Cedar Ridge Preserve

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.

Cedar Ridge Preserve is a great place for hiking or jogging. He has several paths to choose from, but I would advise you to look at its map before choosing the route. I often jog here and I have never been disappointed. Also the park has some interesting landscapes. You will receive only positive emotions from the walking here. I advise you to visit this place.

Amazing place to hike. I’ve been there so many times and I still feel like I haven’t gone on all of the trails. Some of those trails can be a bit tough especially if it’s a little wet, but they’re still fun nonetheless. If I’m in a hiking mood, this is definitely my place to go.

Amazing, amazing place to hike during any time of the day. After finding this preserve on Unilocal,I have been hooked. There’s easy trails for beginners that are about ½ 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!

Great place for a quick trip into the woods that doesn’t take hours to drive to.
Trails were well taken care of, easy terrain and dog friendly.
Can’t wait to go back.

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!

Beautiful! Easiest 4 miles ever! Great place to go with people you like lol or man’s best friend! I don’t think I’d mind going solo either, all in all… awesome trail!

If you are looking for a hiking trail that has elevation changes, this is a good spot! So glad I found this place. I go whenever I can with my dog.
Always a good crowd there but you seem to loose them when hiking since it’s a big place.

I can’t believe I have lived in Dallas my entire life and have never even heard of this preserve! It feels like you entering into another world once you step on these trails. The other reviews are correct, parking does get a little crowded on the weekends, but you are there to WALK/​RUN trails… what’s a few extra steps if you end up having to park near the entrance? There are so many different trails to choose from so rest assured that even if all the parking spots are filled, not everyone is going to be on the same trail.

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.

Best trails I’ve hiked in Dallas. Numerous options for connecting trails into a loop of whatever length desired. All the trails are well maintained, perfect for hiking or trail running. Cattail Pond makes a nice destination. Views of Joe Pool Lake from some lookouts.

Pretty legit hiking trail. They had some pretty steep hills at one point. Definitely return.

Cedar Ridge is a beautiful spot about 40 minutes from North Dallas. I arrived here on a Saturday morning around 8:00 a.m. to find the parking lot full! So get there early if you want a good spot. People were just parking on the entrance road at this point. There were so many people on the trails so if you want a more peaceful experience I would go earlier or later. The trails range from more of a nature path to a little challenging. Bring your dog! Bring your family! Bring bugspray because those mosquitos are not playing around. Get out and enjoy someplace that feels very far away from Dallas.

Love this place. For the 1^st time I completed all the trails ina day. Took approximately 2.5 hrs but I did it and almost 8 miles. Best thing… it was lightly raining which held most it. Love the views and the volunteers. If you visit, bring a monetary donation. Any ount helps preserve the beauty of these trails.

Hiking here with my dog & my friend was so much fun! My westie enjoyed it so much. We hiked for almost two hours! It’s very relaxing and beautiful. The best part is that it’s free! if you do come I suggest to go when the place opens which is 630 – 7 the place gets super packed and parking will be bad. I left the place at 830 this past Saturday and the whole packing lot was full. Make sure you bring water and comfy shoes.

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.

Managed by the Audubon Society, Cedar Ridge Preserve is a fine place for a nature walk. Between the hills and the changing leaves, I almost couldn’t tell that I was in Dallas. They have about nine miles of well-​marked trails in total, broken up into very manageable segments. I suppose you could piece them together for a trail run, but they clearly have something more leisurely in mind.

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.

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.

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)