Is it Colorado? No, but these are some of the best trails for a "hike" you will find close to…read moreDallas. It's a great place to go for a walk in the woods with some elevation change up hills (don't expect mountains) that will provide some challenge without being defeating for those of any ability level. There are some pretty views, and you get the feeling of being out in nature and more connected with the earth. It's pretty crowded; on a Sunday at 8, I had to wait in a line to get in. Go early to secure a parking spot. They let people in as others leave, so the whole time you're there expect to see plenty of others out on the trail. No issues with bugs on March day. I especially love Cedar Ridge for trail running because it's challenging and perfect for training without destroying your legs. This is a hot spot for trail runners for sure. Definitely a must see for nature lovers in the DFW area. Temper your expectations if you've hiked out of state, but just remember it's really nice relative to more limited opportunities to "get outside" (in the words of REI) we have in this region.

Came here with my boyfriend, since the weather's been so nice. We had to wait for a few minutes to…read moreenter the park, since they let the same amount of people go in as those exiting. It's so nice to be surrounded by nature and to see such great views. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and maybe bring a hiking stick if you have an issue with balance, since there are lots of uneven paths and steps. Overall, it was a really nice park and we walked the entire area. Will definitely visit again!

We were in the neighborhood and decided to go check it out…read more The parking spots are pretty cool to start (we are from Illinois). I like that most are in the shade. There is an area for learning with some air plane wings and a place to sit and chill. Walk a bit further and there is a waterfall. Wasn't moving a lot of water the day we went, but it was still a good photo. We walked out a bit further and didn't see anything more but an open path for walking. It was nice to be out in the fresh air and walk for a bit.

This place is a perfect little picture spot. If you know where to go (secret!), it's easy to find a…read morecozy corner of the creek to have a quiet brunch picnic or you can use the main trail to pass by lots of big families enjoying their afternoon out. The main falls area is best enjoyed in the early morning when there isn't a drought of any severity, as it dries up pretty easily. You'll hear lots of planes on the nearby airbase but it's only annoying if you don't live around here. Before the pandemic, this place was a true hidden gem but it has become more crowded since then, even with the world's tiniest and easily missed parking lot acting as population control. I'll always love this park and going for photo ops but I miss when it was overlooked.

What a great way to spend a day! Just an hour and a half outside of Dallas, you can immerse…read moreyourself in the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth! There's actual dinosaur tracks preserved in the rock at Dinosaur Valley State Park, and that just adds even more fun to the experience! We went for the day and the entrance fee was $8 per adult. They accept cards and cash at the Ranger Station. Prior to arriving I tried to buy tickets online, but I kept only seeing tickets for overnight camping. Nonetheless, we were still able to pay at the entrance and we were even able to get out and use the restroom facilities at the entrance. Once you pay your entrance fee, a ranger will give you a trail map. There is ample parking inside the park, so there are lots of possibilities on where to start your adventure. We started on the Pawluxy River trail and crossed over to the main track site where the dinosaur prints are very clear. The river crossing has slightly protruding rocks that you have to navigate on foot to get across the river. I wore hiking boots and I think this was ideal for the environment. From there we switched to the overlook trail where the elevation is 850 ft, so you get a great view of the whole Pawluxy River Valley. From there we descended to the Black-capped Vireo Trail, then crossed the Pawluxy River to make our way back to our car. While there's endless combinations of hikes you can take, ours took about 3 hours. Along the way there were lots of people. Mostly gathered at the river and at the tracks. The rest of the trails were actually very quiet and peaceful. In addition to hiking, there are other points of interest. There are dinosaur models, a swimming hole and of course multiple dinosaur track sites. Overall, Dinosaur Valley is a great state park with something for everyone!

What a great park! We crossed the river and played where dinosaurs once walked!…read more The water was a fair depth and cool but not too cold and not too high. The footprints are easy to spot and so cool along with the gently cascading falls of the river as it rolls along the path. We enjoyed the big "mascots Dino near the gift shop and the gift store,

Nice little hidden treasure It has a waterway that is pleasing to listen too. Lots of peopleread more

No bikes or horses allowed; foot traffic only; lots of people walking their dogs; lots of…read morefishermen. There's a really nice mix of easy and more difficult trails with good inclines as well as trails with lots of shade and others with lots of sun. There's yucca prairie and oak forest, a pond, a lake, and interesting geology for rock hounds. Overall, it's a great spot that's big and difficult enough for avid hikers to scratch a little itch and comfortable enough for dog owners and parents of small children. There are no restrooms. Bring water.

