A war is brewing over Houston’s most thrilling bike trails

Mountain biking features, or jumps, ramps and other challenging obstacles, are expected to be removed across trails in Pct. 3 on Harris County Flood Control District land. County officials say these amenities are unauthorized, citing liability concerns. However, Houston’s mountain bike community is pushing to keep them intact. 

Benjamin Drews / GHORBA

Tucked into the woodlands of Harris County, a community has forged its own path for years, building an outdoor haven. But now, what they’ve built could soon be bulldozed.

Thousands of mountain bikers traverse trails across Harris County Precincts 3 and 4 on land owned by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD). While the construction of trail “features”—including jumps and technical obstacles—is technically unauthorized, it has largely gone unchecked for years, quietly shaping a thriving underground riding scene.

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The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association (GHORBA) said it was notified that HCFCD is ending efforts to reach an agreement over trail use in Precinct 3, along the Cypress Creek and Cypresswood trail systems, where features are expected to be demolished soon. 

Feature removal along The Anthills trail system along the Buffalo Bayou has received a temporary reprieve until December as talks continue between GHORBA, HCFCD and Pct. 4. Even there, the future remains uncertain.

“We’re already behind on so many ways in biking in general and connectivity that this is just putting us further behind,”GHORBA President Benjamin Drews told Chron Monday, noting that his goal is to engage the community in a meaningful way to work towards a solution.

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But, county officials say safety and flood control needs must come first. 

Beloved DIY trail features (jumps, ramps and other challenging obstacles) are set for removal along Pct. 3 trails on Harris County Flood Control District land. While county officials cite liability concerns, Houston mountain bikers are pushing to keep the features intact. 

Benjamin Drews / GHORBA

‘An emotional throat punch’ for Houston’s mountain bike community

For many riders, the potential loss is more than just dirt and wood—it’s personal. 

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Drews said he knew some trail areas would be affected by flood control work, but learning that all features could be removed came as a shock. 

“If they bulldoze The Anthill dirt jumps especially…that would be an emotional throat punch for the community,” Drews said. “Just removing the features on Cypress Creek is hard enough.”

Over time, the trails have evolved into more than just recreation. The trails help build community, connect people with the outdoors and give kids a place to stay active while learning their limits, Drews said. He argued that creating a legitimate trail system could reduce illegal building and even help make Houston a destination for mountain biking. 

“You can kick everything out and they’ll come back tomorrow and start building again,” Drews said. “This is not a threat by me as an individual. It’s an understanding that I’ve seen with this community.”
Volunteers have shown their love for the land over the years. Many have spent unpaid hours keeping the trails accessible, especially after storms. 

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“It’s incredible the commitment and dedication, the hours that these volunteers put in simply to do something that they love,” he said.

Harris County mountain bikers are bracing for heartbreak as the county moves forward with removing unauthorized bike features (jumps, ramps, and challenging obstacles) built across HCFCD trails.

Benjamin Drews / GHORBA

Safety vs. access

County officials say the decision ultimately comes down to safety—and flood control. 

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HCFCD told Chron on Monday it is moving forward with removing trail features to prepare for flood risk reduction projects and address safety and liability concerns. 

The removals will affect Cypress Creek trails between north of Jones Rd. and Grant Rd., and  Cypresswood between Strack Rd. and Collins Park.

Officials say the move follows years of negotiations with GHORBA dating back to 2020, but no agreement was reached that met safety and liability standards. 

“We recognize the connection many in the mountain biking community have to these trails, and we understand this change is difficult,” Woodell wrote. “At the same time, these features were built without authorization or best practices and guidelines for safety considerations.”

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Harris County is continuing to evaluate future options for The Anthills trail system between Eldridge Parkway and Wilcrest Drive, Woodell said, including the well-known jump park.

“We know these spaces are valued by the community, and conversations will continue as projects move forward,” Woodell said, adding that the HCFCD remains open to working with recreational partners to design and maintain trail amenities under appropriate guidelines.

Harris County mountain bikers are bracing for heartbreak as the county moves forward with removing unauthorized bike features (jumps, ramps, and challenging obstacles) built across HCFCD trails.

Benjamin Drews / GHORBA

Stalemate over responsibility 

Jeannie Peng with Pct. 3 told Chron that more than 100 miles of hike-and-bike trails will remain, including permitted structures that passed safety review, but the precinct will not support “unsafe and unvetted bike structures.”

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The precinct also said its decision follows years of officials working with GHORBA to formally review the features for safety.

“The Flood Control District has brought forth proposals that have included 1) requesting GHORBA to fund professional design and construction of any trail features to ensure safer installation and usage; 2) requesting GHORBA to place safety signs warning of the risks; and 3) requesting GHORBA carry insurance for unpermitted structures,” Peng said. “GHORBA refused all proposals.”

Drews disputes that characterization. He supported adding signage, but pushed back on taking on what it viewed as excessive liability for an open, public trail system.

Pct. 3 said GHORBA refused a proposal that would’ve required the organization to fund and install necessary warning signs. GHORBA’s president said the association was never against installing signs, adding that a few signs like that one shown above have already been placed across trails. 

Benjamin Drews / GHORBA

“GHORBA can’t limit the users of an open trail system and taking on that burden could hurt our ability to function,” Drews said. “We knew we may need to provide insurance for our volunteers for obvious reasons…however, as it was proposed to us, the requirement is for us to take on all the liability of the trail.” 

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While the conversation often comes back to risk, Drews said he believes a solution is possible, pointing to other recreational amenities in the region that also carry risk. 

“There is risk, there is liability. But my question is always the same,” Drews said. “How do we build skate parks? How do we build pump tracks like they have in Sugar Land? How do we build this stuff that’s just as dangerous, if not more so?”