DFW Parks and Wildlife

Land Spreading Out so Far and Wide

If you like the outdoors, you won’t be disappointed. The Cities of Dallas and Ft. Worth maintain over 650 parks & gardens and over 25 lakes between them —and that doesn’t even account for all the parks within the surrounding towns and communities. The City of Irving, where our offices are located, is nestled between two of the largest lakes in North Texas, making it a destination spot for all types of water recreation. There are currently over 40 parks spanning more than 2000 acres of land maintained by the City of Irving Parks and Recreation Department, offering plenty of opportunities for picknicking, disc golf, jogging, swimming, and sports of all kinds. The Texas Parks & Wildlife department is as devoted to making Texas fishing, hiking, boating, biking and other outdoor recreations as accessible and fun for everyone as it is to conserving the natural and cultural resources of Texas. For your guide to Texas State Parks, historic sites, and many other outdoor activities, visit the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.

North Texas Lakes

Water, Water; Everywhere

There are more than 60 lakes within 100 miles of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Terminal Reality is only minutes away from Lake Lewisville to the north, a 30,000 acre lake that’s always open for sailing enthusiasts, water and jet skiing, fishing, swimming and countless other water recreations. Just to the west is the scenic Grapevine Lake, an 8,000 acre lake with 146 miles of shoreline and more than nine miles of wilderness trails. To locate a lake in North Texas, use the Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Texas Lake Finder.

Lake Ray Roberts

Defining why Texas is like a Whole Other Country

Just north of Denton, and situated along the shores of a 30,000-acre reservoir, the Ray Roberts Lake State Park Complex consists of two separate state parks: Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch. As well as six satellite parks: Jordan Unit, Pond Creek, Pecan Creek, Buck Creek, Sanger, and Elm Fork. The complex is home to Wildlife Management Areas, wetlands, and waterfowl sanctuaries. Birdwatching, water sports, riding horses or backpacking along a scenic trail, Ray Roberts has something for everyone. From scenic beach fronts to cozy camp sites, if you did not know better you would say it was  an entire other country. For more information, visit the Ray Roberts Lake State Park website.

Cedar Hill State Park

The Great Outdoors, minutes from downtown

An excellent example of the high quality Texas State Park experience can be found at the Cedar Hill State Park. This 1,826 acre park is located right in Southwest Dallas County in an area known as the “Cedar Mountains.” The park features 4.5 miles of hiking/backpacking trails, 10.3 miles of mountain bike trails, and the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Reservoir. Only minutes away from downtown Dallas, Cedar Hill State Park is a unique outdoor destination that isn’t far from home. For more information, visit the Cedar Hill State Park website.

Biking

2 Wheels Good

While the Metroplex hasn’t been singled out for bike-friendliness in the past, it is making huge strides to support and encourage two-wheeled travel.  Dallas has just revised its Bike Plan, and the governments’ council of many North Texas cities and towns have banded together to develop the Regional Veloweb, which will eventually honeycomb North Texas with 644 miles of dedicated trails. In the meantime, we’re proud to claim miles & miles of killer offroad mountain bike trails for all levels of expertise: one of the best in the state is only 12 minutes from the office! For more information on cycling clubs, trails, and more, visit Bike DFW.

Dog Parks

Release the hounds

Nature isn’t the exclusive realm of the adventuring outdoorsman type. Man’s Best Friend has plenty to see and do in North Texas as well. There are over a dozen dog parks in the DFW area alone, from Wiggly Field Dog Park at Lake Forest Park in Henderson to Fort Woof Dog Park in Ft. Worth. Plus-all of Texas local and state parks are pet friendly, provided you adhere to leash laws.