The park itself is huge! It sits along Joe Pool Lake. We rode our bikes around the first night - 6.6 miles and probably only saw half of it! There are lots of places to picnic, swim, launch your boat and more. As for the campsites themselves, they could really use some TLC. The pavement where you park is crumbling (saw this on all the sites), roads coming in are rough and bumpy so go slow. It looks like they haven't cut the grass in ages. For our site, the grass is mid-shin high and you have to "wade" through it to get to the picnic table. Our site is just wide enough and long enough for our 40' RV and Jeep. The sites are pretty private with trees in between each site. read more

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Cedar Hill State Park turn out to be a great place to go for a day hike, however, they seem to have many campsites available as well if that is what you were looking for. Driving up to the ranger booth, there was a lot of room to weights similar to national parks where multiple lines could form to get into the park. It was easy to pay the admission fee and we were given a park map that showed us what hikes were available and where they were. On there, they also had annotations on what amenities were available, including a former homestead that they had preserved. We ended up hiking the Talala Trail, which was a little over 2 miles. There wasn't much parking available at the trailhead, about 8 to 10 parking spaces available. This particular trail gradually went down towards the lake and back up as a loop but there is no water access when we went, the leaves still had it formed on the trees and shrubs, so there was clear visibility to which direction we were going I would imagine that there would be a bit more shade during the summer months, though the shrubs didn't seem like they were very tall. We thought the views from the Talala Trail were okay, but the views from the day use areas were better. One picnic area seemed to have lake access but we couldn't be sure how shallow or deep the water was up against the shore since we didn't try to go in. We did see that they had three mountain biking trails and we saw many mountain bikers in the area. They also had some fishing docks along the lake. Unfortunately, though, all the water fountains were turned off when we were there so we weren't able to refill our water bottles. We did check out their gift shop, which wasn't very big, but they still had a decent selection of gifts to purchase. As with any other Texas State park, they have their own park stamp just like the national parks passport program which I personally enjoy collecting. All in all, we enjoyed our time here and we were able to get a good hike. This park is situated in a hilly area of the DFW metroplex which allows for scenic views and more variation to trail options. read more

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Absolutely loved visiting Cedar Hill State Park. The park is beautiful, peaceful, and very well maintained. The scenery around the lake is stunning, and the trails are perfect for walking and enjoying nature. It's a great place to relax, unwind, and spend time outdoors. Definitely one of the best state parks in the area and a place we look forward to visiting again. read more

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We are here now camping and this is one of our top favorite places to camp!! Check in is a breeze unless it's super packed which it was yesterday and it took like 20 mins to just get inside but after checking in, its mind your business season. We had a survivalist Alfonso solis come out who works off Donations and he taught like a 3 hour class that was fantastic! Can't wait to book him again for our private camping. We were camping today with a charter school of 7th graders!!! read more

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This park is a great place to get some good hiking in. They have lots of trails. They have shorter and longer ones. They also have more difficult trails with steeper climbs. They have plenty of room for bikes and dogs. But keep an eye out for snakes. They are out there. But it is a beautiful park. Good parking and easy entry. read more

Had a Saturday off from work, which is rare. In addition, my usual weekend chores and errands were take care of. This means I had no excuse in not participating in the Sunrise Hike and the Penn Farm Tour. Will and his volunteer were great in talking up the state park on our different hikes. They were both a great source of information and answered all my questions. I appreciated their tolerance of my quirky sense of humor. In between the two hikes, I drove around to parts of the park I had never seen before. The last time I was out here, there was a lot of construction going on and parts of the park were closed to the public. Since the construction finished, there is a huge new day use area on what seems like the west side of the park. (I'm horrible with directions. Seems like the west side. Ha!) Take advantage of the various events scheduled at this park. You will be glad to have done so. read more

