DFW Hiking: Cedar Hill Spotlight

While North Texas has many fantastic spots, there’s one gem just southwest of Dallas that consistently offers a unique variety of trails and natural beauty: Cedar Hill, Texas.

Just south of I-20 in a hilly section of the area, Cedar Hill is home to some of the best hiking areas in the DFW metro. Cedar Hill is a destination for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers seeking everything from challenging climbs to peaceful lakeside strolls. What makes Cedar Hill so special? Its unique topography, diverse ecosystems, and dedication to preserving natural spaces have created some of the best and most varied trails in the entire region. Forget just one or two good options – Cedar Hill is packed with diverse experiences for every type of outdoor enthusiast.

The trails:

Cedar Ridge Preserve

When you ask someone in Dallas where’s a good place to hike, chances are this is the first place that you’ll hear mentioned! Cedar Ridge Preserve is technically within Dallas city limits but feels a world away, perched atop the escarpment in Cedar Hill. This beautiful 600-acre natural preserve, maintained by Audubon Dallas, offers 9 miles of looping trails ranging from easy to challenging (for Dallas, keep your expectations reasonable) . You’ll find elevation changes, wooded paths, stunning views of Joe Pool Lake, and a chance to spot diverse wildlife and plants. While the parking lot can get busy, the preserve’s expansive size means you can still find plenty of quiet on the trails themselves.

Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center

Located right in Cedar Hill, the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center offers a unique glimpse into the diverse ecosystems of North Texas. What makes this spot special is its distinct geological features and the namesake flowering dogwood trees that put on a spectacular show in the spring. The center features several miles of trails, including an accessible paved trail that winds through the canyon, and more rugged natural surface trails that ascend to provide panoramic views. It’s a fantastic spot for birdwatching and connecting with nature, offering both an easy stroll for families and some more interesting hikes with some elevation changes for those wanting a bit more of a challenge. Don’t forget to check out Cedar Mountain Preserve when you visit, located just next door.

Cedar Mountain Preserve

Just next door to Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, you’ll find the quiet Cedar Mountain Preserve, a 128-acre nature preserve that’s part of the Dallas Open Spaces program. To get there, simply take the paved Balcones Trail north from the Dogwood Canyon area. When you encounter the modern art structure, hang a left back into the trees to explore this brief one-mile trail. The trail is mainly a linear climb up a small hill, followed by a small loop at the top, offering a quick but rewarding escape. Once you’ve explored the preserve, you can either head back down the path to Dogwood Canyon or continue on Balcones Trail along the main road towards Cedar Hill State Park and an observation ‘tower’.

Cedar Hill State Park

A true cornerstone of outdoor recreation in North Texas, Cedar Hill State Park sits on the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake. This sprawling park offers a wide array of activities beyond just trails, but its trail system is definitely a highlight. The DORBA (Dallas Off Road Biking Association) Trail system, maintained by volunteers, offers three different options of trails (3 miles, 8 miles and 12 miles), with varying difficulty levels depending on how far you want to go. That’s not all, there are also several other nature trails in the park, and a historic farmstead that the kids may enjoy. That’s not even counting exploring the shores of Joe Pool Lake, for relaxing, paddling fishing or swimming. You can easily spend a day here exploring all it has to offer.

Big Cedar Wilderness

Photo Credit: Trail and Ultra Running

Big Cedar Wilderness has an interesting backstory. Located near Cedar Ridge Preserve, this ~290 acre nature preserve got it’s start when the Mountain Creek Community Church partnered with DORBA to allow access to the land (and Prayer Mountain), to build mountain bike trails. Over the years, over 20 miles of trails crisscrossed the area. making it one of the largest and hilliest mountain bike trail networks in the area. In an effort to preserve the area from future development, the Trust for Public Land worked with the owners and the city of Dallas, to transfer it to the city and convert it to a park. There are plans in the future to expand amenities including better parking. I haven’t written a detailed post about Big Cedar Wilderness, but I have been out there a few times, and it really is a cool spot with lots of elevation! This is a great example of various entities cooperating to ensure the protection of green spaces for the community!

The Balcones Trail

The Balcones Trail is different than all the rest on this list. It is a 4 mile paved trail that follows Beltine Road, that also contains some rather interesting decorative structures, one of which is an observation tower. One end is at Mansfield Road to the north, with the southern side ending at Governor’s Loop Road. The paved trail links Cedar Hill State Park, Cedar Mountain Preserve and Dogwood Canyon (which I think is the only place to park). If you check it out, make sure to see the cool observation tower north of Cedar Hill State Park, for views of Joe Pool Lake.

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Cedar Hill truly stands out as a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts in North Texas. Its diverse natural landscapes offer something for everyone, from serene walks to challenging mountain bike rides, all within a short drive from most places in the metroplex. There’s something for everyone here!