Hiking at Meridian State Park, Texas.

Sometimes, a hiking trip doesn’t have to be long and challenging, and that’s what you will get at Meridian State Park, where Texas Prairie and Hill Country meet.

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Meridian State Park is not huge. It is only 505.4 acres, with a 72-acre lake in the middle. Check the Meridian State Park map to get a picture of this park.

Lake Meridian State Park (that’s what some people like to say) is slightly bigger than Lake Colorado City State Park and smaller than Daingerfield State Park. That is the comparison of Meridian SP with other Texas State Parks.
  
There are only four hiking trails in the park. They range from .7 miles to 2.2 miles with easy to challenging difficulty.

My family and I have visited Meridian State Park several times in all seasons. It’s only about an hour’s drive from where we live in the south of Fort Worth. 

Once, we camped in our minivan, which we turned into a camper van. 

And we always visited the park with our dog Snoopy.

So, here’s what to expect when you hike at Meridian State Park for the first time.

Hiking at Meridian State Park, Texas. 

Meridian has slightly over five miles of trails divided into four hiking trails. All courses are making a loop.

The park categorized the trails into easy, moderate, and challenging, although I found them easy and fun.

There are spots where you go down and up the rocky terrain. Some people will find it challenging, though. 

All in all, even children will have fun doing a little climbing on the trails.

Let’s start with the easy trail first.

1. Little Forest Junior Trail – 0.8 mi – easy

This short, rocky trail will take you across the park road. 

In the spring, enjoy bluebonnets on the trail. It’s on the section of the trail called Wildflower Field, to the right of the parking lot.

You will also find a bird blind there.

We visited between mid-March and the end of April for the bluebonnets. There was a time when the bluebonnets were abundant in mid-March, but there was a time when they weren’t even blooming on the first week of April.

You better call the park if you plan to hike when bluebonnets are blooming.

Usually, you will also see bluebonnets on the roadside when you cross the street following the trail.

Across the parking lot, you will walk on part of the Bosque Hiking Trail towards the Bee Ledge.    

Watch your step here as you take in the view of Lake Meridian from the overlook on the cliff.

Be extra careful when you go down to the Bee Ledge.

When we visited during Labor Day weekend, part of the lake you will see from this overlook was covered with lily pads. But they were at the end of their cycle. However, I don’t know when are their blooming time. Call the park headquarters for info. 

You will also see a big Bee Ledge on the right side before you get to the parking lot. Take a walk there.

Across the Bee Ledge is a Fern Ledge. Don’t get too far to the edge of the cliff to see it. 

One time when we visited at the end of April, the trails and the road were full of caterpillars. I don’t know whether they could give you a rash or not, but be careful when you see one. Most importantly, try not to step on them.

How to get there: Follow the park road towards the lake from the headquarters, then keep going to the right. Follow the road until you see the sign of Little Forest Junior Trail on the right-hand side.

2. Little Springs Trail – 0.7 mi – moderate     

You can find Little Springs Trail right at the end of Crosstimbers Campground. 

It’s only 0.7 mi, shorter than my morning walk with our dog around my neighborhood. Although brief, it’s rugged, so it fell on a moderate difficulty. At least that’s what it said in the Meridian State Park Trails map.

Like most trails in Texas parks, the ground is rocky. It started flat, went down a bit, backed up again, then turned flat again. It’s like that almost to the starting point, except at the end, where the rugged terrain ascended to the top. 

In my opinion, Little Springs Trail is accessible, even for the young ones and newbies. 

Our dog enjoyed his hiking adventure here, too.

What’s more interesting, you will walk under the canopy of juniper trees. Watch or listen to the wildlife.
 
We didn’t see any wildlife at the time, but we found 2-3 fossils on the ground that we put back where we found them.

There’s a small Bee Ledge on this trail, too.
 
Almost at the end, we came to a T. There was a sign saying trail, pointing to where we came from and the opposite side. Another sign going to the right.
 
We sent our son to check the trail to the right. He said it didn’t look like going to where we came from.

My guess is, that the trail connects to the Bosque Hiking Trail or Little Forest Junior Trail. It’s not marked on the map although the trail was clear.
 
If you go and want to explore this trail, you better ask the ranger first.
 
All in all, this shortest trail in Meridian State Park was fun for the whole family. Just took us less than 30 minutes from start to finish, including several stops.

If you are a Cub Scout leader, this is a perfect place for the boys to hike as well.

How to get there: From the headquarters, drive into the park and turn on the first right into Crosstimbers Campgrounds. Keep right until you find the trailhead. It’s a short drive.

3. Shinnery Ridge Trail – 1.5 mi – moderate

It is another family-friendly loop trail in the park.

The terrain is rocky, with ups and downs along the way, and lots of Juniper Trees. You will see wooden benches along the trail.

Part of the trail is paved and accessible. From the trailhead, go to the right. 

In case you do not know, Meridian State Park is home to a golden-cheeked warbler.

When visiting in the summertime, look for this endangered bird. We still have no luck until today, though. Probably we must get there early in the morning.

On the way to the trailhead, you will pass the Civilian Conservation Corps stone grill on the left. However, you can’t use the grill.

There is another scenic overlook along this road, right before you get to the trailhead. But the trees and bushes were getting high the last time we went there. We hardly see anything from this overlook.

How to get there: Follow the park road towards the lake from the headquarters. Follow the road to the left until you get to the trailhead.

4. Bosque Hiking Trail – 2.2 mi – challenging

This trail encircles Lake Meridian, which features a limestone outcropping with fossils, a scenic overlook, and aquatic vegetation along the path.
 
Start the hike from the Refectory because parking is spacious.
 
Follow the trail to the left. You will see the Civilian Conservation Corps dam up close. Then, you will pass several campsites on Shinnery Ridge West.

