Urban Oasis

Relax by the lake, tour an old Texas farm, or explore our rugged limestone hills and rare prairie pockets. Though we’re just a short drive from the DFW Metroplex, it feels like you’re a world away from the city.

Things to Do

Visit Cedar Hill State Park for the day or weekend. Bring your family to hike, bike, picnic, camp, geocache and nature watch. The park sits on the shore of Joe Pool Lake, so you can also swim, fish, and boat or paddle.

Camping

Camp at one of 350 developed campsites, all near restrooms with hot showers. All sites have water and electricity; 150 have sewer hookups, too. Several sites are ADA-accessible. Or hike to a primitive campsite, if trails are open.

Read about Water Safety before you visit.

Note: This county is under a quarantine to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer to other areas of the state. This means movement of firewood is restricted. Please buy firewood where you burn it to prevent the spread of diseases and pests.

Trails

Explore our trails on bike or on foot. The DORBA Trail, named for the volunteers of the Dallas Off Road Biking Association, crisscrosses 1,200 acres and is open to bikers and hikers. The trail is closed when wet, so call ahead to make sure it is open. 

We have an all-terrain wheelchair for use in the park; contact us reserve it for your visit. 

• Trail Information
• DORBA Trails Information

Be safe on the trails, no matter how you access them. Bring plenty of water and travel with a partner.

Swimming

Swim in the lake! We have a gravel swimming beach (the swim beach is closed until 2022) with picnic tables and grills nearby. A playground and restrooms are next to the beach. 

Fishing

Fish the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake for largemouth black bass, crappie and catfish. We have two lighted fishing jetties and a perch pond for kids. We also have two four-lane boat ramps and lighted boat trailer parking. You do not need a fishing license to fish from shore or pier in a state park.

• Fishing and lake information for Joe Pool Lake
• Water Safety
• Joe Pool Marina is permanently closed. Ask at headquarters about where to buy bait and supplies near the park.

Volunteer! We need your help. Visit our Volunteer page or ask at park headquarters. Serve as a park host:  Camp for free in return for 24 hours of volunteer service. Call (972) 291-3900 to learn more.

Donate to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation to support state parks.

Penn Farm Agricultural History Center

For over a century, the Penn family lived and worked here. Take a self-guided tour and see how farming changed over the course of the family’s tenure. The center is open daily. Call the park to arrange a guided tour for your family or school group. Learn more on our History page.

Ranger Programs

We offer guided hikes, history and nature programs, and outdoor skills workshops.

• Check our Events page for upcoming programs.
• Call the park to arrange a program for your group.
• Learn more about the park on our Nature and History pages.
• Borrow a Junior Ranger Explorer Pack for your kids!
• Cedar Hill State Park Activity Guide
• Interpretive Guide to Cedar Hill State Park and Penn Farm Agricultural Center
• Penn Farm Self-Guided Tour

Argentine ants, an exotic invasive species, are in the park. These ants do not sting. TPWD is working with experts to reduce the number of ants without harming the park’s other wildlife. Learn more about invasive ants.

Area Attractions

Cedar Hill State Park is in the City of Cedar Hill, where you will find restaurants and shopping; we are 20 miles from downtown Dallas and 30 miles from downtown Fort Worth. The Metroplex offers sports, museums, music, restaurants, an amusement park, gardens, and much, much more.