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We have been to 36 of the 89 TX State Parks and this is one of our favorites. Clean lots and restroom facilities lend to a positive experience out at Joe Pool Lake. It's about 40 miles from downtown Dallas, so it's close enough to spend a weekend camping and return home feeling relaxed, having made fun memories and taking pictures. The price can't be beat especially if you have a State Park Pass which saves you money on entrance and even souvenirs. read more

Cedar Hill State Park - Lakeview Camping Area has full hook ups. There are several lots that actually have a view of the lake like slots 203, 205, 207... - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas

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I love to visit this park often, mostly because it's convenient and very close to my home. The trails, lake and just being out in nature makes the park a fun spot to visit. Penn Farm is fun to explore and with Halloween coming up, it could be a creepy adventure, especially on a cloudy day. However, the park isn't well maintained at all. There are many roofs missing from the shelters placed over picnic tables. The grass is extremely long in certain areas, including a picnic area, where in my recent visit, the grass was almost waist high. Trails could be better maintained, as the ground is uneven and even dangerous in certain parts. The wooden pathway near Perch Pond is uneven, deteriorating and when you step on some boards, you feel like they could break at any minute. The state parks in Illinois (where I lived a majority of my life) are much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much better maintained than Cedar Hill State Park. Plus, most state parks in Illinois are FREE for all to enjoy! You would think with a $7 admission fee per person (13 and over) and those like myself who choose to purchase an annual parks pass ($70), the money could be better spent to maintain the parks. read more

Came out to hike the Dora short trail but it was so badly rutted from mountain bikes it was very difficult to walk. Also the bikes approach quickly forcing walkers to step into the brush to avoid getting hit. I was so glad when we were finished with this trail and won't be going back read more

Cedar Hill State Park - A part of the trail without as deep of ruts and some parts. - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas

Fantastic park convenient to most in the DFW area. A well developed man made lake, lots of natural trails with some challenging grades, and a variety of camping spots for RVs & tents. Lots of North Texas wildlife within the park. Lots of fairly close stores to pick up forgotten supplies outside of the park. My last trip was to support an open water swim and bike event. The large parking lot and asphalt roads were perfect for the event. read more

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Achoooo!!! This state park is aptly named- it's full of cedar trees. Achoooo!! This is a cool park on a man made lake in the south part of the DFW Metroplex. It's got lots of areas for camping, fishing, hiking and biking. I explored the park's historic area, which is the ol' Penn Farm, established a long time prior. They let you wander around the cattlepens, the yards and chicken coops of this long defunct farm that has since been turned over to the State Parks system. They exhibit old pieces of farming equipment, like tractors and cotton gins or whatever. The south part of the park is a big mountain biking / hiking trail. Be sure to stay on the trails- there's stretched called Poison Ivy Alley and Snakes Head Bridge. The biking area is pretty gnarly- they have cool wooden ramps and boardwalks and banked turns that have been improved upon by the local Boy Scout Troop. The lake is pretty beautiful, and there's plenty of access points and boat ramps and places from which you may fish. When I went, I saw a road runner! Meep Meep! It's pretty hot out here in the summer, but they do allow for swimming! Yehaw! read more

This is a state park meaning you have to pay to get in. There is a $7 fee to enter the pass and they typically sell out by 2:30pm. Try to get your entry pass online and you can order them months in advance. You can also purchase an annual texas state park pass for $70 so you and your family can enter any state park without getting charged entry fees. You can easily spend your whole day here with your whole family. You can go hiking, fishing, biking, kayaking, boating, camping and bbq-ing. Its an awesome state park and the hiking trails are really fun. I'd love to come camping here one day because the lake that's in the park is beautiful. I went hiking on a hot July day and had a great time with my 2 friends. We did get lost so we had to turn back around from the duck pond trail (8 mile) because the path was obstructed by overgrown bushes. Overall I'm coming back in the fall when it's cooler! This is an awesome place even for kids! read more

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Took my son here this weekend for his fist camping trip. The grounds keepers were very nice. The camp site was very clean upon arriving here. They have hookups for RV's on the sites. The lake was beautiful and everything was well kept. The camp site has decent shade and they were a nice size. I recommend this State Park. read more

