These are by far my favorite trails in the Dallas area and worth a little bit of a drive. Probably 20-ish minutes from downtown, you'll feel like you're in a whole separate world from the busy city. There are trails of all levels, and even after two decades of visiting these, I probably still haven't done them all. I always feel super safe, which is very important to me, and it's a great place to go with family, friends, little ones, or even by yourself. read more

Great place to hike- different trail options. The trails range from easy to moderate. Good views throughout and quite a bit of shade on certain trails. Lots of parking but can get busy during nice weather days. read more

Cedar Ridge Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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This place is a beautiful place to go walk and relax. You can grab you water, get some comfortable shoes and just go for an awesome walk. My friend and brother love going. Just be aware of your surroundings and where you place your feet. read more

There isn't anything bad I can say about this place I come here every so often when I want to enjoy the nature of the dallas area It's just great to get away from the city and experience the nice nature on a few hikes It's always busy over here It's nice seeing people as well and you get awesome views read more

Cedar Ridge Preserve is a wonderful place to walk, hike, run, or simply be out in nature. There are miles of trails that range from flat walk to uphill climbs. Great for all ages, fitness levels, and pet friendly. The scenery changes on each trail and there is plenty here for everyone to enjoy. read more

Want to feel like you're not in North Texas? Go hike at Cedar Ridge Preserve. This large preserve close to Joe Pool Lake has several trails to choose from and most will lead you to Cattail Pond where there is a nice little sitting gazebo, but it usually has people in it. I enjoy the constant elevation change of some of the trails and get a great bout of exercise. Plus, this place gets crowded fast, especially on nice days. Parking can become a bit stressful, too. So, if you really want the most enjoyable experience, get there early! Lots of dogs on leashes, people running, people training in full hiking gear, and families strolling through the trees. Please leave a voluntary cash donation on your way out to help keep the preserve open and maintained for us all to enjoy! read more

The beat place for hiking or trail running in my opinion. I stay close by and when I get a chance to go I always enjoy it.

Nice hiking spot well maintained good size trail. I would rank it as the best trail thus far. read more

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I love Cedar Ridge Preserve. Free, Clean & SAFE! I hike the 3 mile trail once a week. Beautiful views and very peaceful. Don't forget your water and energy snacks! Also, don't sleep in! Arrive early to miss the crowds. read more

My first experience with this place was on a rainy morning. (11/7/15) It was real nice, with all the trees, I did not get wet like I would have with open trails. I like that they take donations and give you an opportunity to mail it in if you did not know to come with cash. The trails are maintained and I really liked that they clearly marked. Because of the rain some spots on the trail were pretty muddy and slippery but no worries, I never lost my footing. I did slip a few times just to remind myself that I did not know the trails that well yet, take it easy. I would not mind coming out here again, I really like the steep terrain. Back to the clearly marked trails. They had closed most of the Escarpment trail for our safety, and did a good job of blocking it off. I do not respect those who plainly do not respect. But those people will have to work harder at getting past these Closed signs that are put up here. I have no trouble donating to this preserve because you can clearly see they put the money back into the Preserve. I took a lot of pictures so you can see what it looks like in fall, wet weather. Maybe I will see you out here one day! read more

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Amazing, amazing place to hike during any time of the day. After finding this preserve on Yelp, I have been hooked. There's easy trails for beginners that are about 1/2 mile, but also difficult ones (rocks and quite hilly) that can go up to 2 miles. Overall, there's a trail for every kind of person! It's also a great area to get away from the city life and find some peace in the trees and shade. Be cautious of loose rocks and (possibly) snakes. There are warning signs everywhere, but your best bet is to stay on the marked trails throughout the preserve. On drier days, you'll must likely get a heavy amount of dust on the back of your legs and shoes. Be ready to get your hiking boots or running shoes little dirty! All trails are mile marked and there's a large map near the entrance before you get a chance to really venture out. There's also a camping area and plenty of picnic tables around the parking lot. A large restroom facility also lies at the beginning, so don't neglect to bring water on this trip. Keep yourself hydrated and keep an emergency phone, as the trails tend to wind and twist around the entire preserve. Personally, my favorite trail so far is the one that leads to the pond. It's about 3 miles total, but there's a great overlook about 1 mile in. It has the right amount of rigor and also has a nice gazebo once you reach the pond. If you're up for a steep hike, try out that option. The bluebonnet trail also has a fallen tree trunk that makes for great photographs. The entire preserve is beautiful and well-maintained. It's a great place to get in touch with nature. When you first drive into the parking lot, please make that small little donation to keep this haven in Dallas! read more

