Doolittle Nature Park

Built for Moving

Along N Doolittle Road in Edinburg, Doolittle Nature Park is essentially a trail park - you come here to move, not to lounge. The trails are made for hiking, mountain biking and trail running, and that's the focus of the whole experience. Managed by the City of Edinburg, the park is open daily from 6AM to 8PM.

The Trail Network

Two main trails, "Primera Seccion" and "Segunda Seccion," together form a loop of about 3 miles, and a shorter 1.5-mile green trail offers a gentler option. The two main trails are rated blue (intermediate) singletrack.

All trails are one-way, and markers are in place throughout, though in a few spots you'll need to pay attention to stay on course. Motorized vehicles aren't allowed.

For mountain bikers, there are some genuinely fun technical features: sharp turns, berms, short climbs and drops, dirt jumps and at least one wall ride. Experienced riders will find it rewarding, and newer riders can usually bypass obstacles on the green trail.

Hikers and trail runners use the park too, but the ground is uneven in places, with loose gravel and tight passages that keep you focused. There are no benches along the trails and no play equipment, so it's not really a park for young kids or leisurely strolls.

Mesquite and Wildlife

Like the rest of the Rio Grande Valley, Doolittle is flat: the total elevation change across the trails is only about 15 to 16 feet. What it lacks in hills, it makes up for with mesquite cover that provides shade, along with a mix of native plants. Birds are around, other wildlife sightings aren't unusual, and snakes may be present, so keep an eye out.

Before You Go

Amenities are basic: a small parking lot, two covered picnic areas with tables and a BBQ pit, and a porta-potty. There's no water fountain, so bring your own water.

The lot can look fuller than it is, because of activity at the City of Edinburg Services Department across the road. Watch your footing, too - there are occasional patches of debris, broken glass and concrete remnants along the trails - and stay off the trails when they're muddy.