Cedar Hill State Park - Campsite - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas

This is a great park. its close to Fort Worth/Dallas and surrounding areas. ALOT of wildlife around so don't fear the sounds in the night. THE GOOD: There are some GREAT camping/RV areas here you can rent. The staff is very friendly. The lake is LARGE and beautifull. and all other campers are FUN to talk too - specially the drunk ones with no shirts that are walking around! LOL! - nothing to fear, extremely friendly set of folks! THE BAD: really bad Ant and Chigger problem and seems this has been going on for years. glad they allow dust to spread around your camp site. They don't empty their dumpsters frequently during holidays so the trash is all over the place. They Plumbing seems to be bad in ALL the rest rooms. They don't flush. You will be greeted with some LOGS in the toilets most of the time. Woman's restrooms are down to one stall 99% of the time. the Showers just feel nasty - and all the times I have showered there they clog up. I still recommend this place to everyone. its a much needed get-a-way in a wold the is run by Technology! read more

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Cedar Hill State Park is an AOK desination when you're interested in biking or camping. It's got a really convenient location, but also several drawbacks: - The campsite pads aren't maintained - The recycle bin looks like it hasn't been emptied in close to a year - The roads are poorly maintained. Apart from the above, it's a fairly nice park, but it's very much in need of work and attention. read more

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Yay the state parks are re-opened! First of all, outside and nature is currently getting a MINIMUM of 3 stars from me, ya hear?! Now, here's my review... Given the current pandemic situation, I think the park is handling things pretty well. We came on a Tuesday afternoon (around 3ish), and the attendant at the entrance was very kind, explaining new procedures and recommendations, and she was also masked and gloved. If you have a membership card, they'll just ask you to hold it up to be scanned touch-free. It is advised that people make online reservations, as they are only admitting a certain amount of cars or people. You could risk being turned away without an online reservation. Cedar Hill State Park, like many state parks, is beautiful. Spring was springing as it does every year. So many great bird sightings, butterflies, and can we say hallelujah for the breeze?! The park has a nice large lake which was occupied by a few boats, couple of kayaks, families fishing, RVers and couples lounging in the shade. This area was a little too congested for my comfort at the moment. We did a slow drive-by and enjoyed the view from afar. A lot of trails and areas were blocked off, but gratefully there were still ample to choose from as the park is fairly large. We relaxed near a different side of the lake and also walked the Penn State Farm trail, which was a nice little visit despite all of the scripted descriptions of the farm reminding me of my school-aged history books. Lots of hoopla surrounding the treatment of farm workers, renting space, pay, etc. Gratefully, I have learned my history and was able to read between the lines. Sounds like a bunch of indentured servants (taken from who knows where) that had to work crazily and give half of their earnings to the owners, only to be later thrown away and deemed useless (oh, ahem..."tractored out") once new profitable equipment was introduced. I would have loved to see photos of THEM! That's another conversation! I actually found it all interesting. I love hiking, but it's one of the few things I prefer to do with company. It was so nice to be able to get out and enjoy this park with my mom on a gorgeous day. Hope you can get out and get some fresh air with a loved one too! Even if you don't get out of your car, if you squint your eyes.a bit, the winding hill country-like drive takes you to Scotland. Enjoy your vacation! read more

I love the trails here! I wanted to become a volunteer and was in the process. I had been approved to volunteer but when I reached out to Susana Cruz and a wildlife biologist to figure out my volunteering schedule they ghosted me completely. Extremely disappointed about it. If you want to volunteer here good luck read more

If you are looking for close get-away to get in touch with nature, then this is the place to go. Beautiful sunsets over looking Joe Pool Lake. They have trails and clean facilities that are close by. I recommend!! read more

Cedar Hill State Park - Sunset - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas

