Top 5 Fall Family Hikes in Dallas-Fort Worth
Texas in Fall is the perfect time to get outside, enjoy the cooler temperatures and see the leaves changing colors. Within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, there are some great kid-friendly hikes and each with their on unique hiking features. Our top 5 Fall family-friendly hikes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area include The Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary (McKinney), Oak Point Nature Preserve (Plano) the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (Fort Worth), Arbor Hills Nature Preserve (Plano) and Cedar Ridge Preserve (Dallas). Some are better for hiking dirt trails, some offer kayak launch sites to ponds and rivers, some have lookouts above the tree canopy, some have butterfly gardens, and one even has bison! Most offer wheelchair or jogging stroller access to some of the trails.
While outdoor hikes are the perfect outing for families, please honor COVID-19 restrictions for each location. Check the website for each hiking location directly since these restrictions or closures can change at any time, and you want the most current information. In general, outdoor locations still ask for visitors to wear a mask and keep a 6 ft distance, so always keep a mask handy for everyone in your group.
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
The Heard Museum is just a few miles away from the city, but feels isolated in the blackland prairie. This wildlife sanctuary located in McKinney is 289 acres to explore including hiking trails, ponds, outdoor wildlife sanctuary, native plant garden, seasonal butterfly house, pioneer village, museum exhibits, magic planet interactive globe, and fossils such as a large marine reptile mosasaur. The Heard Museum calendar is packed with events including camps, night hikes, nature walks, story time, treetop adventure ropes course and ziplining.
Trails vary from open prairie and sunny to wooded and shaded trails. Since this is maintained as a nature preserve, there are no paved pathways and therefore this is not wheelchair accessible. A jogging stroller with rugged tires would be able to go on most trails.
Kids love to explore the pioneer village to climb mini houses in this pretend town. Sit under the shady trees for a pit stop rest and of course the obligatory snack.
A great hiking lap for school-age kids is to go to the pond to check out the waterfowl and turtles. Watch for great blue herons and egrets nesting here.
The Dinosaurs Live! exhibit at the Heard Museum is open now through mid-February which makes this an extra kid-friendly destination for a Fall hike. Come face-to-face with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar as the kids get a chance to roar back. This is a great event for the whole family to get out in nature and view 10 moving and roaring dinosaurs, 5 static photo op dinosaurs, and an outdoor fossil dig all included in the regular admission price! While younger kids will love this exhibit, it’s fun for all ages.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, Texas is 200 acres of blackland prairie with native grasses, wildflowers and trees to explore. There are three types of trails: 3 miles of paved trailways (wheelchair access), 3 miles of unpaved walking trails and almost 3 miles of off-road cycling trails. There is a creek to explore, wildlife to watch, and great hiking and biking. Trek to the top of the observation tower for panoramic views over the treetops, and end your stay at the large playground and picnic area. This is a popular park, however it is so large that it doesn’t feel crowded.
The Observation Tower has two levels, and visitors can see above the treetops from the upper deck. Rest a minute and take some great photos from the tower. Visitors can almost forget they are in a city as they are surrounded by trees.
For those needing wheelchair or stroller trails, there are 3 miles of paved trails with inclines and declines for easy access. The paved paths are wide with plenty of space and you can choose sunny or shaded, depending on how much sun exposure you want. The unpaved trails are well-worn with hardened soil that would work for slimmer jogging strollers.
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is 3,621 acres, making it one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the United States. Home of a bison herd and prairie dog town, this beautiful refuge consists of prairie, woodland, wetlands and the Trinity River. Outdoor activities include hiking, canoeing, birdwatching and animal spotting. The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge was created to preserve the ecosystem and local watershed and provide an outdoor escape for its visitors.
The terrain at the refuge has remained as natural as possible, therefore expect rugged trails and inclines. The reward is great views of the rolling terrain, hardwood forests and native grasses.
The red oaks give a beautiful orange-red autumn color on this limestone outcrop trail. Check the events calendar for a hay ride to feed the bison, and otherwise they can be viewed on Buffalo Road. Guided nature walks are a great way to connect with nature and learn about this wildlife refuge.
The Hardwicke Interpretive Center is very hands-on for kids to learn about animals. The center has live animals and interactive centers to learn about animal bones, feathers, antlers, turtle shells, habitats, tracks and includes a small gift shop with snacks and drinks.
Cedar Ridge Preserve
Located just 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, the Cedar Ridge Preserve is over 600 acres of hills, hiking trails, native trees, ponds and wildflowers. This escape from the city has over 9 miles of hiking trails to explore. The trails range from smooth and easy with no incline, to more difficult trails with elevations worth the leg workout. Animal and bird-watching is popular here, and the preserve is home to the endangered black-capped Vireo. The large butterfly garden invites visitors to explore with your senses as you hear the birds, smell the flowers, and watch the butterflies in the flowers. This preserve is popular as a great place to explore, immerse in nature, and watch wildlife, and you would never believe this is so close to the hustle and bustle of Dallas.
The Cattail Pond Trail is a great hike for younger kids to the pond. Sit at the dock to watch for waterfowl and rest a moment. You can backtrack on this trail or keep going for more views. The trails closer to the entrance are flatter and easier for smaller kids.
Many of the trails at Cedar Ridge Preserve are covered with shade. While this preserve is named after the cedar trees that are prevalent here, expect to see Fall leaf color changes with other hardwoods such as red oaks mixed in.
The Escarpment Trail is more difficult but so much fun with steeper cedar steps up a steady incline to the escarpment view, followed by a steady decline after the lookout. There are a couple of places along the path to rest, so hikers can stop and allow faster hikers to pass.
The total round-trip from the Butterfly Garden (by parking lot) to Cattail Pond to Escarpment and back to Butterfly Garden was about 3.5 miles. The rule of thumb is 0.5 miles for every year of the child’s age, so 3.5 miles was about perfect for my 7 year old. Anyone that is relatively fit should be able to manage this trail. My 7 year old did great but was tired afterwards since there are many stairs.
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve is an 800 acre park in suburban Plano with hiking and biking trails, kayaing, canoeing, standup paddleboarding, horseback trails, and is home to the annual Plano Balloon Festival and GoApe Adventure Course. This preserve includes blackland prairie, a forest of old giant trees, lush green walking trails and a wide boardwalk that is an easy walk for all ages and all abilities.
Bring your own kayak, canoe or stand up paddleboard to the large pond. Kayaks are available for rental seasonally. Bring your own fishing equipment to try out Oak Point Pond. Stop by the front entrance for kid-friendly hands-on nature information.
With over 8 miles of concrete trails and 5 miles of soft surface trails along Rowlett Creek, Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve. Bike the recreational trails or hike the soft trails from sunrise to sunset. The wood boardwalk is great for those getting more comfortable with nature and wanting to avoid poison ivy, bugs and snakes.
There is a great trail that surrounds the Oak Point pond as joggers and bikers share the wide pathway. Hikers can take little detours through the woods for some off-road adventure. Hike into the grasslands and walk under old pecan and oak trees to view the landscape.
Texas has set aside many natural spaces to preserve the plants, animals and entire ecosystems that are dependent on each other. While some parks and preserves are maintained more than others to allow people space to explore and exercise, all of these places are going to have poison ivy, bugs and snakes. Just watch where you step and know how to identify poison ivy and you will have a great trip. Just remember you are a guest in their home, so leave no trace and help preserve these places for future visitors and future generations. Be sure to tag us at #TexasKidsAdventures on social media when you visit these places to let us know how your kids explore Texas. We’ll see y’all outside!
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