NTGD 2020

Closed

Find out when CRP is closed due to rain or other situations by visiting our

FACEBOOK page or calling 972-709-7784.

Audubon Dallas is a nonprofit organization, and relies on donations and volunteers to help maintain Cedar Ridge Preserve.

We appreciate a donation of $3.00 or more each time you visit. Donation box is on the main trail, in front of the Education Building.

Or, click below to donate online.  

General Info

Due to COVID-19 we ask for your cooperation so we can all stay safe while enjoying Cedar Ridge Preserve:

•   Do not come if you are feeling ill.                                                                                                                                                                   
•   Wear a MASK and maintain recommended social distancing while at the Preserve.
•   Be prepared for limited access to the public restrooms.
•   Bring your own water bottle and refill at water station.
•   Due to crowds, you may be asked to come back another time.
•   We reserve the right to close the Preserve if we feel it is not safe.

Parking is limited, please consider Car-pooling.

Closed on Mondays.
Open Tuesday through Sunday only when weather permits.

Address, Hours & Phone Number

7171 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75249 - Click here for a Google map & driving directions

OPEN  Tuesdays through Sundays, 6:30 a.m. to Dusk.   PHONE  972-709-7784

WE ARE CLOSED MONDAYS - Do not come to the Preserve in order to give it a day of rest. 

Closing Time is about 30 minutes after sunset.   The Security Officer is instructed to lock the gate one hour after sunset. If you are in the parking lot within a few minutes of darkness, you won’t be locked in.

Rain Closures

GET THE MOST RECENT PRESERVE CLOSURE REPORTS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!

Why do we close trails after it rains?
We love the rain! What a great feeling to enjoy the cool air just after a rain. However, most trails do not hold up to foot traffic when wet and hiking on a wet trail can cause long-term damage.

What happens to a trail when hiked on after a rain event?

  • Soil is compacted which means water can’t soak in
  • Water that doesn’t soak in creates erosion and lost soil
  • Walking through mud creates ruts, a conduit for erosion
  • Walking around muddy areas widens trails
  • Widening trails kills vegetation that holds things together
  • Damage means increased costs for trail repair

How long a trail stays closed depends on the surface material of the trail. The damage impacts our resources in terms of trail sustainability, staff time, volunteer recruitment, and hard on the budget to make the repairs. Additionally, muddy trails mean slippery trails. If it has rained recently, please call ahead and see if the trail is open. In the meantime, enjoy one of the many paved hike/bike trails available throughout the Metroplex. Thanks and stay safe!

Heat Advisory Info

We have measures in place to warn visitors of the danger of the heat. Our policy for heat event response is if a heat index of 110 is forecast, NOAA would release an Excessive Heat Warning, and we will close the preserve.

We have our own weather station, accessible at https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-st…/dashboard…   The phone app shows the rain for the last two days and amount for the current day within CRP. The web site (not the app) has records for every day since the station was put online July 21, 2016. The app also shows times for sunset and last light when the Preserve closes.

Maps & Trail Guides

Location Map  •    Trail Map  •   Trail Mileage   •    Trail Profile   •   POSSUMHAW Trail Guide

Guidelines

PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT: In order to help us maintain a clean place for all to enjoy, pick up your dog's waste and your used bottles, etc., carry them out and dispose of them in trash bins at the entrance to the Preserve.

To those who enjoy a hike accompanied by music, wear headphones or ear buds so others can enjoy the sounds of nature and you don’t scare off the wildlife.  However, be safe.  Use one ear for your tunes and the other to listen to the world around you.

View our full list of REGULATIONS for more information to help plan your visit to Cedar Ridge Preserve. 

Cedar Ridge Preserve is designated as a nature preserve due to the environmental importance of the area it encompasses.

 

Why is it a preserve and not a “park”?

Unlike a park, the primary focus of a nature preserve is to maintain and/or restore its natural ecological conditions to protect the land and its native plants and wildlife. Although, Cedar Ridge Preserve is open to the public for hiking,  educational and recreational opportunities typical of many parks are not offered or encouraged. Certain activities and amenities within a preserve are limited to prevent deterioration of the land. Additionally, nature preserves depend on volunteers, donors, and VISITORS to assist with the upkeep of the habitat.

Photo Credit: Irma Gutierrez

Volunteer Opportunities & Other Events

CRP Committee Meetings – By invitation, for Friends of Cedar Ridge Preserve - Second Fridays, 6:30 p.m.

Conservation in Action Workdays – Third Saturdays, September through May, 9-Noon; June through August, 8-11 a.m.  Habitat Restoration and Trail Maintenance at Cedar Ridge Preserve is on the Third Saturday of every month throughout the year, rain or shine. Volunteers remove non-native plants, restore trails, and work in the butterfly garden. Repairing trails reduces erosion trouble spots and removing non-native plants clears crowded trail edges. We provide snacks, water, pruning shears, shovels, and work gloves. All you need to bring is sun screen and bug repellent. Questions? Contact info_CRP@yahoo.com

For questions about educational programming, scheduling a visit by a school group, or planning a Scout project, call 972-709-7784

Become a Friend of Cedar Ridge Preserve

Choose to be a Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Painted Bunting, Goldfinch or Black-capped Vireo (Rare Bird)! 

Your contribution will help to maintain the natural habitat and beauty of Cedar Ridge Preserve. Audubon Dallas is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

CLICK HERE!