Their
Facebook page describes the trail:
The Wichita Valley Rail Trail is a 7 mile rustic trail connecting the communities of Wichita Falls and Holliday in North Texas. This rustic trail is open to the public for pedestrian, equestrian, other non-motorized vehicle usage.
At each end of the trail and in between are interpretive signs, each with a trail map and a "You Are Here" to help you monitor your progress. These "Wichita Valley Rail Trail" signs feature a steaming locomotive and "A property of the North Texas Rural Rail Transportation District". They provide insets, including a few locomotives, along with pertinent text:
In 1890 Colonel Morgan Jones chartered a railway known as the Wichita Valley Railway Company and constructed a line from Wichita Falls to Seymour. By 1891 the company owned two locomotives and four cars. Earnings that year included $13,483 from passenger revenue and $44,955 from freight revenue. One source states that it cost 15¢ to ride from Holliday to Wichita Falls.
[passes used by their high-level employees] The Wichita Valley Railroad became part of a larger railroad, first the Colorado and Southern Railroad, then the Fort Worth and Denver City and finally the Burlington Northern.
[Legend showing mile markers, parking areas, trail bridges, and fitness stations]
In the late 1990s Burlington Northern sold the railway to a materials company who wasted no time tearing it up and selling it for scrap. This six mile trail is what's left of "the lifeline from frontier to civilization when Northwest Texas was being settled".
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There does appear to be no admonition against parking in the cul-de-sac near the trailhead on Stansbury Ln, but do keep your eyes open. You'll certainly find parking at the trailheads at Sisk Rd, Turkey Ranch Rd/Wells Rd, and South East Rd in Holliday, at the other end of the trail.
Technically, the trail begins a bit south of Stansbury Ln, and there is a dirt path and a sign, with the rail bed in the background. Follow that path and you'll be on the trail in just a moment. It's a mixture of compacted dirt and even some asphalt. The walking isn't difficult at all save for the length of the hike. The signs say "six miles" while Facebook says "seven": In a straight line, as the crow flies, it's a little over six miles, so allow for the bend in the trail near the eastern terminus.
Part of the trail is in Wichita County, the other is in Archer County. Be sure to take a photo of one of the trail signs, bring your GPS, plenty of water, and some snacks. There's not a lot of shade to be had, and as you're getting up into the Panhandle here, the sun and heat can be intense. There are a few shaded benches, but for those who need more frequent rest, be careful of where you sit, as you never know which one of Mother Nature's creatures are parked in the brush. Some have rattles.
For those who need additional punishment beyond that provided by the Texas climate, there are six exercise stations. Coming from Wichita Falls, you'll encounter:
Plyometric Box Station
Horizontal Ladder Station
Horizontal Bar Station
Balance Board Station
Sit Up Station
Parallel Bars Station