There are a lot of great parks and nature trails in Dallas. (Check out our list of stroller- friendly trails in Dallas.) But about 20 minutes from downtown Dallas lies a wild, remote place that’s an amazing spot for a family adventure. From the laid-back visitor’s center to an unbelievable uphill climb, find out why Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill should be on your weekend bucket list.
It’s easy to get to.
The Audubon Center is adjacent to Cedar Mountain Nature Preserve, close to Cedar Hill State Park. Simply hop on I-35S and head to Highway 67.
It’s a hidden gem.
The Audubon Center opened in 2011, but there are a lot of people in Dallas who haven’t ever been there. You might even have the trails to yourself!
It’s beautiful.
There are a lot of reasons why Dallas is a great place to live. Mountain ranges and gorgeous vistas are not one of those reasons. We residents accept this fact, move on from this fact, and then find ourselves pleasantly surprised when we discover a gorgeous, protected preserve that includes three different North Texas ecosystems: wetland, forest, and prairie. The trails are heavily forested, and even on a fairly warm day, the trails are cool and shaded the entire time.
You’ll be able to go on a real hike.
The Dogwood Canyon Audubon is the gateway to the 6000-acre Great Trinity Forest in South Dallas. Visitors have a choice between taking the stroller-friendly Canyon Floor Trail (.5 mile round trip) or the uphill West Loop Trail (1.65 round trip), both of which will give hikers fantastic views of tall cottonwoods, black willows, American elms, and native pecan trees. The trails are well marked and maintained, making even the more difficult trail very pleasant to walk on.
My kids (ages 3.5 to 8) managed about an hour and a half on the uphill trail with no problems. I would recommend bringing water and snacks on the hike with you. There are benches along the way that make for easy pit stops as you hike. We brought a pocket microscope to get a close-up look at leaves, moss, and tree bark along the way.
You’ll see some cool birds.
Before we started the hike, we saw the birds in residence in their enclosure at the base of the trail. An American Kestral and a Barred Owl live permanently on the property. Since the preserve falls smack-dab in the middle of the Central Flyway, be sure to bring binoculars and maybe a bird book to keep track of the birds you see.
There are bonus features.
Kids will enjoy a stop at the Nature Center, where they can meet Thomas the Turtle and take a peek at the carefully labeled specimens on display, including several different kinds of nests. Afterwards, stop by the outdoor play area. It offers a great opportunity to blow off any extra energy the kids might have left. You can claim a picnic table for lunch, measure your wingspan against various raptors, jump from stump to stump, play with pond stones, and dig in the sandpit. Check their website periodically for events like Bird Walks, native plant sales, and more.
We visited during a native plant sale and found a few plants to add to our perennial garden at home. They had an extensive variety of plants for sale and the full plant list was available on the event page on Facebook ahead of time.
Find it here:
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center
1206 FM1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104
Due to staffing shortages, the trails are currently only open for limited hours. Reservations are recommended for Saturdays. Be sure to check their website for updated hours.
Have you explored Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill? Share with us in a comment below!
Looking for other things to do in Cedar Hill? Here’s our guide to visiting Cedar Hill, with recommendations on shopping, dining, and more!
