In about a 20-minute drive from Dallas, you can reach the quaint, charming—and growing—city of Cedar Hill. Long known for an abundance of recreation opportunities within Cedar Hill State Park, the town of Cedar Hill is one of the surrounding Dallas suburbs that may fly under your radar–but shouldn’t. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast—or have made it your New Year’s resolution to become one—a great place to start is on the brand-new Balcones Trail in Cedar Hill, the latest addition to the city’s coveted parks and open space network.
The new, three-mile trail highlights the natural features of the Balcones Escarpment and connects more than 3,000 acres of nature preserves and open space, including Cedar Hill State Park, Cedar Mountain Nature Preserve, and Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. “We named this trail after the Balcones Escarpment because it’s such a driver of the natural landscape here in Cedar Hill,” says Cedar Hill mayor, Stephen Mason. “We also love the name because Balcones is Spanish for ‘balconies,’ and the overlook on this trail is an amazing balcony with the best view in North Texas.”
Cedar Hill, founded in 1846, has been referred to as a crown in nature by design. It was once a significant commerce destination in North Texas and the former county seat of Dallas County. With so much development taking place today in Cedar Hill, the city’s Economic Development Corporation hopes to see commerce activity bustling once again from Cedar Hill residents, visitors, and those just passing through. Whether you have lived in Cedar Hill all your life, are new to the city, or visiting for the day, you can’t help but fall in love with the scenery and recreational opportunities at Cedar Hill State Park. “Cedar Hill has the highest elevation in all of Dallas-Fort Worth,” says Andy Buffington, assistant director of economic development for Cedar Hill. “There is some beautiful terrain that lines up from the escarpment the runs from Austin to Cedar Hill.”
For decades, farmers, families, and organizations like Audubon and Texas Parks and Wildlife have worked to preserve the open space in Cedar Hill. In the nature corridor along FM 1382, thousands of acres of open space are preserved through the investment and partnership of the City of Cedar Hill, Dallas County Open Space, Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Cedar Hill State Park, Newman International Academy, and others.
“The leadership of this city has always prioritized the preservation of our natural beauty,” says Greg Porter, Cedar Hill city manager. “The city council has set a bold and ambitious goal to preserve 25% of land in Cedar Hill as open space. We know that it’s important for the quality of life of our community and it’s also what sets us apart in the region. This trail is a physical connection between some of the most distinctive natural assets in Cedar Hill.”
In a quick drive from Dallas, you can be on the hike and bike trail that runs along FM 1382 in Cedar Hill and includes architecturally distinctive amenity stations and an overlook with a view of Joe Pool Lake. The project was funded through partnerships with Dallas County Public Works, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Cedar Hill Community Development Corporation. For more information on this project and other development in Cedar Hill, including the development of new library, museum, and Signature Park, sign-up for Cedar Hill EDC’s e-newsletter. Contact the Cedar Hill EDC at 972.291.5132 or visit their website.