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The park is nice but unfortunately the younger women working in the front office are absolutely horrible with the way they handle their customers. The manager on duty needs to be retained. Her aggressive and cold behavior during our conversation was completely unacceptable. I was honestly in shock when she said she was the manager due to her rude and condescending responses. Today is Friday it was around 2pm (she was of darker complexion) she has NO BUSINESS in the world of hospitality. We have had previous issues with the young girls in the office before. read more

this is a great spot. they charged $7 to park for the day kinda annoying. should be free. lovely views & plenty of excess parking available. would recommend stopping by. read more

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Take poison! No, I generally don't advocate poison, but the park is infested with ants. They will get in your tent, they will get in your rv, they will get get in your bedding, they will get in your car. Not only will you be plagued by them while camping, it will take days after you get home to get rid of them . Take Sevin or something similar and dose all your tires and anything else safe to treat. read more

Cedar Hill State Park is a busy state park and you know it when there are 3 lanes for checking in! Just south of DFW so it's a good quick trip to get away. There is a busy freeway close to my campsite so it wasn't the quietest sleep. The showers and restrooms were clean but there was a gross smell at the campsites. I didn't hit up the Dobra Trails but that'd be a great place for a bike ride. read more

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We did not plan on staying we were just going to dip in and out. However Lilee who was working at the front was absolutely amazing! She was so thorough with all that there was to see that we decided to buy a day pass! I really miss that type of personality when dealing with people that are just genuinely helpful and really made the trip more than just a quick drive-through to see what it looks like. We enjoyed ourselves very much and it was very relaxing! Thank you so much Lilee and thank you so much for being so sweet to our a little dog! :-) read more

This is a lovely respite in the city. We visited in the afternoon on a Wednesday in December, and saw I think one other person on the trail. There are some nice picnic areas overlooking the lake, and a number of trails. We walked the Duck Pond trail (which is an easy, pleasant, partially shaded hike) and the Plum Valley trail (which is a bit more intensive, but still pretty easy.) There weren't any ducks at the Duck Pond, but it was a peaceful, wooded walk. And the Plum Valley trail is up along a ridge with some beautiful views. The "lookout" point isn't very exciting at this time of year, but should be stunning in the fall as leaves are changing. They were doing a "controlled burn" when we visited, so the DORBA (off-road bike) trails were closed. If you're looking for those trails, call ahead or check the website to confirm they're open. If you're planning on visiting multiple state parks (or even visiting this park multiple times!), I highly recommend getting the Texas State Parks pass. For $70, you get free admission for a year for you and whoever is in your car. Since day passes are $7 per person, this means that the pass pays for itself after 5 visits with a friend/10 solo visits. I'm looking forward to returning to try out the other trails! read more

Pets must be on leash, in a car, or in a crate at all times. The leash can be no longer than 6 feet. You must be with your pet at all times. You may not leave your pet unattended in the park, in a vehicle, or at your campsite. Do not bring a noisy or dangerous dog to a state park. If you break these rules, you and your pet may be asked to leave! Obviously these rules don't apply. I called to complain 4 times before state police came. The uncourteous dog owners allowed their dogs to roam free. This was overlooked. The dogs howling was uncontrollable as well as their continuous barking.This was ok as well. I asked them to turn the music down and they defiantly turned it up and yelled at me that they could play the music as loud as they wished and there is NO noise ordinance. This point was echoed by one of the rangers I spoke with "that there is no noise ordinance (In the rules it says to leave noisy animals at home, why?) I would like to disagree with that and remind them that everyone deserves their peace. But ...Clearly the Boom Box is out of place cranked up to 10 and strapped to your kids 4 wheeler while he rides around the park. But apparently that's ok too. if that's ok, I know where I'm bringing my 6 grandchildren and 6 other relatives to my next camp out. It'll be a real hoot. I hope the rest of the park agrees after the first week. It could be a 21 day music festival.!! read more

