Trophy Club Park covers 877 acres along the northwestern arm of Grapevine Lake in Denton County, offering a rare combination of dedicated off-road trails, public boat ramps, and wooded hiking paths. Operated by the municipality on land leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Trophy Club Park Texas provides public day-use recreation starting at just $2 for residents and $5 for non-residents.
Key takeaways
- Trophy Club Park encompasses 877 acres on Grapevine Lake, featuring 7 miles of dedicated ATV and motocross tracks alongside 7 miles of non-motorized nature trails.
- General vehicle admission costs $2 for Trophy Club residents and $5 for non-residents, with the main park gate open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Motorized trail passes cost $15 on weekdays for all riders, while weekend access costs $15 for residents and $30 for non-residents.
- Side-by-sides (UTVs) and vehicles with steering wheels are strictly prohibited on motorized trails, and all quad and dirt bike riders must wear DOT-approved helmets and display a valid $20 Texas OHV decal.
- The Grapevine Lake public boat ramp opens early at 4:00 AM daily, accommodating boaters, kayakers, and anglers fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie.
Trophy Club Park: Quick Facts and 2026 Overview
The municipal recreation area is an 877-acre nature and off-road destination situated along the northern shoreline of Grapevine Lake in Trophy Club, Texas. The multi-use property combines motorized quad courses, equestrian corridors, an 18-hole disc golf course, and public boat ramp access.
Originally established as federal flood control land in the late 1940s, this lakefront acreage was leased to local leadership to preserve native Cross Timbers forest while expanding recreational access. Among municipal parks in Trophy Club TX, this preserve is unique for its acreage, shoreline access, and motorized terrain. Today, the property serves as an essential outdoor destination for regional riders, boaters, and families exploring Grapevine Lake parks and shoreline recreation.
- Physical Address: 2885 Trophy Park Dr, Trophy Club, TX 76262
- Total Parkland: 877 acres managed under municipal lease from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Primary Activities: Off-road quad and dirt bike riding, public boating, shoreline fishing, hiking, disc golf, and recreational drone flights
- Park Information Phone: 682-237-2993
Hours, Admission Fees, and Pass Options
Reviewing trophy club park entry fees helps riders and families budget for day outings across the lakefront preserve. Standard trophy club park hours run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily for vehicle gates, while the public boat ramp opens earlier at 4:00 AM. Annual vehicle passes cost $10 for residents and $40 for non-residents, payable by card or exact cash.
The automated entrance kiosk and staffed station accept Visa, MasterCard, and exact cash only. Attendants do not keep change on hand, so visitors paying cash must provide precise currency amounts. All day-use visitors must exit the grounds prior to sunset each evening.
| Activity or Permit | Resident Rate | Non-Resident Rate | Schedule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Vehicle Entry | $2 per vehicle | $5 per vehicle | 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily | Covers hiking, disc golf, and shoreline day use |
| Annual General Pass | $10 per year | $40 per year | Valid for 12 months | Window decal issued for one passenger vehicle |
| ATV Entry (Monday to Friday) | $15 per rider | $25 per rider | 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Valid for dirt bikes and traditional quads |
| ATV Entry (Saturday & Sunday) | $15 per rider | $30 per rider | 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Weekend rate manages trail congestion |
| ATV 10-Entry Punch Pass | $130 flat rate | $130 flat rate | Valid on all open riding days | Transferable between personal off-road trips |
| Public Boat Ramp Launch | Included in entry | Included in entry | 4:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily | Paved launch basin on northwest lake arm |
Note
At $2 to $5 per standard vehicle, the preserve provides access across 877 acres of lakefront terrain, saving outdoor recreationists up to $40 per vehicle compared to privately owned DFW adventure parks.
ATV and Motocross Trails: Rules, Pricing, and Terrain
Motorized off-road riding on the property costs $15 on weekdays for all riders, $15 on weekends for residents, and $30 on weekends for non-residents. Riders must wear DOT-approved helmets, display a Texas OHV decal, and operate traditional quads or dirt bikes. Strict trophy club park atv rules mandate helmets, enforce one-way riding, and ban steering-wheel rigs.
The Trophy Club Park ATV trails wind through dense timber, sandy straightaways, and rolling berms across seven miles of managed off-road corridors. As some of the closest dedicated atv trails near dallas, these loops provide convenient weekend riding without requiring a multi-hour drive into the Hill Country.
- Permitted Vehicles: Traditional four-wheel ATVs with handlebars and two-wheeled dirt or dual-sport motorcycles.
