Trails Information for Doctors Creek
Enjoy the natural beauty of the forest, prairie and lake.
This park is close to the city, yet far away from the hustle and bustle. Visitors of all ages can take a journey through dense, shaded forest and wide-open prairie along the Cedar Creek Trail, which is named for a nearby community settled in the 1800s.
- Trails Map of Doctors Creek Unit | PDF
- Trails Map of South Sulphur Unit | PDF
- Interactive Trails Map
Trails
This list may not include all trails in the park.
| Trail | Distance | Time | Difficulty | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek North Loop | 0.6 mi. | 40 min. | Easy | Follow this trail into the South Loop using the i.d. markers for trees and other plants as your guide. Keep an eye out for alien-like mushrooms as you pass the dead oak. This dead tree is actually teeming with life. |
| Cedar Creek South Loop | 0.5 mi. | 30 min. | Easy | Journey to the leopard frog marsh. You'll pass through woods where vultures perch and pocket prairies that are full of life. Enjoy views of the lakeside just off the main trail. |
| Cedar Creek East Loop | 1.3 mi. | 1 hr. 25 min. | Easy | This trail is a must for wildlife viewing. Open prairies full of wildflowers and marshy grasslands lead to an exclusive view of the levee where deer abound and hawks patrol. |
| Cedar Creek West Loop | 0.6 mi. | 35 min. | Easy | Gnarled old oaks line this trail where owls can often be heard in the evenings. The path crosses the old road of farm days past, along remnants of a farm fence line, then into a new-growth prairie and woodland. |
Points of Interest
GPS coordinates shown in decimal degrees.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | 360° Views | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wetland Wonders | 33.3415° | -95.6703° | View of Wetland Wonders | After sunset, listen as a chorus of frogs welcomes the night from among the cattails and other wetland plants. |
| Past and Present | 33.3413° | -95.6715° | View of Past and Present | This beautiful view of Cooper Lake was once a view of the Sulphur River floodplain. Can you imagine what this area looked like before the lake? Pause for a minute to reflect. |
| From Grassland to Pasture | 33.3417° | -95.6732° | View From Grassland to Pasture | During the mid-1800s, the grasslands were transformed with barbed-wire fence. The fertile bottomland soil grew healthy crops and held water for ponds, making it ideal for farmsteads and tenant farms. |
| If Trees Could Talk | 33.3434° | -95.6719° | View of If Trees Could Talk | Over 100 years ago, oak trees like this one were only saplings. What stories can they tell about the grasslands, where fences changed life on the land forever? |
| Water is Life | 33.3450° | -95.6684° | View of Water is Life | Spend a moment watching for wildlife, just as farmers watched their livestock at this old farm pond to the north. You may just see an egret or a heron. |
| Mighty Oaks | 33.3450° | -95.6803° | View of Mighty Oaks | Gnarled oak trees throughout the park provide cavities and dens, sheltering birds, squirrels and other small mammals. |
Staying Safe
- Know your limits. Prepare for sun and heat. Wear sunscreen, insect repellent and appropriate clothing/hiking shoes.
- Drink plenty of water. Your body quickly loses fluids when you’re on the trail. Bring a quart of water per hour of activity.
- Tell others where you’ll be. If possible, avoid exploring alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Wear a helmet when biking. Always ride to your skill level. Wear a helmet to protect yourself in case of a crash.
- Potentially harmful plants and animals may live here. You’ll see them more easily if you stay on trails. Do not approach wildlife!
- Check for trail closures after rainfall. Contact park headquarters for information regarding trail closures.
Trail Etiquette
- Trash your trash. Pack out all of your trash and Leave No Trace.
- Leave feeding to nature. Feeding wild animals will make them sick. Please do not feed them.
- Don’t Pocket the Past. Help preserve Texas heritage. Leave artifacts where you find them and report their location to a ranger.
- Take only memories and pictures. Disturbing or removing any of the park’s plants, animals or artifacts is a violation of state law.
- We need to know about your caches. Please check with park headquarters before placing geocaches within the park.
- Use only your muscles. To protect park resources, no motor vehicles are allowed on the trails.
