Armand Bayou Hike and Bike Trail

Just located on the side of Red Bluff Rd., there’s this trail that’s connected to Armand Bayou.
It’s a long trail and is paved with small granite granules. It’s easy to walk on and I’m sure it’s easy to ride on.
The day we came had lots of mud puddles and waterholes, but we (Pocky, I, and my sister) managed to walk around it.
Along the trail, there’s history and information about Armand Bayou. On the opposite side, there’s trail exercise machines to relieve your body tension.
It’s a good trail if you wanna walk a long distance just to burn some calories, but be surrounded by the nearby road and the wildlife.

Holidays with the in-​laws mean I’m often looking for nice places to run around Pasadena & Clear Lake. This year, I needed something longer than the track at Holly Bay Court park, and preferably not on the sidewalk in a residential area. For my purposes, the 5 mile Armand Bayou Hike & Bike Trail is alright.
Not to be confused with the nature observation trails at the similarly named Armand Bayou Nature Center park
off Bay Area Blvd (which is managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife, requires a fee for entry, and does not allow «jogging»), this particular trail opened in the mid-​2000s and is managed by the City of Pasadena as a public fitness and recreation area. As additional grant funds are obtained over time, the plan is to connect this section with others to form a 40+ mile trail system in the Bay area.
Depending on where you start and which side spur detours you take in the greenbelt sections, the crushed gravel path can provide a decent long run (10+ miles out & back) with plenty of shade from the adjacent forested areas and a few scenic photo-​ops over the bayou.
I generally start at Holly Bay Court
and take the trailhead through the woods behind Fairmont Junior High. This part of the trail has several bridges and mountain bike paths that break off to hug the banks of the bayou or follow a pipeline path to let out at Red Bluff or Fairmont. On this part of the run, I’ve encountered squirrels, rabbits, deer, and lots of birds, but so far, no gators or the often warned about snakes. Maybe that’s because I’m usually here in winter? If the weather is warm, be sure to wear bug repellant, as the mosquitos are serious here!
Sticking to the wide gravel path and following the signs with arrows directing me along the «Armand Bayou Hike & Bike Trail», I continue for 2 miles until I emerge from the woods and pass behind a large apartment complex where the path begins to follow the southwest side of Red Bluff Road. From this point, the dirt & gravel trail pretty much takes the place of the sidewalk and runs straight ahead for 3 miles to the end at a Valero
convenience store on Bay Area Boulevard.
Running past industrial sites while traffic barrels by at 50 MPH is not nearly as enjoyable, and the ubiquitous roadside litter around this part of the trail can be depressing. On the brighter side, the tree-​lined trail surface seems fairly well maintained and does at least run past some interesting stops like the Big Island Slough recreation area
(with picnic tables, canoe/​kayak put-​ins, and birding blinds). Between the slough and the Kipper Mease softball fields
, there is even a set of 10 or so workout stations with educational plaques about the bayou, its flora & fauna, and the history of the area.
Water fountains & restrooms are available at Holly Court, Big Island Slough, Kipper Mease, and the Valero station. You will also find several benches and picnic tables along the trail for taking a break.