However, you’re not going past the Shinnery Ridge Trail because you will hike the perimeter of Lake Meridian. The Shinnery Ridge Trail is above you.

You will go up the stone stairs, cross the bridge, and, of course, rocky terrain almost all the way.

We met a Scouts group from Dallas on the trail. They were doing their shakedown for a trip to Philmont Scouts Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. 

We also met a couple with their dogs running loose on this trail. Fortunately, the dogs listened when they called them. We had Snoopy at that time.

For your information, you can’t let your dogs run loose in Meridian State Park. So please follow the rules when you bring your dog to the park.

Visitors liked to take a break at the scenic Bee Ledge lookout point during the hike here. They went down the cliff to explore the ledge. It is the one across the Little Forest Junior Trail.

How to get there: From the park headquarters, follow the park road towards the lake. You will see the refectory ahead of you with ample parking spots.

Meridian State Park Camping 

If you plan to stay inside Meridian State Park, you can choose from three different camping sites.

1. Campsites for tents and RVs, ranging from full hookup to primitive.

Crosstimbers Campgrounds is a mix of water and electric sites, full hookup sites, screened shelters, and cabins.

It is the largest campground in the park, with a location right across from the headquarters.

There are six campsites with electricity here. They are best for small pop-ups, tents, and vans. No RVs over 19 feet are allowed at these campsites.

When we camped in our minivan, we stayed at site number 11. The restroom was clean, and the night sky was amazing!

There are eight full hookup campsites here. They are pull-through sites and best suited for RVs over 20 feet long.

The cabins and two of the screened shelters are here, too.

Shinnery Ridge West is for tent camping only. There is no potable water in these primitive campsites, and restrooms are 200 yards (1 mile) away.

Campsites have easy access to Lake Meridien, but I think sites 30 and 31 are the best. They are right by the lake.

2. Screened shelters (9 sites) and Premium Screened Shelters (6 sites.)

The premium screened shelters are on the lakeside, near the refectory. No RVs or trailers are allowed in this area.

Restrooms with showers are nearby at the refectory. 

You must reserve the cabin for a minimum of two days during certain holiday weekends.

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed inside the shelters.

The other seven screened shelters are at Juniper Ridge Campground. You can reach it before you get to Little Forest Junior Trail.

I like the restrooms with showers in this campground. They are new and look sleek.   

3. Group Primitive Campsite and Group Youth Area. 

There is only one group camp in the park, at the Cottonwood Cove Campground. It is by the lake and can accommodate up to 24 people.

No RVs or camping trailers are allowed. Restrooms are within walking distance.

The Group Youth Area is rented to adult-supervised youth groups like Scouts or church youth groups.  

There is only one site that can accommodate up to 72 people. The location is Cedar Ridge Campground.

Meridian State Park Cabins

There are only three cabins in Meridian State Park. Each one has AC and heat. 

The park doesn’t provide linens, and pets are not allowed inside the cabins.

The Meridian State Park cabins are located in Crosstimbers Campground with restrooms and showers nearby.

If you are not a tent or RV camping type of person, make sure you book early for this accommodation.

Meridian State Park Fishing

Fishing is the most popular activity in the park. A guy caught a 12-lb. Largemouth bass the day we camped there. It was the biggest one ever captured in the park.

There is shoreline access and an ADA-accessible fishing pier in the park. Meridian Park also loans fishing gear for use in the park.

You do not need a license when fishing from shore, pier, or boat. 

Other Things to Do at Meridian State Parks  

Swimming and no-wake boating are two water activities that visitors like to do at this park. 

Of course, birdwatching is also very popular in this park. 

Birders have identified over 175 bird species thanks to soggy bottomlands, stream corridors, high ridges with Ashe juniper and oaks, and the 72-acre Meridian Lake that the birds like to call home.

Look for wood warblers, sparrows, woodpeckers, and flycatchers along the Bosque Hiking Trail. Birds of prey are often seen soaring overhead.

For the avid birder and the amateur alike, stay in the bird blind on Little Forest Junior Trail for bird watching. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!

When you do Shinnery Ridge Trail between late March and June, you might see the endangered golden-cheek warbler.  

Some people also like to bike on the park roads.

A Little History of Meridian State Park

Meridian State Park is one of the 29 state parks built by the CCC in Texas during the Great Depression.

CCC Company 1827, comprised of World War I veterans, developed the park using local limestone and timber, primarily oak and cedar.

They worked from around 1933 to 1934 and built the entrance portal, roads, water crossing, vehicle bridges, culverts, lake dam, and concession building. The CCC-built Barbeque pits are no longer in use. 

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal work programs. It enlisted unemployed men to work on land conservation and park development projects.

More than 50,000 CCC enrollees served in Texas. They constructed parks from the ground up across the state, creating the Texas State Park system.

In other words, thanks to them we now have places for recreation and enjoying the outdoor beauty.

How to Get to Meridian State Park 

From DFW, go south towards Cleburne. Take TX-174 S to Pr 7 N in Meridian. Follow Pr 7 N to State Park Rd 7. 

If you are camping in Dinosaur Valley State Park and want to make a day visit to Meridian State Park, take TX-144 S to Pr 7 N in Meridian. Follow Pr 7 N to State Park Rd 7.

Take Hwy 6 N/TX-6 N to Pr 7 N in Meridian if you come from Waco. Follow Pr 7 N to State Park Rd 7.

Nearby State Parks, Historic Sites, and State Natural Areas

Dinosaur Valley State Park (32.5 miles to the north)

Lake Whitney State Park (31.4 miles to the east)

Cleburne State Park (33.6 miles to the north)  

Address: 173 Park Road #7, Meridian, TX 76665. (254) 435-2536