Cedar Ridge Preserve - View from the overlook on the Cattail Pond trail - Hiking Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Quite a few different trails to choose from. They even have a hummingbird and butterfly garden. It's not extravagant, but there are a few benches to enjoy the beautiful butterflies and tiny, speedy hummingbirds. At the beginning of the trails, there is a map with labeled trails, the lengths, and levels of difficulty. They have paper print outs for you to take, as well. All the forks on the tails have labels for which way the different trails go and most of them have a small map to help guide you. Two of trails lead you to a small pond with a resting area to enjoy the turtles and storks. Some of the trails have a platform you can climb onto to have a nice overview of the trees and lake nearby. Some of the trails get a little difficult and steep though, so be careful. It can get rocky and uneven, too, so I would advise you to wear good shoes. The trails I have been on have mostly had the greens covering me from the sun most of the time, but I would wear a little bit of sunblock on my face and shoulders anyway. I didn't need my sunglasses this time, but on the other trail, I used them for a little bit. It gets pretty hot though, so I suggest you bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. There are signs warning you about snakes, but on my 3 times there, I haven't come across any. I haven't heard of any of my friends seeing any either. Let's keep it that way! I guess you should keep your eye out just in case, but you should be watching where your walking anyway. I saw one woman with bruised knees :/ I don't know how some of those people were running the whole way... I jogged the flat parts, but I wouldn't dare run on the steep or rough terrain. I work up a sweat just walking it though. The people are friendly. Most people walk by with sweaty faces and a smile, saying "hello" or "good morning" Some bring their pups, but they're all on leashes. Admission and parking are free, but they do have a donation box. $3-$5 isn't that bad. read more

Cedar Ridge Preserve - Cattail pond - Hiking Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Very extensive trail with some technical, fun and hilly terrain. Definitely come out here to work up a sweat and get a good workout. It's super shaded if you go far enough into the trail so that should keep you somewhat cool on a warm day. Excellent if you want to go for a hike here as well and there's plenty of parking in the area. It was quite a drive for me to get out here but well worth it! I would definitely come back for a hike or trail run in the near future and bring friends. It felt like a little staycation of sorts. Very quiet and peaceful and plenty of chances for some photo opps. Definitely bring other people though because I could see how it would be easy to get turned around and lost. I'm a bit directionally challenged though. There are plenty of navigation maps so you shouldn't have too much of an issue. read more

Want a hard workout in nature? Tired of paved sidewalks with bikes, baby strollers or slow walkers? Want to imagine you're not in a Texas concrete jungle? Then Cedar Ridge is the place to sweat your ass off climbing up and down steep rock/dirt trails under the cover of tree shade. A few rest spots when you want to die. *NOT SMALL KID FRIENDLY* unless you are carrying them the entire way. No place for roller skates if that's your thing. Excellent work out and many paths depending on the distance you're wanting. It's totally worth the drive!!!! read more

This is a lovely place to come and commune with nature in our own Dallas backyard! It's funny to see the expansive greenery juxtaposed with the highways that surround the lot when you're up high. There are a ton of trails to choose from, or you can do all of them like we did! Some of the terrain is pretty rough, so I have the utmost respect for those fellow nature lovers I saw running the hills. We just hiked and found we got a good workout at times! It is quite easy to get to, parking was plentiful, and it's a $3 suggested donation for your time there. This is also a fantastic opportunity for us to serve our community and help keep our nature preserve healthy. Every third Saturday of each month, you can show up and volunteer to help out in various ways. We did not volunteer the first time, but all the volunteers were incredibly kind, and I'm sure they did a ton of good while they were out there. Something important: Cedar Ridge is closed on Mondays. Bummer! This is a fantastic treasure to have here in Dallas, less than 30 minutes from downtown. Highly recommend! read more

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An amazing local spot to take in the nature. I could spend all day here. It's a great place to go by yourself or with your family

This place is beautiful and peaceful great for a hike. We enjoyed the creek with stream and plenty of benches to rest or relax. The pond has fish that you can see in the water. Very clean and preserved area I plan to go back soon. read more