- Prohibited Vehicles: Side-by-sides, UTVs, dune buggies, go-karts, mini-bikes, and full-size trucks or SUVs.
- Mandatory Safety Gear: DOT-approved helmets are required for all operators and passengers regardless of age.
- Age Restrictions: Operators under 16 years of age must remain under direct adult supervision at all times.
- Trail Surface: Sand, packed clay, and exposed tree roots that become extremely slick following rainfall.
Riders visiting from out of town who do not transport their own trailers frequently arrange delivery through services offering ATV rentals in Dallas.
Before starting their engines on municipal trails, all off-highway vehicles must display a valid state sticker purchased through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department OHV Program.
Tip
Call the park status hotline at 682-237-2993 before loading equipment. Trail managers shut the motorized tracks immediately after rain showers to prevent severe clay rutting and erosion.
Grapevine Lake Boat Ramp and Fishing Access
The trophy club park boat ramp provides early morning launch access to the northwest arm of Grapevine Lake, opening at 4:00 AM daily for boaters and kayak anglers. Situated along the northwestern arm of the reservoir, Trophy Club Park Grapevine Lake offers boaters an uncrowded launch basin compared to high-density marinas. Common sport fish caught along the riprap and bridge pilings include largemouth bass, channel catfish, and white crappie.
Because the ramp sits several miles away from commercial marinas on the south shore, boaters enjoy significantly shorter launch lines on summer mornings. Kayakers and canoeists frequently launch from the sheltered coves adjacent to the ramp to paddle the calm water of Marshall Creek.
- Boat Ramp Hours: 4:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
- Target Species: Largemouth bass, spotted bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, white bass, and crappie.
- Fishing Hotspots: Submerged timber beds near Marshall Creek and old highway structure remnants along the shoreline.
- Shoreline Fishing Access: Paved pathways lead from the boat ramp parking lot to clear bank fishing positions.
Anglers aged 17 and older must carry a valid state fishing license, referencing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Grapevine Lake Fishery Survey for current species surveys and bag limits. Boaters must also carry required safety gear in compliance with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Water Safety and Boating Laws.
For those charting boating itineraries across Denton and Tarrant counties, comparing access across other parks on Grapevine Lake ensures ideal staging for deep-water skiing or quiet cove angling.
Hiking and Equestrian Trails: Great Blue Heron and Lake Paths
Non-motorized trophy club park trails encompass over seven miles of natural paths, highlighted by the 2.8-mile Great Blue Heron Trail winding along the Grapevine Lake shoreline. Hikers, trail runners, and horseback riders enjoy scenic lake views through shaded post oak and cedar elm woods.
These pathways remain strictly separate from the off-road motorized corridors, ensuring a peaceful natural experience. Multiple trailheads with designated gravel parking lots allow visitors to start their hikes from different points along Trophy Park Drive.
- Great Blue Heron Trail (2.8 Miles): Flagship shoreline loop featuring scenic water overlooks, rocky shoreline outcroppings, and frequent heron sightings.
- Adventure Loop (0.5 Miles): Gentle wooded path ideal for families with young children, complete with educational native plant markers.
- Sunrise Bay Trail (0.6 Miles): Eastern-facing dirt path known for morning landscape photography and shoreline birdwatching.
- Equestrian Trail (6.0 Miles): Dedicated dirt corridor running parallel to the lake shore, built specifically for horseback riding and trail running.
Hikers exploring regional North Texas greenbelts often compare these unpaved routes to other scenic hiking trails in Dallas that weave through lakefront forests.
18-Hole Disc Golf Course and Drone Zone
Players seeking challenging wooded fairways enjoy the trophy club park disc golf course, an 18-hole layout cutting across natural elevation changes that is free to play with general vehicle admission. The facility also features a designated Drone Zone where certified pilots can legally fly recreational UAVs following FAA guidelines.
The disc golf layout rewards precision shot-shaping rather than maximum arm speed. Fairways cut through mature post oaks, requiring tight tunnel drives and disciplined upshots to avoid thick underbrush along the creek line.
- Course Type: 18-hole championship wooded layout with concrete tee pads and chain baskets.
- Playing Cost: Free with standard $2 to $5 park vehicle admission.
- Signature Challenge: Hole 3 features a blind fairway dogleg toward a green bordered by a seasonal drainage creek.
- Drone Zone Regulations: Pilots must maintain visual line of sight, fly under 400 feet, and yield right-of-way to all wildlife and park visitors.
