Now that our move to Texas is mostly complete, I’ve been starting to explore the parks and trails in our area. Knowing that I’ve been spoiled by the mountains of Colorado, it was a pleasant surprise to find this hiking trail in Dallas. The trail provided me some very steep elevation gains for a great workout today! Read on for more from my first time hiking Cedar Brake Loop at Cedar Ridge Preserve in Dallas, TX.
The Cedar Brake Loop is a two-plus mile trail in the Cedar Ridge Preserve in the southwestern portion of Dallas. (The preserve relies on donations from visitors, so be prepared to drop three dollars in the donation bin. Alternately, you can PayPal your gift from your smartphone.) There are many short trails accessible from the parking lot for a variety of activity levels. I had previously researched the trails and decided on the Cedar Brake Loop for today, and headed out on the Cattail Pond Trail. And while the above sign at the beginning of the hike can seem a little ominous, there were no sightings of any “danger noodles” today!
It pleased me to find a trail that offers moderate-to-difficult inclines here in the DFW area. The trail was still a bit muddy from the rain over the last few days, but easy to traverse. (If you’re planning your own visit, be sure to check out the preserve’s Facebook page to see daily status updates. The preserve frequently closes due to bad weather, and is always closed on Mondays.) Be sure to wear the appropriate footwear on this trail, and be ready for some high steps up and down at times.
Today’s hike count: 112.
AllTrails difficulty rating: moderate.
