Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center Parking and Directions

Directions 

From the west: Take I-20 eastbound to the Beltline Rd (FM 1382) exit. Turn right on FM 1382/Beltline Rd.  Pass the entrance to Cedar Hill State Park. The center entrance is 1/2-mile further on the right. If you get to Newman International Academy, you have just missed us. 

From Dallas: Take I-35 south to Hwy 67 south; proceed on Hwy 67 a few miles south of the I-20 intersection and take the FM 1382 exit. Turn right on FM 1382. After passing through the traffic light at New Clark Rd, you'll soon pass Newman International Academy on the left. The next left turn lane in the center median strip will be for Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. 

Google Maps

Parking and Trail Access 

The parking lot is split into two areas; visitors are welcome to park in either. Parking inside the gate is limited to staff, volunteers, and visitors hiking Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center trails. The gate locks at closing time.  To access our hiking trails, follow the sidewalk and ramp up to the C.E. Doolin Visitor Center building. Please check in at the gift shop before accessing the trails. Please note that our trails do not connect to trails outside of our preserve. 

We share the larger parking lot next to FM 1382 with Cedar Mountain Preserve (which is a different property than Cedar Ridge Preserve in Duncanville). Cedar Mountain Preserve is owned by Dallas County and managed by the City of Cedar Hill. Cedar Ridge Preserve is owned by Dallas County and managed by the Audubon Dallas Chapter, a separate organization affiliated with the National Audubon Society. 

The City of Cedar Hill's Balcones Hike and Bike Trail is the multiuse paved sidewalk crossing the front of Audubon's property between the two parking areas and extending to the north and south of the parking area. 

Cedar Mountain Preserve is accessed via the paved path on the north side of the large parking lot. There is a kiosk with two green trash cans on the side of the parking lot. Follow the concrete Balcones trail beyond the kiosk. When you reach the rusty-colored metal structure on the Balcones Trail, turn left at the small entrance to the woods. The natural surface trail loops through the forest and returns to this spot. The trail on Cedar Mountain Preserve does not connect to Audubon's trails. Please do not follow any flagging or attempt to connect trails. You risk crossing neighboring private property, and you contribute to the erosion of natural areas that are not maintained for public access. This is at the detriment of the flora and fauna of the canyon area.