The dedicated Drone Zone provides open airspace away from active hiking corridors, making it a favorite practice area for local aerial photographers.
Pavilion Rentals, Day-Use Amenities, and Camping Realities
The recreation area operates primarily as a day-use destination with shaded pavilions, clean restrooms, and shoreline picnic tables. Permitted trophy club park camping is limited to primitive scout reservations, meaning individual recreational vehicles cannot hook up on site.
Families and civic groups can rent the large covered pavilion for birthday parties, trail club meetings, or company picnics. The pavilion area includes outdoor charcoal grills, heavy-duty picnic benches, and adjacent paved parking.
- Restroom Facilities: Modern flush restrooms are located near the main entrance kiosk and adjacent to the boat ramp parking lot.
- Potable Water: Drinking fountains operate near the pavilion, but visitors should pack personal water bottles for trail outings.
- Camping Limitations: Primitive group camping only; trailers and recreational vehicles cannot camp overnight.
- Pet Policy: Dogs are welcome on all hiking trails but must remain secured on a 6-foot hand-held leash.
Visitors seeking full hookups or public RV facilities should plan their overnight stays at nearby state parks or regional lakeside campgrounds.
Grapevine Lake Hunting Regulations and Boundaries
Hunting is strictly prohibited within the boundaries of the park and its immediate shoreline areas. Archery deer and waterfowl hunting on adjacent Grapevine Lake federal property is managed exclusively through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual lottery permit system.
The federal boundary line borders the park’s western edge, marked with yellow paint rings and boundary signs. Hunters must stay within designated wildlife management compartments and consult the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual Hunting Regulations for state season dates and licensing rules.
- Park Boundary Status: Zero hunting permitted inside municipal park borders; firearms and bows must remain encased in vehicles.
- Federal Permit Process: Managed exclusively via annual summer email lotteries for archery deer and waterfowl.
- Hunting Permitted Areas: Specific federal wildlife tracts on the upper lake arms away from public parks and trail corridors.
Hunters should confirm compartment maps and federal guidelines before entering public shoreline tracts.
Comparing Trophy Club Park to Other DFW Outdoor Destinations
This lakefront venue provides a more diverse multi-use environment than single-purpose regional destinations, pairing public boating with designated quad trails. Unlike larger DFW off-road parks that cater to rock crawlers and utility rigs, this facility focuses strictly on traditional quads, dirt bikes, and lake recreation.
For trail runners and hikers who prefer paved paths, suburban parks like Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano offer manicured walkways, whereas this park preserves natural lakeside dirt tracks.
| Destination | Primary Focus | Motorized Trails | Boat Ramp Access | General Entry Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trophy Club Park | Multi-use recreation | Yes (ATVs & dirt bikes only) | Yes (4:00 AM launch) | $2 to $5 per vehicle |
| Northwest OHV Park (Bridgeport) | Off-road trail riding | Yes (4x4s, UTVs, ATVs) | No | $15 to $25 per vehicle |
| Rockledge Park (Grapevine) | Lake recreation & paddling | No motorized trails | Yes (commercial fee) | $10 to $20 per vehicle |
| Arbor Hills Nature Preserve | Hiking & mountain biking | No motorized trails | No | Free municipal park |
Choosing between these destinations depends on your equipment and recreational focus. Off-road riders with handlebar quads and dirt bikes appreciate the property for its proximity to Dallas and Fort Worth, while rock crawlers must travel farther west to Bridgeport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the general hours and entry fees for the park?
The facility opens daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM for general visitors, with the boat ramp opening at 4:00 AM. General vehicle admission costs $2 for Trophy Club residents and $5 for non-residents.
Are side-by-sides and UTVs allowed on the ATV trails?
Side-by-sides, UTVs, go-karts, and vehicles with steering wheels are strictly prohibited on all park trails. Only traditional handlebar-steered ATVs and two-wheeled dirt bikes are permitted on the off-road trail system.
Do I need a Texas OHV decal to ride at the park?
Every off-highway vehicle operating on Trophy Club Park trails must display a current Texas OHV decal. Decals cost $20 annually and can be purchased through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Can visitors camp overnight at the park?
The municipal preserve operates primarily as a day-use park, but it permits primitive scout and group camping by advance reservation. There are no RV hookups or electrical pedestals available on the property.
Is the park open when it rains?
Motorized tracks and dirt hiking trails close during and immediately following heavy rainfall to prevent erosion. Visitors should contact the park hotline at 682-237-2993 to check trail status before traveling.
