitdale, TX
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Overlook–Trinity River Viewpoint, 16 lakes

7.9 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 2 hr 39 min

Elevation 373–422 ft

Out & Back · Joppa Preserve

Trailhead: Trinity Forest Trail · 32.70597, -96.73764

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:15 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

Transit-accessible: Grt Trinty @ Carbondale - W - FS stop 427 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Trinity Forest Trail, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Little Lemmon Lake.
  3. 3.4 miPass Trinity River Viewpoint.
  4. 50 ftPass Raccoon Pond.
  5. 50 ftPass Spider Web Pond.
  6. 50 ftPass Trailhead Pond.
  7. 50 ftPass Great Blue Heron Pond.
  8. 100 ftTurn left onto Trinity River Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miPass Bullfrog Pond.
  10. 50 ftPass Whistling Duck Pond.
  11. 150 ftPass Great Egret Pond.
  12. 100 ftContinue straight onto Wetland Trail, heading N.
  13. 450 ftPass Cattail Pond.
  14. 50 ftPass Tadpole Pond.
  15. 150 ftSharp right onto Prairie Trail, heading NE.
  16. 200 ftPass Damselfly Pond.
  17. 50 ftPass Dragonfly Pond.
  18. 200 ftTurn right onto Wetland Trail, heading N.
  19. 450 ftPass Wood Duck Pond.
  20. 300 ftBear left onto Overlook Trail, heading NE.
  21. 350 ftReach Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 350 ftBear right onto Wetland Trail, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left onto Prairie Trail, heading E.
  24. 450 ftSharp left onto Wetland Trail, heading SW.
  25. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Trinity River Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right onto Trinity Forest Trail, heading SW.
  27. 3.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/overlook-trinity-river-viewpoint-out-back-27-lakes

Trail surface

88% paved8% dirt2% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:15 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~92 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Grt Trinty @ Carbondale - W - FS stop 427 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Trinity Forest Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Fruitdale, Texas