Getting Oriented
Eisenhower State Park sits on the south shore of Lake Texoma in Grayson County, about five miles northwest of Denison and an hour north of Dallas. The park opened to the public in 1958 on land the Army Corps of Engineers leased to Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1954, and it takes its name from Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born a few miles away in Denison. Inside the park's 423 acres, the Ironweed OHV Trail System is the only off-highway-vehicle trail network on any Texas state park. The Texas Off-Highway Vehicle Program, created under Chapter 29 of the Parks and Wildlife Code in 2006, set it up as one of the state's legal OHV riding venues.
Trail Overview
The Ironweed system totals 2.5 miles across four connected segments, all natural-surface singletrack rated for ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes under 50 inches wide. The Pee Wee Practice Area covers a half mile of flat, easy ground built for riders learning the basics, with a 100cc engine cap. Blackland Ramble runs 0.6 miles through open prairie clearing with rocky, fossil-bearing ground underfoot. Big Woods Canyon covers 0.7 miles where the Crosstimbers forest meets the Blackland Prairie, dropping through oak ravines and meadow. Timber Rattler Run, also 0.7 miles, is the technical high point of the system, with a steep, narrow stream crossing. A rider can lap the whole network in about an hour or spend a full day on it.
Points of Interest
- Pee Wee Practice Area (0.5 mi, easy): flat beginner loop, 100cc engine limit
- Blackland Ramble (0.6 mi, moderate): prairie clearing with fossil-bearing rock
- Big Woods Canyon (0.7 mi, moderate to challenging): Crosstimbers/Blackland Prairie ecotone, oak ravines
- Timber Rattler Run (0.7 mi, moderate to challenging): steep stream crossing, timber rattlesnake habitat
Where to Camp
Eisenhower's campground is a short drive from the OHV staging area and covers tent sites, pull-through RV sites with hookups, screened shelters, and a rentable cabin called Ike's Cabin. The park fills up on spring, summer, and fall weekends, so reserve ahead through the Texas State Parks reservation system. The OHV staging area itself has a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a grill, water access, and a composting restroom, free and first-come, first-served, but it isn't a campground on its own.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Buy the Texas OHV decal and confirm your safety certification at park headquarters before unloading. Both are required before a wheel touches the trail.
- Wear a DOT-approved helmet and eye protection. Factory seat belts are mandatory on any UTV that has them.
- Match rider to machine: 70cc and under for ages 6-11, 70-90cc for 12-13, over 90cc for 14 and up. The Pee Wee area caps at 100cc.
- Watch the stream crossing on Timber Rattler Run after rain, and stay alert for timber rattlesnakes on that segment.
- Hold 15 MPH on access trails and roads, skip the alcohol, and leave hiking and biking to the park's separate trail system. OHVs are the only traffic Ironweed allows.
- Park hours run 8 a.m. to sunset, with closures possible for weather or capacity. Call ahead after heavy rain.
Fuel and Water
The staging pavilion has a water tap but no fuel. Denison, about five miles from the park entrance, has gas stations and grocery stores; Sherman, a short drive further, has the same plus a wider range of restaurants. Fill up before heading in, since there's no fuel inside the gate.
Nearby
Denison and Sherman cover dining, shopping, and lodging outside the park. Grayson County Frontier Village, a collection of relocated pioneer-era buildings, sits nearby and makes an easy add-on stop. Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site, marking the house where Dwight D. Eisenhower was born, is in downtown Denison. Lake Texoma itself spans the Texas-Oklahoma line and carries its own striped bass fishery and marinas beyond the park's boat ramp and fishing piers.
