Big River Trail: River View Trail/Dacus Lake Road Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

This is usually done as a loop by most bikers vs an out-and-back. It ends up a long way from the parking lot with no easy access. The signs go all the way around the loop so you can tell where you're at in any portion. There's at least four junctions with maps on them.

NOTE: If the river is in a high flood stage, the trail will be inaccessible and covered with water.

You can rent city bikes at either side of the river. At the bike rental station there's a bike repair station with air available and basic repair capabilities.

This loop ride belongs to the Big River Trail system, connecting Dacus Lake Road, River View Trail, and Robinson Road. It's fine for road or mountain bikes, although if you do the full loop instead of an out-and-back, it turns to gravel for the last third of the loop.

Starting this trail at the Arkansas side parking lot, you follow Dacus Lake Road underneath all the bridges. When you've cleared the bridges you'll see the River Spur Trail to your right. Keep going past that trail and straight down the paved road through the field. Once in the middle of the field, you'll see another parking area and a trailhead sign. This is where the Dacus Lake Road trail and the River View Trail split.

The River View Trail turns toward the Mississippi River and cuts straight through the field on another blacktop surface. There are usually sunflowers and soybeans planted in these fields during the spring and summer. Once you've reached the edge of the river, the trail turns north to follow the river. There are four trail turnouts where you can stop and enjoy the view of the river looking across at downtown Memphis. There are a few small drainage sections that are concrete through this section and they may have some silt deposits in them that can be hard packed or muddy depending on the recent weather.

While continuing north, you'll head under I-40 and continue along the tree line until the trail meets up with a gravel road called Robinson Road. To the right is a private drive. The trail continues to the left along the road and then cuts back under I-40 on a turn-around road for cars coming off I-40. Follow the looped road under I-40 and back to the west and it then meets back up with Dacus Lake Road. Turn left and you'll end up back in the field where you last started on the River View Trail. That completes the loop.