| History: In 1854, John Anderson Penn settled in the rugged cedar-covered hills of southwest Dallas County - an area known as the Cedar Mountains. Today, remnants of the original Penn Farm survive intact in the confines of Cedar Hill State Park. Cedar Hill State Park is a 1,826 acre urban nature preserve located on the 7500 acre Joe Pool Reservoir. The Park's proximity to major metropolitan cities makes it an ideal destination for families who want to enjoy the great outdoors without spending precious time driving. The ruggedness & scenic beauty of the area combined with over 100 miles of shoreline & the H2O based recreation on Joe Pool is a major attraction. The Metroplex skyline reflects on Joe Pool at night adds to our relaxing wilderness atmosphere. The park was acquired in 1982 & was opened in 1991.
Penn Farm Agricultural History Center pays tribute to the disappearing Texas' family farm & affords a glimpse into agrarian history as farm machinery took the place of the horse & mule almost a century ago. The Farm is open seven days a week to self-guided tours. There are reconstructed & historic buildings from the mid 1800s through the mid 1900s. The Penn Farm has a very relaxing atmosphere & is perfect for family walks. Self-guided & guided tours are available. Special tours can be set-up for school groups or other groups. Call 972-291-5940 for more information
Activities: Camping - Features 355 mostly wooded campsites with a shade shelter over some of the picnic tables. Each site has H2O, electricity, a fire-ring, a lantern pole, & a picnic table. All campsites are within walking distance of restrooms with hot showers. Additionally, there are 30 primitive campsites.
Mountain Biking - Cedar Hill State Park is home to the premier North Texas mountain bike trail. The DORBA trail, named for the volunteers of the Dallas Off Road Biking Association, was built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers. Over 1200 acres of prime mountain bike landscape are crisscrossed with 15 miles of intense riding. This exciting trail is closed after rainfall so call 972/291-3900 & press star two for trail conditions.
Birdwatching - Birdwatching is a popular activity year-round at Cedar Hill State Park. The most sought after bird at the park is the Painted Bunting. Painted Buntings abound in the Park from the first week of May through August each year. The park is home to other neotropical migrants including the Yellow-billed cuckoo, the Indigo Bunting, the Chuck-will's Widow & many others. Fall & winter brings: Ruby-crowned Kinglets; Yellow-rumped Warblers; Gold Finch; American Kestrel; & Cedar Waxwing. Resident birds include the Eastern Bluebird, the Greater Roadrunner, the Loggerhead Shrike, the Red-tailed Hawk, the Great Horned Owl, both the Turkey & Black Vulture, & the Bewick's Wren. The park's bird list contains almost 200 species!
Other Park Activities - Picnicking: Over 200 picnic tables with waist-high grills, & most have a view of the lake. Fishing: Features two lighted fishing jetties & a perch pond for youngsters. Lake fishing includes largemouth black bass, crappie ,and catfish. Slot limit on Joe Pool is five largemouth bass limit of fish under 14 inches or over 21 inches, with only one being 21 inches or greater. Crappie must be over ten inches & the limit is 25 fish. Swimming beach: The park has a gravel swimming beach surrounded by picnic tables with grills. There are no lifeguards on duty; therefore, swimming is at your own risk. Playgrounds: The park has three playgrounds conveniently located throughout the park. Boating: Two concrete four-lane boat ramps welcome our boating enthusiast. There is also ample lighted boat trailer parking.
Joe Pool Marina: Joe Pool Marina rents ski boats, paddle boats, jet skis, pontoon boats, & a house boat for family activities. In addition they have an indoor/outdoor fishing barge. They have a convenient store that sells bait, fishing gear, & camping gear, as well as some food products. Yearly boat slip rentals are available. They can be contacted by calling 972/299-9010. |
Cedar Hill State Park Campground Web Site
Driving Direction GPS Coordinates:
32.589850, -96.909583
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Campground: Cedar Hill State Park in Cedar Hill Texas *