Does anyone run or bike the trail in this park? A buddy of mine is wanting to do a training hike this Saturday, but the website says the park doesn't open until 7. You can access the trails at any time, right?

Yes. I usually get there way before 7. I have no clue why those signs are there.

You can park at several different places, which is good, because the lot by the gazebo on Memorial fills up quickly on Saturday morning from now until the marathon. There's a really big lot on Dairy Ashford just north of the bayou.

perfect, thanks. I'm in Katy, so I'll probably park at Dairy Ashford or Hwy 6

I usually run before 6am there. Never had any issues. There's a bum that sleeps on a bench between Eldridge and Dairy Ashford on occasion but he's never moved when I've passed him so I think he's pretty docile.

Pretty often, I hear hikers in the woods (such as it is) just north of the bayou between Eldredge and WIlcrest, although I haven't been any farther east than Kirkwood recently because of the repairs to the flooding damage.

I've read multiple comments on various pages about how bad vehicle break-ins are along this trail. Is there a lot that is considered "safest"?

The THP lot on the Katy Fwy feeder, the main gazebo lot on Memorial, and the small lot across the street are patrolled by constables pretty often. You can also park on Memorial Mews Street, which runs parallel to the creek and asphalt trail next to that smaller lot. The people who live there park there all the time. I don't know about the other lots.

what time do those lots start filling up? we're planning on being out there at 0530

About 5. Check them anyway, though. The crowds aren't as big now as they will be in the fall.

thanks for the info

If you take west Gaywood off memorial you can park in the neighborhood and they have a designated entrance. Ive parked there a ton as it's my parents neighborhood