A Complete Guide to Cleburne State Park Hiking Trails

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When my itchy feet send a signal to my brain, Cleburne State Park hiking trails are one of the places that I like to go. It is not just because of its location, which is only 30 minutes from home. It is also because the trails in the park are not that long, so it is a great place to satisfy my natural craving quickly.

My family and I like to hike at the park, but most of the time, I go hiking with my dog Snoopy during the week. Cleburne State Park hiking trails are pretty safe, and not too many people around. I’ve never seen other hikers on the trails the many times I went there during the week. The most people I saw were two or three guys fishing from across the lake.

Where is Cleburne State Park?

Cleburne State Park is just 50 minutes southwest of Fort Worth or a little over an hour’s drive from Dallas. It is one of the places for North Texans to get away from their hectic city life.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built Cleburne State Park. Like many parks constructed by the CCC, Cleburne State Park centers on a large lake. They also completed the small earthen dam and an impressive three-tiered rock spillway, the must-see historical highlight in the park. Other features in the park built by the CCC are portals, an entry bridge, and the three-mile-long scenic Park Road 21.

Physical address:

5800 Park Road 21

Cleburne, TX 76033

Entrance fees:

Adult: $5 daily

Child 12 years and under: Free

Or, use your annual Texas State Park Pass.

Hours:

Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Busy season:

Spring and summer.

Nearby State Parks:

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Meridian State Park

Lake Whitney State Park

Cleburne State Park Hiking Trails: From Easy to Challenging

In Cleburne State Park, you can explore nearly 13 miles of trails on foot or bike. You can choose from easy strolls along the shoreline to a difficult hike on limestone hills through the cedar brakes. There are 11 trails for you to explore. And here they are from easy to challenging, with an approximate time to finish the hike:

1. Sandy Flats Fishing Trail – .17 mi (one way) – 15 min. (one way) – EASY

A shoreline walk between the beach area and the boat ramp. It is mostly shaded, perfect for a relaxing walk after a picnic. (There are picnic tables around the beach area.)

Starting point: park your car in the beach area and follow the trail along the shoreline to the boat ramp. Or, park at the boat ramp and walk to the beach area. Don’t forget to grab an ice cream or snacks from the vending machine before on the way back.

2. Crappie Cove Fishing Trail – .25 mi. (one way) – 15 min. (one way) – EASY

This trail is still along the shoreline between the boat ramp and Crappie Cove Fishing Area. You will walk mostly under the trees, and there are parts close to the water. It’s not a swimming area.  

Starting point: Boat Ramp to the Crappie Cove or the other way around.

3. Bluecat Bottoms Fishing Trail – .18 mi. (one way) – 15 min. (one way) – EASY

Walking along the shoreline here is getting interesting. There are more trees and closer to the water. Again, it’s not a swimming area.

Starting point: Crappie Cove Fishing Area.

4. Perch Point Fishing Trail – .12 mi. (one way) – 10 min. (one way) – EASY

Another easy shoreline walk on the other side of the lake. Its location is near Poplar Point Campground.

5. White-Tail Hollow Trail – 1.61 mi. (round trip) – 1.25 hrs. (round trip) – EASY

This trail starts with a scenic walk through the woods and ends with a view overlooking Cedar Lake as you cross the historic dam built by the CCC. You will hike up a bit along the spillway, but it’s not strenuous. During spring time, this path filled with the bluebonnets. It’s so pretty. If you visit after several days of rain, you might see the waterfalls from the lake to the spillway. But, if there is no rain, the spillway is usually dry. Expect snaky switchbacks on this trail.

Starting point: the first parking on the right after the bridge. If parking is packed, turn around and park at the parking lot after the restroom. It’s where the Spillway Trail starts. Before you make a right to cross the spillway, turn left to the White-Tail Hollow Trailhead.       

Hiking idea: If you want to see the Spillway but don’t want to walk up a hill for a few yards, start from Sandy Flats and walk to the end of Bluecat Bottoms Fishing Trail. Then turn left to White-Tail Hollow Trail, where you will get to the Spillway, the historical highlight of the park. From here, turn around or continue with the White-Tail Hollow Trail. You will walk down a few yards before the trail turns flat. You can always park your car at the Bluecat Bottoms Fishing Area for a shorter walk.

6. Camp Creek Loop – 1.01 mi. – 1 hr. (round trip) – MODERATE

This trail starts from the parking on the left after the restroom. Walk towards the fence, then turn left. You will walk along the park boundary before it turns left to the woods. Look for bur oaks and five-lobed Virginia creeper vines on this short loop hike. Once you leave the woods area, the historic Camp Creek Bridge will be on the right. During Spring, the Bluebonnets are abundant around the bridge, making it a pretty background for pictures.

Starting point: first parking on the left after the restroom. 