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I had a great time, despite slide down very muddy hills and climbing through a downed tree, as it had been raining in the area for about a week. When we arrived we looked for the suggested donation box, you have to go into the preserve to find the box. The suggested donation is $3. It was nice because there are several trails for different levels of hiking. We probably went on one of the worst days, because of the mud and the downed tree, but I had a great time. A few times it was a struggle as I am out of shape and five-feet-tall. Some of the natural steps on he more advanced trails were the entire height as the length of my leg. I got a workout! After a while, I really was upset as I am used to hiking in mountains and finally we found a scenic overlook making the hike work while. They even built a deck for an even better view. Then we discovered the one with deck as well. I would suggest this day adventure for anyone wanting to get out of the hustle and bustle of Dallas! read more

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Very cool trail in the suburbs of Dallas. It recently snowed when I took on this trail so there was muddy spots but all was good. I decided to take the trail to the pond. Once arriving I saw a very cool view midway there. Someone built a wooden staircase for Trekkers like me to get some photos in. I think one of the coolest parts was to see they have a wooden box for donations. I walked but there were joggers along the path. Cool trail, next time I'll give the other trails a visit. read more

Cedar Ridge Preserve - Serene - Hiking Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Relaxing environment, definitely recommend if you haven't been here before. Trails are extremely easy to navigate, I do recommended to put your keys in a safe place; I've seen a couple people looking for lost keys in the dark. read more

This is an awesome place to go and unwind. Seeing how popular it is, I think they should charge a dollar or two for access. Some people come from other places and it's starting to get trashy and dog owners are not being mindful of their animal's waste. Since it needs to be looked after, I wouldn't mind paying to get in. read more

Such a nice set of trails. There's really something for everyone: hills for exercise and views, a pond for wildlife, shaded areas for the heat of the day and sunny walks for wildflowers, and there's even a butterfly garden. There's also a small pavilion area, but I don't know what the restrictions are to use it. This is probably the closest place in Dallas where you can find some actually hilly trails. Overall, it's rarely busy, and the hill trails are even less populated. One thing to watch out for, though, is a lot of the trails are rocks of chalk--and they are insanely slippery when even a little wet. People clean up after themselves and pets, which is a huge plus. There is a suggested donations box, so bring a little cash with you. Great park frequented by nice people. read more

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If your wanting to get a taste of nature Cedar Ridge Preserve is an amazing place to explore. There is a variety of trails whether you would like to check out a small trail or longer one. The maps and directions on the trails are self explanatory. On the paths you can encounter wildlife life, I'd recommend proceeding with caution for snake but other than that you may see spiders, armadillo or different types of birds on the trails. Plenty of rest stops on the paths. read more

Cedar Ridge Preserve - One of the views from the Cattail Trail. - Hiking Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Niiiice trail and has some heavy traffic which I liked because sometime I get a lil scary by myself lol. It's not just flat surface,so be prepared for some incline. You can bring your dog, they have benches through out trail if u need to take a seat and relax for a minute. I did 4 miles but i believe its a 9 mile trail you can select which trail you like, has a pond. Seen some birds , signs of snakes but thank God didn't see any of those either. Seen alot of families out nice way to enjoy the end of the weekend . read more

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Nature finest, very relaxing place and great for cardio work out. Park is usually very clean. Several trials to pick from. Area upfront for kids, I don't recommend the larger trails for kids. Wear thick shoes, bring AirPods and water! read more

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Decent place for a hike. It gets very very crowded on weekends/when the weather is good. Parking can also be a challenge (go early esp. on weekends). They have a few parking lots to choose from, some are much farther from the trial entrance. The trail itself, is far from flat, lots of steps, logs, inclines, etc. I like this aspect of of trail. It definitely makes it more challenging and enjoyable. I just wish the trail was way longer and less crowded. Thankfully, with such crowds the wildlife stays hidden. I'm sure at dusk/off season you might see much more. However, always be on the look out, you might see something interesting! read more

Easy to get to and lots of available parking. Wonderful hiking options. Bring water and good shoes