We've been here two weeks and have just loved it! Most sites are shaded, large, and secluded! The beach area is a perfect place to cool off and to enjoy Joe Pool Lake! There are lots of banks to fish from and trails for walking. **heads up** There has been an infestation of ants at the park so make sure you spray an ortho insect defense around your rig the moment you hook up or you will wake up to a million ants! (We made this mistake, and our RV was taken over by ants for 3 days!!) All in all the park has been awesome and if ever in the area again we will definitely stay here!! read more

Cedar Hill State Park - Our large, shaded, and secluded site! - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas

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$7 PER PERSON, not worth it. Came today and only one trail was open and one lake entrance was open. So can we get a discount?!? Trail wasn't that great. Pathway was overgrown with plants and grass. Looked like not many people walk it. We are alone the whole time so it felt scary a bit. Also no markings of where you are and how you could call and get help if anything happened. We couldn't even finish the trail bc it didn't look like one anymore so we turned around to check out the lake. Lake was ok. Great if you have a boat, kayak or jet ski. Not much of a lake person, but just getting my feet wet was good enough to cool down. Those were the only 2 places open. It was noneventful. Don't think we'll return. read more

I already had a high opinion of Texas state parks and now I have a new favorite. Walk along the shore of the lake, it's a cool experience. The duck pond trail has excellent views too! Also, Cody Tatum was my ranger at the pay station and he just might be the genuinely nicest person I have ever met. It actually improved my whole visit interacting with him. read more

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Cedar Hill State Park... so nice out there and only 24 miles from Big D! A perfect destination for a bike packing trip or take the RV and do some glamping. They have improved sites and primitive sites for primitive guys like me. Out with Hera to look the place over and check out the trails. After meandering through Penn farm ( located within the park ) the stoke was high! Clean and please let's keep it that way! Pack out what you pack in. We will definitely be back. Call before y'all go to check for any trail closures due to rain. read more

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I love this park for it's semi urban location and access to hiking and biking trails. If you like to camp there is almost always a spot available. One word of warning: we saw 4 cars with smashed windows and ransacked at Penn Farm. We decided to skip the farm tour after that. I've always felt secure in state parks but I guess the times are changing. read more

Cedar Hill State Park - Our hill top view of the lake. - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas

Pros- its close to the metro, there are TONS of camping sites (so if you're wanting to camp on short notice you can probably get a reservation here) its a big park, the view is very pretty Cons- if tent camping.. You're camping on a hill, most of the sites do not offer any shade in hot Texas heat, the lake is kinda gross.. the bottom is this clay/mud that you sink into, the Rangers seemed overwhelmed, our campsite wasn't cleaned prior and there was tissue with human feces. read more

I have to say this is by the best park I have camped out to date. The staff is very friendly and helpful and accommodating. We made reservations online, arrived to check-in, were given a spot and told that if we found a spot we preferred better that was open, to call immediately and we could switch. We drove around and found a spot with a lake view, called and thankfully it was still available! We drove back to the office to get our new parking card and headed back. We had such a beautiful view, lots of trees, very spacious and still plenty of privacy. Our site was equipped with a table on a cement foundation, a fire pit and even electrical outlets at our parking spot, which I might add, you have two parking spots. We were in search of a campsite that offered fishing as well as challenging bike trails and were referred here by the Dept of Parks & Recreations, and we were totally not disappointed at all. We were actually located in Coyote Crossing and saw three coyotes running off on our way back to our site. The restrooms were not that far off from our campsite either. The restrooms were very spacious and clean. The showers were also clean and spacious. The doors all had working locks on them and the facilities were fully stocked. There were a good amount of trees on site as well. I enjoyed fishing while Chris went off and ran the trails. It was incredibly windy when we went, but it did not deter us from enjoying ourselves. We were able to build a nice campfire, AND Chris even went up to the Marina store for more firewood where the man was SUPER accommodating as well. We had a strong fire for hours; talk about lots of yummy burnt marshmallows, lol! As the sun went down, the view was mesmerizing; it was truly breathtaking. We are definitely coming back here again, and I hope REALLY soon! read more

