The goats and sheep came back to the Northaven Trail this October, and this time they covered nearly twice as much ground. Friends of Northaven Trail expanded its grazing program from 29 areas in 2025 to 57 in 2026. It is a small story with a bigger point: the trail has become one of the most valued amenities in Preston Hollow and North Dallas.
What happened on the Northaven Trail this month?
People Newspapers reported on October 30, 2026, that the program known as Northaven Tails returned for a 10-day run. In fall 2025 it brought about 400 goats and sheep to the trail. This year the herd grazed 57 designated areas, up from 29 the year before. Police officers escorted the animals across major roads, and two schools sponsored grazing areas.
The herd is tended by Open Space, an eco-friendly land clearing company, and areas are sponsored by local businesses, neighborhood groups and families. The program has its own site, tails.northaventrail.org, with a daily flock finder, a grazing schedule, an interactive map and parking locations.
Why use goats instead of mowers?
The trail has designated pollinator areas that are left unmowed so native grasses and flowers can grow. According to People Newspapers:
- The animals eat the thick upper layer of thatch instead of clear cutting the area.
- Their hooves aerate the soil, which helps new plants germinate.
- The result supports food and shelter for birds, butterflies and bees.
- Organizers also wanted school-age children to see what grazing animals do, and more field trips are expected.
How big is the Northaven Trail now?
The trail began in 2010 as a 2.5-mile path between Valleydale Drive and Preston Road, built inside Oncor's east-west power line corridor. A western expansion between 2017 and 2019 stretched it to 9.3 miles, reaching Denton Drive. In December 2023 the pedestrian bridge over US 75, nicknamed the Low Five, opened to the public, linking the trail east toward White Rock Creek Trail, Cottonwood Trail and eventually the SoPac Trail. Planned connections to the west include the Bachman Lake and Love Field area.
The path is a 12-foot-wide concrete trail, and its funding came from federal, Dallas County, city and private sources. Friends of the Northaven Trail, founded in 2010, supports its development, maintenance and use.
Which neighborhoods does the trail touch?
The trail runs east to west across the northern part of Preston Hollow and North Dallas, close to streets around Northaven Road, and connects across Central Expressway toward Lake Highlands trails. For many households between Walnut Hill and Forest Lane, it is the nearest long, continuous place to walk, run or bike without crossing a major road at grade every few blocks.
Why should home buyers care about a trail program?
Our agents at The Agency Dallas who work Preston Hollow and North Dallas hear trail access come up again and again, especially from families and from buyers relocating from cities with strong park systems. A few reasons it matters:
- Daily use, not occasional use. A trail within a few minutes of home becomes part of the morning routine in a way a destination park rarely does.
- Connection to the wider network. Since the US 75 bridge opened, the Northaven Trail is part of a regional system rather than a stand-alone path.
- Active stewardship. A volunteer group that expands programs like this from 29 to 57 areas in a year signals a trail that will be cared for. That is reassuring for buyers who plan to stay a long time.
- Community identity. School field trips and neighborhood-sponsored grazing areas build the kind of shared experiences that make a neighborhood feel connected.
None of this makes a house worth a set amount more, and we would not claim it does. But when buyers compare two otherwise similar homes, proximity to a well-kept trail is often part of the decision. Our Preston Hollow page and neighborhoods guide offer more context on the area.
Where can you park and get on the trail?
The grazing site at tails.northaventrail.org lists parking locations along the route, which is useful well beyond goat season. Because the trail follows a utility corridor, access points are spread out along cross streets rather than concentrated at one trailhead. Residents who live within walking distance of an access point often use the trail daily, while others drive to a nearby lot on weekends. If you are house hunting in the area, it is worth checking how far a given address is from the nearest entry, since that distance shapes how often you will actually use it.
How can residents get involved?
- Check tails.northaventrail.org for updates on when the herd returns.
- Sponsor a grazing area through Friends of Northaven Trail, as local businesses and families did this year.
- Volunteer with trail cleanups or native planting through the nonprofit.
The Agency Dallas likes stories like this one because they show what a neighborhood actually cares about. Four hundred goats on a power line corridor is a fun picture. The fact that neighbors keep showing up to sponsor, map and celebrate it says more.
Frequently asked questions
When were the goats on the Northaven Trail in 2026?
People Newspapers reported on October 30, 2026, that the herd returned in October for a 10-day run. Organizers post schedules, a daily flock finder, maps and parking information at tails.northaventrail.org, which is the best place to look for future visits since timing can shift with weather and the condition of the pollinator areas.
How long is the Northaven Trail?
The trail is about 9.3 miles long and runs from the west side of Central Expressway to Denton Drive near Walnut Hill. It started in 2010 as a 2.5-mile section between Valleydale Drive and Preston Road and grew through a western expansion completed around 2019, then connected east over US 75 in 2023.
What is the Low Five bridge?
The Low Five is the pedestrian and bike bridge that carries the Northaven Trail over US 75. It was installed in late 2023 and opened to the public in December 2023. It links the trail to White Rock Creek Trail and Cottonwood Trail on the east side, creating a connection to the regional trail network.
Who runs the Northaven Trail grazing program?
Friends of Northaven Trail organizes the program with Open Space, an eco-friendly land clearing company that tends the herd. Local businesses, neighborhood groups, families and two schools sponsored grazing areas in 2026, according to People Newspapers. The nonprofit has supported the trail since 2010.
