Cedar Hill State Park

Cedar Hill State Park is a 1,826-acre park on Joe Pool Lake in the city of Cedar Hill, Dallas County, about 25 minutes southwest of downtown Dallas. It’s best known for the DORBA mountain bike trail, a lakeside swimming beach and 339 campsites with hookups, all inside the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The park often fills on weekends and holidays, so reserve a day pass before driving out.

On This Page

• Mountain Biking the DORBA Trail
• Hiking Trails
• Swimming and Paddling on Joe Pool Lake
• Fishing and Boating
• Penn Farm Agricultural History Center
• Camping
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

Mountain Biking the DORBA Trail

The DORBA Trail is the main draw for many visitors to Cedar Hill State Park. It’s named for the Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association, whose volunteers work on it, and its three loops of 3, 8 and 12 miles wind through woods and prairie near Joe Pool Lake. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) rates all three loops challenging.

• Short loop (3 miles): about 30 minutes on a bike or 1.5 hours on foot, per TPWD
• Medium loop (8 miles): about 1 hour 20 minutes biking or 4 hours hiking
• Long loop (12 miles): about 2 hours biking or 6 hours hiking

Rules on the Trail

Hikers may use the DORBA Trail too, so TPWD sends the two groups in opposite directions.

• Bikers ride clockwise and hikers walk counterclockwise
• Cyclists yield to hikers

Wet-Weather Closures

The trail runs on clay that turns sticky when wet, so TPWD often closes it after rain to stop erosion. Closures can last several days, and reviewers rank them among the park’s biggest frustrations. TPWD posts the day’s status on its Cedar Hill trail updates page, which listed the DORBA Trail as closed on October 30, 2026. Check it before loading the bikes.

Riders describe flowing, cross-country singletrack with switchbacks and lake views, and rocks that kick up hard. Rattlesnakes show up on spring and summer rides. TPWD lists no bike rentals at the park, so bring a bike.

Hiking Trails

Cedar Hill State Park has five named hiking trails totaling 5.5 miles, plus the 3- to 12-mile DORBA loops. Most are easy to moderate and short enough for a morning walk. TPWD calls the trails multiuse unless posted and notes its list may not include every trail.

Miles as TPWD lists them. TPWD doesn’t say which trails are one way and which are loops.

Trail Tips

A few things make a hike at Cedar Hill go better.

• Rain days: the paved Shoreline Trail and the Penn Farm Trail usually stay open when the dirt trails close. On October 30, 2026, those two were open and the DORBA, Duck Pond, Plum Valley and Talala trails were closed
• Best views: the Talala Trail is the place to see TPWD’s prairie restoration and the lake from the Talala Overlook
• Maps: reviewers find the trail signs and the paper map confusing in places. Pick up a map at headquarters and download it offline as a backup
• Heat: some stretches are open to the sun, so visitors advise carrying plenty of water in summer
• Access: the park lends three assistive chairs, including a motorized track chair, for the trails. Reserve one ahead

Swimming and Paddling on Joe Pool Lake

Yes, swimming is allowed at Cedar Hill State Park, but only in the designated swimming area at the gravel beach on Joe Pool Lake. There are no lifeguards, so visitors swim at their own risk. Picnic tables, grills, a playground and restrooms sit next to the beach.

• Rules: no pets or glass in the swimming area, and children must be watched by an adult who can swim
• No swimming at the boat ramps: boats stay out of the swim area, and swimmers stay out of the ramp area
• What it’s like: visitors describe a roped, shallow area about 6 feet deep at most, pebbles at the water’s edge and a slick bottom farther out. Water shoes help
• Water quality: the water is murky, and some reviewers call it muddy. One family reported rashes after a swim in August 2025
• Lake level: Joe Pool Lake stood at 519.85 feet on October 30, 2026, about 2 feet below its normal level, per Water Data for Texas

Paddlers can explore the lake in their own kayaks or canoes. TPWD lists no boat or paddleboard rentals at Cedar Hill. Cleburne State Park, about 70 minutes southwest, has self-service kayak and paddleboard rentals on its spring-fed lake.

Fishing and Boating

Fishing is one of the easiest things to do at Cedar Hill State Park. Anglers catch largemouth bass, crappie and catfish from two lighted fishing jetties and the shoreline, and no fishing license is needed to fish from the shore or a pier inside a Texas state park.

