Trails of Cedar Hill State Park

There are four trails in Cedar Hill State Park. The largest trail, Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association (DORBA), is a shared-use mountain biking and hiking trail. The remaining trails, Overlook, Duck Pond, and Talala, are only for hiking. The trails are closed when wet to prevent erosion on the pathways. Fortunately, you can check on the status of the trails before you visit the park by calling 972-291-3900 or by visiting the Cedar Hill State Park Facebook page. You are also allowed to have your dog out on the trails, provided they are kept on a leash.

Take a look at the Trails Map (PDF) to print and bring along!

Texas Parks and Wildlife
  1. DORBA Trail
  2. Duck Pond Trail
  3. Overlook Trail
  4. Talala Trail

DORBA Trail was created primarily through the efforts of the Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association (DORBA), hence the trail name. They worked closely with Cedar Hill State Park management to help design and build the trail. Their efforts returned a big dividend for off-road bicyclists as the trail is now considered one of the top mountain bike trails in the state.

Loops

DORBA Trail has three loops: Short (2.5 miles), Middle (7 miles) and Outer (10 plus miles). The paths pass through wooded areas but are fairly open for much of their length. Having the sun beating down on you can make a warm summer hike considerably warmer so be sure to plan ahead and bring an adequate supply of water.

The trail is what you might expect from a design made for mountain biking. There are plenty of twists, turns, and ups and downs. None of this is too strenuous, but if you are looking for an easy, short hike, you will be better off using one of the other three trails.

Traveling

The most important rule on the DORBA Trail is that bikers travel in a clockwise direction and hikers travel counter-clockwise. When hiking, make sure you are attentive to watching and listening for approaching bicyclists. Their faster rate of travel and the fact a biker cannot 'hear' a walker makes it difficult for a rider to know there is a hiker ahead.

On the other hand, if you are walking it is relatively easy for you to hear approaching riders. When you hear a bicyclist, quickly find a place to stand off the trail and allow the biker(s) to pass.

Watch the YouTube video that was taken along the DORBA Trail to see how it looks.