El Paso Opens Safe Cycling Routes for Families Across City Parks

El Paso Parks and Recreation opened three new beginner cycling loops on June 1 that stay entirely inside park boundaries and avoid major streets.

Interest in family outdoor time has grown this year as residents seek free or low-cost ways to stay active during the long desert evenings. City data show park visits rose 18 percent from the same period last year, with families asking staff for routes that keep children off roads with fast traffic.

One loop circles the 1.8-mile perimeter trail inside Ascarate Park on East Paisano Drive, where the path is paved and flat. A second option follows the shaded Rio Grande levee path that starts at Chamizal National Memorial and runs west toward the neighborhood of Sunset Heights. The El Paso Bicycle Coalition has posted maps and posted volunteer-led group rides for beginners on the second Saturday of each month at both sites.

Routes and conditions

The Ascarate loop measures just under two miles and connects to restrooms and water fountains at the park’s main pavilion. The Chamizal segment stretches three miles one way and stays on a crushed-granite surface separated from vehicle lanes by a low fence. Both paths are open from 5:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily and require no entry fee.

According to the city’s 2025 Active Transportation Plan, El Paso added 4.2 miles of protected paths inside parks between 2023 and 2025. Rental bikes at the Ascarate concession stand cost $8 for two hours, with child seats and helmets included.

Getting started

Riders can print route sheets at the Parks and Recreation office on Montana Avenue or download them from the city website before heading out. Helmets are required for anyone under 18 on all city paths, and lights are needed after 8 p.m. Families new to the routes are encouraged to start before 9 a.m. when temperatures remain below 85 degrees.