• Perch Pond: a small pond with a boardwalk, set aside for kids. Families report catching perch with worms, though a few say the pond needs restocking
• Lake limits: Joe Pool Lake has its own bag and size rules, including a slot limit on largemouth bass. Check the TPWD Joe Pool Lake page before keeping fish
• Shore access: erosion makes some banks hard to fish, so the jetties are the surest spots
• Boat ramps: two four-lane ramps with lighted trailer parking. No-wake near the ramps, and no tying up in the launch area
• Marina: the Joe Pool Marina is permanently closed. Ask at headquarters where to buy bait
• Who runs the lake: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers controls Joe Pool Lake, a 1986 reservoir up to 75 feet deep

Penn Farm Agricultural History Center

Penn Farm is a historic farmstead inside Cedar Hill State Park, open daily for self-guided tours and included with park entry. John Anderson Penn settled here in 1854, and his family farmed the valley for more than a century. The site keeps historic and reconstructed buildings from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.

• The walk: the 0.6-mile Penn Farm Trail is flat and easy, with off-road strollers welcome. Visitors spend about 30 minutes
• Tours: TPWD has a printable self-guided tour booklet (PDF), and guided tours can be arranged for families, schools and groups
• Restoration: a state project to restore more than 11 buildings, upgrade trails and add an amphitheater is scheduled to finish in July 2027, per the state’s accessibility filing. Watch for uneven ground around the old buildings
• Rainy days: the Penn Farm Trail usually stays open when the dirt trails close

Camping

Cedar Hill State Park is a hookup campground: every developed site has water and electricity, many have sewer too, and all sit near restrooms with hot showers. There are no cabins. TPWD’s campsite page lists 339 developed sites, while its overview page says 350.

Campsite Types

Prices are TPWD’s nightly rates, plus the daily entry fee of $5 per adult for campers.

• Full hookup (147 sites, $30): water, sewer and 30- or 50-amp electric, in the Eagle Ford (sites 79–159) and Lakeview (160–230) loops. Eagle Ford is being renovated: its sites can’t be booked for 2026, and most open for arrivals from January 1, 2027
• Water and electric (192 sites, $25): 30-amp sites in Shady Ridge (1–78), Hog Wallow (231–280) and Coyote Crossing (281–355). Shady Ridge reopened in July 2026 after four years closed, with new pads, tables and restrooms
• Primitive hike-in (30 sites, $10): a primitive site is a campsite with no water or electricity, reached on foot. These are first come, first served, allow no campfires, hold up to 4 people and close whenever the trails close
• Groups: the Shady Ridge Group Camp holds up to 32 tent campers for $100 a night. Book groups by phone at (512) 389-8920

Driveways run up to 60 feet, all back-in, with no pull-through sites listed. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and there’s a dump station in the park.

Reservations and Camp Rules

Reserve early for spring and fall weekends.

• Campsites open for booking 5 months ahead. Book online or call (512) 389-8900
• Accessible full hookup sites 111, 112, 124 and 140 are in Eagle Ford, booked through the same phone line
• Check-in is 2 p.m., and staff enforce it. Check-out is noon
• Up to 8 people and one hooked-up unit per site; a third vehicle pays $5 a day. Stays max out at 14 nights in a row
• Campers get a gate combination in their confirmation email for arriving or leaving after 10 p.m.
• Fires go only in the fire rings. Dallas County is under an emerald ash borer quarantine, so buy firewood at the park rather than bringing it in. Burn bans happen in drought

Campers like the lake-view sites in Coyote Crossing, such as 315 and 320. Common complaints: rough loop roads, short or sloped pads, few level tent spots and picnic tables set up a slope from the parking pad. Argentine ants, a non-stinging invasive ant, swarm some campsites in warm months, and TPWD advises being ready to treat around vehicles and gear.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall are the best seasons at Cedar Hill State Park, with mild weather for the trails and wildflowers in April and May. Summer is hot and buggy, but it’s the season for the swimming beach.

• Spring (March to May): wildflowers along the trails and mild riding weather. April and May are the wettest months, so expect trail closures after storms. March weekends are among the busiest
• Summer (June to August): July averages a high of 95°F. Swim in the afternoon and hike early. Chiggers, ants and evening insects peak
• Fall (September to November): cooler riding and camping. Prescribed burns from September through April can close trails and some camping areas for a few days
• Winter (December to February): January averages a low of 36°F, and weekdays are quiet. The park’s First Day Hike drew 624 people on January 1, 2026

What Visitors Say

Cedar Hill State Park averages 4.5 stars across about 600 Google reviews from November 2024 to October 2026, with a lifetime rating of 4.5 from about 4,100 reviews. The rating slipped from 4.6 in the first year to 4.4 in the second, and the complaints are consistent.

