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Print Friendly MapFor much of its route, the Rock Island Rail Trail in Amarillo parallels Plains Boulevard, stretching 4 miles between Coulter Street and 7th Avenue at Crockett Street. The trail follows an old rail corridor through an older mixed residential and commercial part of the city.
There's not much shade along this wide paved trail—though there are trees here and there—and you'll find a lot of street crossings, but there are rest areas with picnic tables.
There is no official parking but you may be able to park along the trail behind the businesses off 10th Avenue at the eastern end.
The Rock Island Rail Trail is a nice, wide, flat, urban, concrete trail with lots of trees planted along the way. There are benches, gazebos, and a couple of water fountains. However, there is no parking or restrooms. There are several road crossings with traffic lights. I found it disappointing due to the lack of anything to see except the road on one side and backyard fences and dumpsters on the other.
We came all the way from Pennsylvania to ride on a nice trail in the Amarillo Area and were very disappointed. We found the trail (or at least saw it) from a road that runs parallel to it. Unfortunately we rode almost its entire length in our car but found no parking. None at all. Very disappointing. Would recommend riding at other trails in Texas.
It’s a shame Amarillo has allowed the Rock Island Rail Trail to be overtaken by the city’s homeless. The rail trail used to be a convenient and safe location for bicyclists, walkers, and runners. That is no longer true. There are too many homeless people sleeping on the benches or in tents alongside the trail, blocking the trail with their carts, and leaving behind their garbage. I no longer find it enjoyable to use the trail, and I don’t feel safe anymore.
Nice enough trail for a stroll on our way through town. Not a lot to see but well paved. A bit of an arboretum with trees and signs indicating what they are.
I found this trail on traillink. Stopped here and skated it early on a Saturday while doing a X-C road trip. It is a great skating trail with a very smooth concrete surface. There are seams every 10' in the concrete, but my wheels rolled over them easily. The cross streets had crosswalks on them. I took it slow there, but did not have any trouble crossing them. Early on a Saturday morning, there was very little traffic on the trail. Very well maintained.
The gaping hole near the corner of avondale and plains needs to be fixed so a biker does not get hurt. Who do we contact to get it fixed?
mary
Rode the trail out today. West end to east. Its great. Some traffic to deal with at street intersections. Be careful.
Wife and I had the opportunity to do the whole trail today and found the trail to be very smooth, easy, flat and straight. The trail is well designed with not many road crossings and those that are there are well marked. The trail had plenty of water, bike repair stations and benches/picnic areas.
Now for the rest of the story. The area and folks along the trail leave you with a very uneasy feeling. We passed numerous homeless folks and found that the trash has not been picked up along the trail.
Come on Amarillo, clean up one of your great assets.
Trail runs from east point on SW 7th Ave (center city/downtown) and Crockett to west point on Coulter Street and Interstate 40 (northwest/Medical District).
Parking is available at east trailhead or you can park somewhere along the path wherever you can find a spot.
Created in 2004 with a donation from British Petroleum. There is a gazebo and a horse painted with a rainforest mural (ironic because this was before the BP Oil Spill). beautiful Arbor Trail spans the west 1/2 mile with dozens of trees from around the world with labels and info markers.
All markings listed from west to east
water fountains (year round) at each 1/5 mile
Public shaded picnic tables @ mile .3 and mile 2.7.
There are 7 road crossings at:
Crossing Plains Boulevard @mile .5
Crossing Bell Street @mile 1
Crossing Avondale Street @mile 1.5
Crossing Western Street @mile 2
Crossing Dixie Street @mile2.5
Crossing Kansas Street @mile 2.6
Crossing Georgia @mile 3 (go to intersection .1mile south to cross)
There is one underpass @mile 3.4.
There are restrooms and a playground on the rail trail in-between Dixie Crossing and Kansas Crossing @Margaret Wills Municipal Elementary School Park.
Have fun!!!!!
Between family reunions this July (2011), my wife and I took two of our grandkids to Amarillo, TX to visit Palo Duro Canyon and see the "Texas" show. While there I checked online and found the Rock Island Rail Trail. On July 7th, the two grandkids and I loaded the bikes to give the trail at try. The trail is 4 miles long and runs through older residential and commercial areas. The concrete path is wide and smooth with well kept grass and trees on both sides as well as picnic tables and shade arbors along the way. Noticed a couple of hamburger spots but it was mid-morning and we did not stop and check them out. The trail appears well used as a good deal of foot traffic was present with some other bike traffic. Along the west end of the trail is the arbor section with labeled trees planted on both sides of the trail.
The trail was fun to ride and we all had a great time. I had the chance to teach the grandkids about traffic and road crossings as there are several controlled street crossings and a couple of uncontrolled crossings.
I would ride this trail again, although it is not a trail that I would drive to Amarillo to ride as it is short and I am not a fan of street crossings, but when in the area, I will always have my bike and take a ride. The grandkids loved it and the 4 miles was just about the right distance for them. I give the trail a good rating because it is well kept and very pleasent to ride. Good parking at both ends and easy to find. So if in Amirillo, hit the pavement, relax, enjoy the scenry, and the friendly people of Amirillo.
Bill Blackmon
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