7. Spillway Trail – .66 mi. (one way) – 1 hr. (round trip) – MODERATE

You take this trail for the best view of the impressive three-tiered rock spillway that the CCC carved using their hand out of the Comanche Peak limestone. After the spillway, you will hike up to the Overlook. Watch for a jumbo sea fossil on the trail. From the Overlook, keep going until you almost reach the fence. Make a left and hike for 0.1 mi before you make another left to the end of Coyote Run Nature Trail. The trail will take you to another overlook, this time overlooking the lake. In springtime, both sides of this trail covered with wildflowers. So pretty! If you make a right before the fence, it is the connection to the Limestone Ridge Trail. You will also see trails left by bushwhackers. One day I decided to take this trails, but I didn’t go that far. I was afraid that Snoopy and I saw a snake.

Starting point: first parking on the left after the restroom. After a few yards you will cross the street, walk in the woods, then cross the spillway. Expect to get wet.  

8. Coyote Run Nature Trail – 1.05 mi. (one way) – 1 hr. (round trip) – MODERATE

Another trail in the park is where you will walk along the park boundary. It starts from an open area, then mostly shaded to the end. There are trails on the right and left by people who bushwack to get the lake views from the limestone hilltops. Be careful if you want to check them out. This nature trail ends at a Scenic Overlook overlooking the lake. It also connects with the Spillway and Fossil Ridge Trails. This trail is not flat. You will hike up and down following the park’s topography. It is also rocky in several areas.

Starting point: Coyote Run Day Use Area, at the end of Park Road 21. 

9. Fossil Ridge Trail – 2.54 mi. (one way) – 1.5 hrs. (one way) – CHALLENGING

Follow the ups and downs of this trail along the park boundary to see a variety of picturesque landscapes. Most of the path is rocky and shaded, so it’s okay for summer hiking as long as you do it early in the morning. Towards the end you will come to a clearance and walk along tall grasses. It’s totally a completely different terrain. In case of emergency, there will be short trails on the right that will take you to the road. The trail ends when it connects to Coyote Run Nature Trail. You can turn around or make a loop by continuing on Coyote Run Nature Trail and Spillway Trail. 

Starting point: the first parking on the left after the restroom. Go towards the fence, then make a right. Or, you can always start with Spillway Trail and continue on Coyote Run Nature Trail before you enter the Fossil Ridge Trail. Extend your adventure by connecting to the Camp Creek Loop.  

10. Limestone Ridge Trail – 1.74 mi. (one way) – 1 hr. (one way) – CHALLENGING

This challenging trail twists along the rugged limestone cliffs. While bikers delight in its snaky switchbacks, it is easy to get disoriented while hiking. So, bring a compass or GPS unit because you don’t want to get lost. You will see a few ups and downs on the trail, and you will mostly hike in the woods. Watch for a jumbo sea fossil on the ground, and maybe a cairn on the tree is still there.

Starting point: across the spillway. When you start from the parking lot after the restroom, take the Spillway Trail until you see the sign of Limestone Ridge Trail and Limestone Ridge Inner Loop Trail with an arrow pointed to the right. Or, follow the Spillway Trail until you almost get to the fence, then make a right to the Limestone Ridge Trail. 

11. Limestone Ridge Inner Loop Trail – 1.67 mi. (one way) – 1 hr. (one way) – CHALLENGING

For the maximum mileage, add this trail to your Limestone Ridge Trail. Lots of snaky switchback too, but do not attempt to cut your way when you see a path a few feet from where you hike. You can get disoriented. Expect ups and downs on this nature trail in the woods.

Starting point: same as the Limestone Ridge Trail. 

Other things to know about the hiking trails:

• All trails are also biking trails, so you must pay attention to bikers coming your way or from behind. I’ve met a biker twice during my hikes here. One was at the Limestone Ridge Inner Loop Trail, and the other was at the Fossil Ridge Trail. One time I met a runner at the Camp Creek Loop.
• Most of the hiking trails at Cleburne State Park are rocky, so they dry up fast after the rain. That’s why we rarely hear about the park closure.
• If the spillway covers with water and you’re not sure about your jumping skill, you can always hike the White-Hollow Trail and enjoy the three-tiered spillway from the top. Or, start from Coyote Run Nature Trail.
• Frequent visitors address the trails along the boundary as the outer loop.
• You will see small sea fossils along the trail, but please leave them where you see them.
• When you hike in the springtime, expect to see poison ivy as high as your waist along the trails.
• Bring plenty of water for everyone in the group.
• You can join the ranger for the First Day Hike on January 1st.

I hope this guide to Cleburne State Park hiking trails will help you on your next hiking trip, whether you go alone, with family, friends, or with your hiking group. 

If you’ve been to this park, let me know about the trails by leaving your comment below. In the meantime, I will always go back and forth to this park and update this article if I see something new on the trails. Happy hiking!