• Close to the city: the most repeated praise. Reviewers say it feels like real countryside a short drive from Dallas
• Entry lines: a growing complaint in 2026. Busy weekends brought waits of an hour or more at the gate, and registered campers wait in the same line to get back in
• Trail closures: several drove out after rain to find every dirt trail shut except Penn Farm and Shoreline
• Ants and bugs: Argentine ants come up in about 17 reviews, and gate staff warn arriving campers about them. Chiggers are bad in tall grass in late spring and summer
• Restrooms: split about evenly between clean with hot showers and dirty or smelly. Bathhouses have no air conditioning
• Noise: low planes, highway traffic and neighbors’ music reach some campsites, and city lights wash out the stars
• Staff: gate and office staff get far more praise than complaints, and regular ranger patrols make some visitors feel safe

Getting There

Cedar Hill State Park is at 1570 West FM 1382 in Cedar Hill. From I-20, take the FM 1382 exit and drive 4 miles south; the park is on the right. From US 67, take the FM 1382 exit and drive 2.5 miles north; the park is on the left.

Drive times to park headquarters, without traffic:

• Dallas: about 25 minutes (18 miles)
• Fort Worth: about 35 minutes (28 miles)
• Austin: about 3 hours 25 minutes
• Houston: about 4 hours 25 minutes
• San Antonio: about 4 hours 50 minutes

A few things to know before driving out:

• The gate: on busy weekends, the line to get in can take an hour. Arrive early with a reserved day pass
• Closing time: the gate closes at 10 p.m., and day visitors must be out by then

Know Before You Go

Cedar Hill State Park is close to the city but busy, buggy and quick to close trails after rain. These fees, rules and tips matter most.

• Fees and passes: $7 a day for ages 13 and up, or $5 a day for adults who are camping; children 12 and under get in free. The Texas State Parks Pass ($70 a year) covers entry for the holder and guests. The Texas Parklands Passport gives free entry to veterans and half off for Texans 65 and older. Confirm current fees on the TPWD fees page
• Booking: day passes open 1 month ahead. TPWD highly recommends them for weekends and holidays because the park often reaches capacity. Campsites open 5 months ahead
• Hours: the park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. TPWD doesn’t post headquarters hours online, so call (972) 291-3900 first (backup line (972) 291-6641)
• Dogs: pets stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet and are not allowed in the swimming area, on the beach around it or in park buildings. Pick up after them
• Alcohol and glass: public drinking or display of alcohol is against park rules, and glass isn’t allowed in the swimming area
• Wildlife: visitors report rattlesnakes and copperheads on trails, scorpions at campsites, and plenty of chiggers. Wear closed shoes and check for bites
• What to bring: water shoes for the beach, ant spray or bait for the campsite, insect repellent, and plenty of water for the trails

Nearby Parks

Three other TrekTexas guides are within about 90 minutes of Cedar Hill State Park.

• Dinosaur Valley State Park: about 67 miles southwest in Glen Rose, with real dinosaur footprints in the Paluxy River bed and 20 miles of trails
• Ray Roberts Lake State Park: about 65 miles north, a lake park with swimming beaches, camping and trails for hiking, biking and horses
• Lake Mineral Wells State Park: about 73 miles west, with a lake, a rock climbing area, boat rentals and miles of trails
• More parks within reach of Dallas: Parks Near Dallas

FAQ

Does Cedar Hill State Park require reservations?

Reservations aren’t required, but TPWD highly recommends a day pass for weekends and holidays because the park often reaches capacity. Day passes open 1 month ahead.

Is the DORBA Trail open?

It depends on the weather. The DORBA Trail closes when the clay is wet and for maintenance, and TPWD posts the daily status on its Cedar Hill trail updates page.

Can dogs swim at Cedar Hill State Park?

No. Under TPWD rules, pets aren’t allowed in the water or on the land around the designated swimming area. Leashed dogs can walk the trails and stay at campsites.

Are there cabins at Cedar Hill State Park?

No. Cedar Hill has hookup campsites, hike-in primitive sites and a group camp, but no cabins.

Do veterans get in free?

Yes, with a Texas Parklands Passport, which gives veterans, active military and Gold Star families free entry to Texas state parks.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• Cedar Hill State Park (TPWD)
• Entrance fees and campsites (TPWD)
• Trail list, DORBA Trail information and trail updates (TPWD)
• Park map (PDF) and park history (TPWD)
• Park alerts (TPWD)
• Texas State Parks reservations
• Joe Pool Lake fishing (TPWD) and lake level (Water Data for Texas)

Featured photo: Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)