Parks & Nature Perserves

Parks & Nature Preserves

The Metroplex offers great trails for exploration. The following are some of our favorite local parks and preserves.

Cedar Hill State Park - Cedar Hill, Texas

When you reach the entrance of Cedar Hill State Park, you will be charged $5.00 per person for guests 12 years old or older. This fee is separate and in addition to the Wild Vision program fee. If you are a Texas Parks cardholder you must present your card for entrance into Cedar Hill State Park. Make sure to ask for a free map of the park at the entrance. Your wildlife interpreter will meet you in the parking lot of Penn Farm, which is located near the entrance of the park. To get to Penn Farm, simply turn left at the first stop sign after the entrance building, then right at the next stop sign (there is a big arrow that points to the farm). Please wait in the Penn Farm parking lot for your interpreter and don't proceed to Penn Farm.

After your adventure with Wild Vision your group is free to enjoy the many amenities the park has to offer. These amenities include: Penn Farm - Agricultural Historical Center, native plant display garden with lily pond, pebble beach swimming area, several playgrounds, numerous picnic areas with grills, perch pond with a boardwalk, general store (marina), free-standing restrooms, and several nature trails. Camping at the park is also available at an additional charge. For questions about Cedar Hill State Park, call park headquarters at (972) 291-6641. For camping reservations for any Texas state park, call the central reservation line in Austin at (512) 389-8900. For a map with directions to the park, click here.

Cedar Mountain Preserve - Cedar Hill, Texas

Connemara - Plano/Allen, Texas

Cedar Ridge Preserve (formerly The Dallas Nature Center) - Dallas, Texas

Elm Fork Preserve - Carrollton, Texas

The Elm Fork Nature Preserve was purchased as a woodright in 1861 by the Bramblitt Family. The land was never clear-cut and in 1986 the 40 acres were given to the city of Carrollton as a self-contained ecosystem, virtually undisturbed. Entrance is gained through the McInnish Sports Complex.

The preserve offers an Interpretive Center with a nature education library and a pond as well as a large parking lot.

Windmill Hill Preserve - Desoto, Texas

Windmill Hill Preserve is part of the Dallas County Parks & Open Spaces program. This 75 Acre, heavily wooded area has approximately 4 miles of trails that wind through hilly terrain.

Aside from a large paved parking lot, there are no amenities. For a map with directions to the park, click here.

Home Page