Cedar Hill State Park is a natural haven for those from North Texas and beyond who want to get out of the city and spend some time in nature. This is one of the few places to be outside and enjoy hiking in the Dallas area.There are several bike trails (that you can also hike!) and a lake to enjoy. They also have picnic tables and spaces to enjoy a picnic and if you love camping, you can do that here as well.
Cost
Entering Cedar Hill state park costs $7 for each adult who is 13 years and older. If you are planning on staying overnight, it costs an additional $5 per adult. Another great option for entering the state park is to buy a state park pass. Purchasing a Texas State Park pass is a great idea if you plan on coming back or going to other Texas state parks in the same year. At the time of writing this article, the cost was $70 annually. The pass does offer some discounts on camping as well as the park stores, helping make the pass more valuable. You can look into the benefits of getting one for your family here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/cedar-hill/fees-facilities/entrance-fees. They also have passes for military, seniors, and permanently disabled individuals at a reduced price.
Trails
While Cedar Hill State Park does not have a large amount of trails to choose from, the ones they do have are well maintained and enjoyable for use. If you are not hiking one of the DORBA trails (Dallas Off Road Bicycle association who help build and maintain mountain biking trails), then there is only one hike that is longer than a mile. The Talala trail is 2.3 miles and you can join it from several different places. We chose to start at the parking lot for the Penn Farm Trail (.6 miles) and join the Talala trail from there. We picked this area as they had a good amount of parking and a nice restroom that we were able to use before setting out. When we started down the Penn Farm trail towards the Talala trail, it was a bit confusing finding the entrance when we walk crossed the road. We ended up walking down next to an empty camp site and joined the trail from there. You can also join the trail from the Talala trailhead if that is easier. There is a parking lot at the trailhead but no bathrooms.
When we hiked the Talala trail there was some shade, but there was also a significant amount of the hike that was not covered. Be aware of this depending on what time of year you go and what the temperature is when visit this park. Make sure you bring water to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen so you do not get sunburned. The Talala trail has the Talala Overlook, which is a nice space to stop and enjoy a view of the lake. The overlook has a bench and a grassy area with some trees. The group we were with enjoyed stopping here and letting the kids run around for a few minutes before continuing on our journey.
If you are wanting to do any of the other shorter trails, you can either park at a nearby parking lot or all of the main hiking trails connect to each other except for the shoreline trail (1 mile). These trails allow you to take a short hike if that works best for you and your group or you can connect whichever trails you are interested in and create your own length.
If you are biking or want a longer hike, you can check out the DORBA trails. We did not hike this during our visit but I hope to go back and be able to explore them. They have a short trail (3 miles), medium trail (8 miles), and a long trail (12 miles). These trails are all considered challenging. If you are biking on these trails, you will be traveling clockwise. If you are hiking, ensure you start the other direction and go counter clockwise. Traveling in different directions helps ensure safety for all involved.
While this Texas state park is not huge, it is great for a day visit or a place to enjoy a night or two camping. It is also a great place for those who wish to bike. We enjoyed our visit and look forward to going back one day.