It's been a minute since I've done a trail. I've been in a good amount of pain these couple of days working out with a friend that's a trainer. I've LITERALLY been walking around like Fred Sanford-like something came out of socket. So to kind of stretch out the discomfort- I came here. It was a good walk. I saw a rabit. For a second I thought it was a killer rabit- because it didn't bulge when I hit a log. It's just stood there("as if saying oh yeah"). Just in case it knew something I didnt- I left it alone. The hills did exactly what they do-bring your heart rate up. The down hills gave you a second break only because what goes down- must come up. If you never been here and love fitness to a different level-give Cedar Ridge Preserve a try. (My commercial) read more

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This place has been a hiking staple for my family for 12 years. It's always clean and the trail options are for all levels of hikers. You do have to watch out for snakes in the summer. We have seen a couple but nothing dangerously close. It's a beautiful park with hills, water, and wildlife. Close to town but feels like you drove to the country. read more

Beautifully serene park in Cedar Hill area. Went after it rained in the night so there were muddy trails galore; learned plenty of ways to scrape your shoes clean on the well marked trails. Didn't see any fossils in fossil valley, but the cattail pond was cute, and all the wildflowers and prairie grass a great reminder of Texas beauty. read more

Cedar Ridge Preserve - Wildflowers - Hiking Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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It's a beautiful place but there was a murder or a young woman a few months ago. I guess if you decide to go make sure it's when there is lots of people and your not a lone. This can happen to men or women. A little scary. read more

Had the best time hiking here this past weekend. I've missed the California hikes and this one was pretty fun. It's on the list of one of 6 best hikes in Dallas, and I can't wait to try multiple other paths we didn't get to! I'd say we were out there for a good three hours and it was just a great day! read more

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This a great place to come hike in a well-traveled public place. There are a number of paths that are easy to challenging. Short to long. The only downside is that some people have bad Trail etiquette, bringing music and dropping trash. Most will help try to keep the trails clean. Good family place to be around nature. Good walks. read more

After seeing an event called "Hike + Yoga" being advertised on Facebook, I decided to check it out. The event was being hosted at the Cedar Ridge Preserve, which is not far from my home and tucked away into the Mountain Creek area. Parking on a Sunday can be a bit of a challenge. I ended up parking near the sign/front entrance and I showed up around 1:45ish in the afternoon. Get there early on the weekends if you don't want an additional hike before your actual hike. There was a nice area for our yoga practice, which I enjoyed in the middle of the park. We were relatively undisturbed by other patrons and it made for a very zen experience. The trails themselves are not too bad. We tried two of the less challenging trails but apparently there are several (up to 6 possibly?) trails you can take. We were able to stop at one point and get a pretty decent view of Mountain Creek Lake and the surrounding area. It looks much nicer from Cedar Ridge than it does from Mountain Creek Parkway, I promise. Now I understand why people venture out to Cedar Ridge after my visit there. It's a nice getaway and foray into nature without having to actually leave town. The area is very peaceful and you can wander off down a trail, have a nice view, work up a sweat, and then head back home. I will certainly return and maybe next time I will bring my dog with me so he can explore the trails as well. read more

Whether you're a bird watcher, hiker, botanist, or a parent looking to get your kids out of the house, Cedar Ridge Preserve will give you what you need. The Preserve began with only twenty-six acres of land, but now boasts 600 acres of natural habitat with nine miles of trails that trek through the shades of native Texan trees. A mere 20-30 minutes' drive from downtown Dallas, the Preserve is worth a half-day visit. Just make sure to come early in the morning before the heat and temperature rise. FYI, well-kept bathrooms are available at the trail heads, so don't hesitate to bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. read more

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Clean and well worth the time. A little bit of nature so close to the city is hard to find.

The best place to go for a hike in DFW. My boyfriend and a have been coming here for almost a year now, and we cannot get enough. Lots of different trails for all levels. Trails are clearly marked, and you can easily spend an entire afternoon here! Make sure to pack plenty of water--there are no fountains, and some hikes take a bit of time. read more

I love this place. It's great for a intense hike or if you just want to get out and enjoy nature. They have several trails for all experience levels, so whether you're just beginning or are an expert hiker you'll find a trail that's perfect for you. Just be careful of snakes and make sure to wear appropriate shoes. read more

This used to be the best kept secret in Dallas. It is now overcrowded i ran this place for 20 years with no traffic. The past few years have been very different with so many people on the trails read more

Love taking the doodles out for a hike. Nice to be in nature without the crowds. Trails are nicely kept and clean. We like morning treks to hear the birds and skip the heat. read more