Relax by the lake, tour an old Texas farm, or explore our rugged limestone hills and rare prairie pockets. Though we’re just a short drive from the DFW Metroplex, it feels like you’re a world away from the city.

Visit Cedar Hill State Park for the day or weekend. Bring your family to hike, bike, picnic, camp, geocache and nature watch. The park sits on the shore of Joe Pool Lake, so you can also swim, fish, and boat or paddle.

Camp at one of 350 developed campsites, all near restrooms with hot showers. All sites have water and electricity; 150 have sewer hookups, too. Several sites are ADA-accessible. Or hike to a primitive campsite, if trails are open.

Explore our trails on bike or on foot. The DORBA Trail, named for the volunteers of the Dallas Off Road Biking Association, crisscrosses 1,200 acres and is open to bikers and hikers. The trail is closed when wet, so call ahead to make sure it is open. Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map.

Swim in the lake! We have a gravel swimming beach with picnic tables and grills nearby. A playground and restrooms are next to the beach.

Fish the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake for largemouth black bass, crappie and catfish. We have two lighted fishing jetties and a perch pond for kids. We also have two four-lane boat ramps and lighted boat trailer parking. You do not need a fishing license to fish from shore or pier in a state park.

For over a century, the Penn family lived and worked here. Take a self-guided tour and see how farming changed over the course of the family’s tenure. The center is open daily. Call the park to arrange a guided tour for your family or school group.