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I have been a member of the State Park Pass holder for several years and over the years I have visited most of the Texas State Parks. Cedar Creek State Park is close to the DFW area and convenient for a quick weekend away. The campground is one of the largest in the State Park system but I would rate it as one of the least attractive. The Park store is a joke, compared to Inks State Park, Mineral Wells State Park, Tyler State Park are just a few that operate a quality store. Depending on the section your assigned will determine the Quality of site you receive. Some sites you will find that the pads are in need of maintenance. Uneven and holding water. Some sites need to be mowed and cleaned of fallen trees and debris. The grill pits are in need of repair. The staff can be absent of any emotions or humor. What ever you do, don't make any changes at the time of check in to your reservation or they will tack on "administration " fees. read more

Recently discovered this gem and expectations were not only met, but exceeded! I can't wait to see this park in the spring/summer when it's in bloom. I haven't had the opportunity to explore all of it (it's quite large) but have covered quite a bit a ground in the few visits to date. Great biking trails, several walking/hiking trails, great camp grounds with heated shower area, clean restrooms, and friendly staff. If you plan on visiting more than a few times a year, investing in the annual pass for $70 is gold. Normally $7 a head to get in, your annual pass not only covers you, but everyone in your car. Plus it's honored at any state park and partner parks, in addition to discounted camping. Great deal all around! read more

Cedar Hill State Park - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas

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I'm an avid hiker and I moved to Cedar Hill for a reason. 1) it's quiet and 2) the many trails and nature provided here I've been to Cedar Hill State Park a couple of times. They were all pleasant experiences and the trails kept me engaged. Recently The state park has fallen through the cracks. Out of all of the trails, duck pond was s reasonable one. However, I didn't finish the trail because there was overgrown grass and tons of poison ivy/oak covering the path so I was discouraged. I tried the other trails And I encountered the same thing. I know this is a big park and that means more maintenance, but it needs work and care. Because of this, I would rather spend my day at cleburne park or dinosaur valley which are state parks an hour away from cedar hill OR go to cedar hill preserve. CHSP was a great place for me to get my hiking in, but I can't with all of the vegetation taking over. It will be a while til I go back to visit. read more

This is the best place to enjoy nature, far away from the madling crowd of Dallas city life. We have done overnight camping here twice. I will recommend to camp in Shady ridge camping ground where you can access the lake directly and do fishing. Take a dip at joe pool lake marina or enjoy the serene hillside view of the trails - this state park has a lot to offer and definitely the closest from the city. read more

One of our favorite campgrounds., always friendly and beautiful. Swim area is closed for construction. But looks like a beautiful place. Always peaceful and clean. Most sites are secluded and quite large. read more

First note: If you're going to camp here during the summer, bring pest control. The campsites have lots of chiggers, regardless of how much grass there is. My campsite was all dirt and I've got plenty of welts to show for it. If you don't want to use some form of pest control, come during the winter when the cold weather keeps them away. Spray plenty of DEET around your ankles and lower pant legs. Don't wear shorts and flip flops, regardless of how hot it is unless you like painful sores that really itch. That said, Cedar Hill is really pretty and looks like the Texas hill country. The campsites are big, private, and have plenty of shade. It can be warm in the summer in Texas, so just come prepared. They sell firewood at the park, and have plenty of bathrooms. The park is close to stores if you need more ice/water. There aren't many hiking trails so keep that in mind. This park is really for camping and boating only. Hope you have fun enjoying the outdoors close to DFW. read more

Nice place close to attractions. But power outages for past week more than 3. Not sure because of construction going on in this area. No help last night my husband drove around all camp sites out. Will not be staying here again. Will anyone help or do anything?!?! read more

We visited here with low expectations. It is near the busy roads and not really out of town. But that's where the drawbacks stop. Beautiful scenery, spacious sites. We had plenty to do and see. We will return! read more

Cedar Hill State Park - Parks Near Me - Cedar Hill, Texas