Getting Outside in The Colony
The Colony is one of the few cities in North Texas where you can walk from a neighborhood trail to the edge of a 29,000-acre lake without ever leaving city limits. With more than 2,500 acres of parkland spread across over 20 parks — ranking among the highest per-capita park acreage in the state — there is a genuine range of outdoor options here, whether you are looking for a quiet morning hike, a weekend camping trip, or a round of golf on the water.
The Shoreline Trails: Lewisville Lake on Foot
The signature outdoor experience in The Colony is the network of hike-and-bike trails that hug the Lewisville Lake shoreline. Two main routes define this system.
The Colony Shoreline Trail runs 3.5 miles from Stewart Creek Park on the northwest end to Ridgepointe Park on the southeast. The trail was designed with environmental sensitivity in mind — routes and materials were chosen to protect native vegetation, preserve large trees, and minimize disturbance to wildlife habitat. Five pedestrian bridges cross creek drainages along the way, and several low-water concrete crossings are stamped with a wooden plank pattern, a small design detail that reflects the care put into the overall route.
On the western peninsula, the Tribute Shoreline Nature Trail covers 2.5 miles of undisturbed terrain and includes a scenic overlook of Lewisville Lake at the tip of the peninsula. It connects to the Lebanon Trail, a 2.8-mile on-and-off-street concrete route with a poured-in-place rubber surface that runs along Lebanon Road, linking nearby neighborhoods into the broader trail network.
Neighborhood and Connector Trails
For residents looking to build daily walking or cycling into their routine, The Colony has a solid set of neighborhood trails that connect parks and open spaces across the city.
The Park Loop Trail is a 3.5-mile concrete path that runs north from Greenway Park along the Oncor easement to Squires Street, then meanders east along a drainage easement before looping back south toward Hawaiian Waters. An additional half-mile stretch extends through the Legends neighborhood. The Austin Ranch Trail is a separate 3.3-mile concrete route running through the Austin Ranch area of the city, giving that part of town its own dedicated walking and biking corridor.
Stewart Creek Park: The Recreational Hub
At 65 acres, Stewart Creek Park functions as the city’s primary lakeside gathering place. It anchors the northwestern end of the Colony Shoreline Trail and offers a wide range of amenities in one location: a swimming area along the shore, a fishing pier, covered picnic pavilions, and kayak rentals. It is the kind of park that works for a solo morning walk and an afternoon family outing on the same day, which is why it stays busy across seasons.
Hidden Cove Park and Marina: The Full Lake Experience
For a more immersive outdoor stay, Hidden Cove Park is the destination. Encompassing 720 acres along Lewisville Lake, it offers tent camping, screened shelters, cabins, a bunkhouse, and RV sites with full hook-ups. Day-use amenities include boat ramps, a sandy beachfront, bank fishing, horseshoe courts, volleyball, playgrounds, pavilions, BBQ grills, and a fish cleaning station. The marina adds a significant boating component, with over 350 covered slips ranging from 24 to 48 feet. If you want to spend a weekend on the water without leaving The Colony, this is where you do it.
Golf Along the Lake
The Colony has an unusually strong lineup of public golf options, all taking advantage of the Lewisville Lake setting.
The Old American Golf Club and The Tribute Golf Links sit together on the western peninsula and are consistently ranked among the top 100 public courses in the country. Old American was designed by Tripp Davis and PGA Tour player Justin Leonard, drawing on Golden Age American golf architecture with natural contours, native grasses, and strategic hazard placement. The Tribute Golf Links takes a different approach, modeled after Scottish links courses, with a clubhouse that includes a restaurant, banquet spaces, and a pro shop. Details on both can be found at theoldamericangolfclub.com and thetributegc.com.
Stewart Peninsula Golf Course is a 9-hole course positioned on a peninsula bordering Lewisville Lake, featuring double greens and six teeing areas per hole across more than 65 acres of lake views. It is regularly cited as one of the best places to play in the Dallas area and includes the only lighthouse-style clubhouse on Lewisville Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Colony Shoreline Trail?
The Colony Shoreline Trail is 3.5 miles long, running from Stewart Creek Park to Ridgepointe Park. It is a hike-and-bike trail with five pedestrian bridges and several low-water crossings along the route.
Can you camp in The Colony near Lewisville Lake?
Yes. Hidden Cove Park offers a full range of camping accommodations, including tent sites, screened shelters, cabins, a bunkhouse, and full hook-up RV sites, all within its 720-acre property along the lake.
Is there kayak access in The Colony?
Kayak rentals are available at Stewart Creek Park. The lake also has multiple access points across the city’s 23 miles of eastern shoreline, which support kayaking, boating, fishing, and swimming.
Are The Colony’s trails paved?
Many are. The Park Loop Trail, Austin Ranch Trail, and Lebanon Trail are all concrete surfaces. The Colony Shoreline Trail and Tribute Shoreline Nature Trail use materials specifically chosen to minimize environmental impact, including low-water crossings stamped to resemble wooden planks.
