New Paddling Trails on Yesterday’s On the Dock with Rick Smith

On yesterday’s episode of On the Dock, Rick Smith spotlighted a major expansion to outdoor recreation in North Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has announced the launch of five new paddling trails on Lewisville Lake in Highland Village, officially bringing the statewide total to 96 Texas Paddling Trails.

The new trails—located along the Hickory Creek Arm of the lake—will be celebrated during a grand opening ceremony on June 25 at 11 a.m. at Lakeside Community Park in Highland Village. The additions create eight miles of designated paddling routes, offering everything from quick half‑hour outings to relaxed half‑day adventures. Access points include Marauder Park, Pilot Knoll Park, Sunset Point Park, Lakeside Community Park, and Copperas Branch Park.

Shelly Plante, nature tourism manager for TPWD, says the new trails give paddlers “plenty of options for loops and one‑way routes, along with opportunities to fish and view wildlife on this beautiful section of the lake.”

The expanded Lewisville Lake Paddling Trail system now includes the Pilot Knoll Loop, Lakeside to Copperas Branch, Pilot Knoll to Sunset Point, Lakeside Park Loop, and Sunset Point to Lakeside routes. Each offers a peaceful paddle with varying distances and times depending on water levels, wind, and how long visitors linger to enjoy the scenery. Paddlers are reminded to stay alert for motorboats in high‑traffic areas.

The Hickory Creek Arm is also a strong draw for anglers. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, white bass, and striped bass are all common catches, with small lures—jigs, crankbaits, plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits—proving effective. Wildlife watchers can expect to see great blue herons, great egrets, mallards, swallows, belted kingfishers, and other species that thrive along the shoreline.

This project is the result of a partnership between TPWD and the City of Highland Village, continuing the Texas Paddling Trails program’s mission to promote habitat conservation, support sustainable tourism, and expand outdoor recreation opportunities across the state. More information is available on the Lewisville Lake — Highland Village Paddling Trails website.