The Best Things to do in Cleburne State Park, TX (Near DFW)

July 1, 2025

A visit to Cleburne State Park is one of the best places to hike near Dallas or Fort Worth!

The park is home to the scenic Cedar Lake, and has a CCC dam from the 1930’s. During a visit to Cleburne State Park, you can hike or bike on one of the many trails, stay overnight at the campgrounds or go kayaking on the lake for a perfect day.

Please make it a priority to Leave No Trace when exploring the outdoors. This includes leaving nothing behind, respecting wildlife, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting those around you, planning ahead and traveling on durable surfaces. For more details, read about the seven principles at lnt.org.

Cleburne State Park Overview:

Located 1 hr, 10 mins from Dallas or 45 minutes from Fort Worth
$6 entry without parks pass
Advanced reservations are recommended on weekends or holidays in the spring and summer

Looking down into the limestone quarry at Cleburne State Park

Cleburne Limestone Quarry and Spillway

Camping in Cleburne State Park

Cleburne State Park offers campsites with full hookups and with electricity. Prices range from $20 - $30 a night. The park also has a limited number of screened shelters and cabins to rent.

The Best Things To Do in Cleburne State Park

Lydia walking along a trail next to the lake in Cleburne State Park

A bench along a trail in Cleburne State Park

Hike the White Tail Hollow Trail

Be sure to visit the limestone quarry spillway, I felt like this was the most unique part of the park! While most of it is manmade, it’s still nice to admire and climb around. You can see it from the White Tail Hollow Trail or the Spillway Trail.

On the White Tail Hollow Trail, you’ll also cross the dam and get an excellent view of the lake. After it rains, you might see a waterfall cascading down the spillway. But if it’s dry, you can walk down to the bottom of the spillway and explore.

Hike the Coyote Run Nature Trail

Check out the Coyote Run Nature Trail for a quick trail that’s great for exploring the forest. It has a little bit of elevation and goes along the edge of the park. The trail leads to a viewpoint of Cedar Lake (but note that you can have pretty much the same view on the opposite side of the lake too).

If you continue on the trail, it will connect over to the Spillway Trail. It also connects to the Limestone Ridge Inner Loop Trail, a trail that is better for bikers because it’s a lot of tight switchbacks through the woods.

Hike the Fossil Ridge Trail

The Fossil Ridge Trail is 5 miles round trip along the perimeter of the park, meaning that it’s perfect for a longer adventure. It has a lot of elevation change, making it a great work out and a beautiful way to see the area.

Paddle on Cedar Lake

In the summertime, you can rent a kayak or bring your own to paddle around the lake. The park has public boat ramps, just note that the entire lake is no-wake. Year round, you can also enjoy one of the park's many campsites.

Cedar Lake

More Things To Do near Cleburne State Park

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Visit Dinosaur Valley State Park and the town of Glen Rose. The park is only 30 minutes from Cleburne and one of my favorites!
Visit the Fossil Rim Wildife Center
Visit the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum and the Big Bear Native American Museum
Explore and dine in Downtown Cleburne. Check out Soul Fire Brewing Company, Our Place Restaurant, Mug On the Square and Burger Bar to name a few.

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide helps you discover some of the best hiking trails in Cleburne, and plan a fun day trip from DFW! If you're looking for a bit of elevation along with great views, this is one of the best places to hike near Dallas.

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