After more than thirty years living in the metroplex, you would think that I had scoped out everything there was to see. Not so. Searching for places to hike, I came across the Cedar Ridge Preserve on Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas. I do remember hearing about it when it was called the Dallas Nature center; alas, I never found the time to visit. Now Audubon Dallas maintains it, and is certainly work checking out.
It encompasses 600 acres, with most left in its natural habitat. There are 9 miles of hiking trails, with lots of hills, something not so common in this area. At an elevation of 755 feet, one feels “on top of the world” overlooking the surrounding area. Native grasses and wildflowers, butterflies and birds made the hike so pleasant. The highlight was a painted bunting perched on a dead branch right out in the open. What a treat!
