With a wonderful location so close to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and a history full of agriculture, Cedar Hill is a must stay among the Texas State Parks.
Location...Location...Location
First of all, let’s talk about the great location of this park. It’s 20 minutes from the center of Dallas and 30 minutes from Fort Worth. You can’t beat this location. Go to a Cowboys game, a museum, the Stockyards, anywhere you want to go in the DFW Metroplex and it’s all so close.
Camping
PARK MAP There are 6 different camping areas for you to enjoy at Cedar Hill State Park. Lakeview and Eagle Ford offer full hook up sites. Shady Ridge, Hog Wallow, and Coyote Crossing offer water and electric. They also have a primitive tent camping option that you can hike in to. With over 350 sites, you shouldn’t have a problem getting into this park. However, I always encourage making a reservation. We stayed in the Lakeview area while we were here and really enjoyed it. The playground is located here and while, not the best, it does serve its purpose. All sites are nicely shaded accept for #174-179. Beware! We were in #178 and it was so hot with no shade. There are lots of other trees in the area, just that one bare spot.
A History of Agriculture
A unique feature of this park is the Penn Farm Agricultural History Center. Once a family farm, now it has been turned into a great opportunity to see what rural life was like back in the 1800s.
Follow the 1/2 mile trail around the farm to see the Penn Family home, barns, and farming equipment.
If you go early enough, you may catch a glimpse of some current residents. We saw a cottontail rabbit and a lizard. We also saw some very large birds in the one of the barns but I couldn’t tell you what kind they were.
Don’t leave without walking by the farm’s windmill.
Trails
While Cedar Hill isn’t particularly know for its hiking trails, it does have an incredible mountain biking trail system. The DORBA Trail Unit consists of 3 trails that range from 3 to 12 miles in length. While these can be hiked on foot, it’s a bikers world here. DORBA UNIT TRAIL MAP. If you are interested in hiking on foot, this park offers 4 hiker only trails ranging from easy to moderate. TRAIL MAP. I’d recommend the Duck Pond Trail just for the opportunities to see some wildlife at the pond.
Consider the Wonders is not affiliated with Cedar Hill State Park, Texas State Parks, Texas Parks and Wildlife or the cities of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area.
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