Northeast Texas Trail

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Northeast Texas Trail

The Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) is a planned 130-plus mile multi-use trail in Northeast Texas. It’s designed for hiking, biking, and some horse use, running along the old railroad corridors that follow U.S. Route 82 and Texas State Highway 34. When finished, NETT will connect 19 communities across seven counties, stretching from near the Dallas–Fort Worth area to the Texarkana region near the Arkansas border.

What NETT is trying to become
- Length and purpose: About 130 miles long, intended to be the longest trail of its kind in Texas and one of the longest in the United States.
- Uses: Primarily for bicycling and hiking, with some sections open to equestrians.
- Access: Trailheads will serve towns along the route, with some portions passing through rural countryside between cities.

History and how it started
- Rail-to-trail idea: In the late 1990s, two inactive rail lines were preserved through railbanking so they could become trails in the future. Local groups and national rail-trail groups led the effort.
- First section: The Trail de Paris, a 2.36-mile initial segment, was dedicated in 2004.
- Two main segments: The NETT corridor now consists of Farmersville to Paris (about 62 miles) and Paris to New Boston (about 68 miles), forming the core route.

Trail design and experience
- Access and feel: The trail is being laid out to be reachable from town trailheads, with some longer stretches running through remote countryside.
- Surface varies: Some sections are ready for use, while others are still under construction or being rerouted around obstacles.

Current status (high level)
- Open portions: Several segments across Collin, Hunt, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, and Bowie counties are open or usable in parts.
- Parts under construction or rerouted: Other sections are closed or being diverted due to safety concerns, bridge conditions, or other obstacles.
- Overall goal: The coalition behind NETT aims to clear and grade the entire 130 miles by 2027 and finish surfacing by 2029, with ongoing efforts to secure funding for construction and maintenance.

Northeast Texas Trail Coalition
- The NETT Coalition is a nonprofit organization that partners with seven counties, local governments, land trusts, and volunteers to protect, plan, build, and promote the trail.
- Goals and funding: They work to complete the full 130 miles by 2027 (clearing and grading) and 2029 (surfacing), aided by Texas Parks and Wildlife grants and local partnerships in several towns.

Official information
- Website: northeasttexastrail.org
- Key facts: Length about 130 miles; established 2011; trailheads at Farmersville (west) and New Boston (east); primary uses are bicycling and hiking; trail has moderate difficulty with hazards like severe weather and poison ivy.

In short, NETT aims to turn unused railroad corridors into a long, scenic route for outdoor recreation across much of Northeast Texas, linking communities and offering a major new outdoor resource for residents and visitors.