Wagon Wheel Crossing - Ray Roberts Lake State Park

 

Ray Roberts Lake State Park is my most frequent hiking destination since it is the closest state park to my home. For a long time, I stuck to the same few trails at the park. Recently I decided to branch out and try Wagon Wheel Crossing. 

This trail is 3.6 miles long from end to end or just over 7 miles roundtrip. It is part of a larger multi-use trail system that begins along US 380 and ends over twenty miles later in the Jordan Unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park. Wagon Wheel Crossing can be accessed from the Bluestem Grove equestrian camping area inside the Isle du Bois Unit or the FM 455 trailhead in the Greenbelt Unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park. Restrooms are available at both trailheads. Admission to Ray Ray Roberts Lake State Park is $7 per person per day over age 12 (as of December 2022). Cellular service is intermittent along this trail. 

Wagon Wheel Crossing is a forested trail. Most of the trees along the trail are typical of the Cross Timbers region. However, the trail crosses a section of the Lost Pines Trail, offering the hiker a chance to briefly traverse through a pine forest. 

There are no markers or blazes along this trail. Just the same, the path is well-worn and easy to follow. Some minor changes in elevation and rocky sections add a bit of challenge to the trail without making it overwhelming. A tunnel runs underneath FM 455 to connect the Isle du Bois and Greenbelt Units of Ray Roberts Lake State Park, so no need to worry about crossing the busy highway. 

All in all, Wagon Wheel Crossing is a great, but not a spectacular trail. During my hike, I only encountered a handful of other hikers and one person on a bicycle. If you are fond of the forest and prefer a trail that offers relative solitude, this is a great trail.

More information:

• Ray Roberts Lake State Park
• All Trails (Note: map does not include the entire trail)
• Lake Ray Roberts Equestrian Trails Association (LRRETA)