Merry Christmas! Didn't want to waste the day by staying secluded at the apartment all day. I…read morewanted to go hiking and to enjoy a cigar next to a campfire. All accomplished...woohoo! The only drawback is I had to rent a campsite for the day in order to get a fire blazing. Kind of sucked since I wasn't planning on spending the night. Oh well! It was all still worth it as I supported nature and TPWD. The hiking trails were challenging and invigorating. Thankfully they were also very clearly marked. They were a challenge with all the natural rock and rock cliffs. Penitentiary Hollow was the main attraction of the hike. Wow, Lake Mineral Wells rocks with awesomeness! Please camp here!

Really pretty lake. Had a picnic lunch played some Frisbee. Watched several folks successfully…read morefishing. Nice slot canyon walk/climb at Penitentiary Hollow. I am older and have less than great knees so I sat out the trip down into the canyons. But the views at the top were breathtaking. The family had a great trip.

This place is beautiful. They used wood chips on the playground and there's a lot of shade for the…read moreplay area. There's a bridge there's some hiking area there's some asphalt for a riding little tricycles for scooters. They have water fountain picnic tables and even a barbecue. What they didn't do was shade the bench areas. There's no place to sit in the shade if you can't slide on the slides. Trying to watch my granddaughter play but I would have to walk too far away to get shade so that's going to stop me from coming on warm days. There are a few walkers out here. So it's a good place to walk for your health. I'm thinking my daughter will bring the grandkids out here. But I'll only come if it's fairly cool outside.

It's pretty pretty here, very nature-y. Very "am I still in the mid-cities?" There's even steep…read morerocky hills (are they hills? Cliffs?) that make your park experience extra scenic. Tons of big gorgeous trees and plenty plush, green lawns for frolicking, a little babbling stream with a walking trail bridge that goes over it. Like a storybook, for real. Rickel Park has 1.5 miles of walking and jogging trails, a picnic area with tables, a couple pavilions, and a great playground that's relatively shaded. There's nothing particularly novel or modern going on here, but this park actually transports you out of suburbia for a second and into the woods. Especially if it's not too crowded. With the right weather it's honestly so peaceful and enjoyable and feels like you're on a little trip. Bring a picnic and play and hike and enjoy.

Not a great park but definitely a good one as it has a small parking lot and a very tall piece of…read moreplayground equipment in the usual bright primary colors that make it attractive for the kids. I didn't get too close to take pictures today because it was in use by two moms and their kids. Creepy single dude taking pictures, not a great look. There are several picnic tables scattered around and some charcoal grills, though they're mostly under the trees which will make for some interesting smoke situations. The best feature here is the walking trail that goes quite a distance and links up all the way across 35W to the top of the country club. Very, very cool. [Review 16029 overall - 216 in Texas - 1534 of 2021.]

This is a small park with a kids playground in the middle of a neighborhood on the east side of…read moreBurleson. If you're up for a fun hike, take the 10-feet-wide concrete trail through the trees and if you're adventurous, you can go underneath I-35W to the west side of the freeway and end up near Old Town on the west side after a little more than 2 miles.

This is a fun 2.5 mile hike (5 miles round trip) that takes you from just outside of Old Town on…read morethe west side of I-35W to a neighborhood on the east side. You'll walk through hundreds of trees, along a creek, past Hidden Creek Golf Course, under the freeway, through an open field with lots of wild flowers and birds, through a cemetery and an industrial area, winding through a residential neighborhood, more woods, and finally ending up at a kids playground on the other side. Dogs are welcome and cyclists will enjoy not fighting with cars for a while and both ends of the trail have bike lanes and parking lots. There are two water stations along the trail and one of them in the middle near the cemetery has water for your dog. There are distance markers at every quarter-mile to track your progress.

Benbrook Lake is an artificial lake in the Trinity River basin ten miles south of Fort Worth. It's…read moreabsolutely beautiful!! There are six public parks located within the forty miles of shoreline. Each one offers something different, like picnic areas, camping, boating, fishing, and swimming. This was our last stop for our 2022 Challenge! We went out for a Christmas Day hike after all the festivities and decided to explore the Benbrook Lake Horse and Nature Trails near Whiskey Flats. We saw the remnants of several old stone buildings, including a huge double chimney. Bald Eagles are known to nest in this area, but we didn't spot any this time.. We will definitely go back and explore more of that area.

Great place for fishing. Loved going out to this lake. People at the marina were so friendly too…read more Great place for fishing. Loved going out to this lake. People at the marina were so friendly too.

A very well kept trail. Lots of shade, so this would be perfect for the warmer months. Many picnic…read moretables out here too. Easy parking!

Great place. Very peaceful. Lots of people so it is safe. We are coming next time to bike rideread more