Review Date
January 23, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: lbagby ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I ride this trail on average twice a week. I consider myself an upper intermediate rider and I really like Cedar Hill. If you're the type of rider that likes to ride vertically up large boulders, jump off the top, this will not be the ride for you. Cedar Hill is made up of three loops: 2.5 mile (actually 3), 7.5 mile (actually 8.5) and 12 mile and it really is 12. Everyone starts at the same place going the same direction so there's no searching for just the right trail. It's almost impossible to get lost. You'll go right at the first fork for the shortest route, or stay left, then right at the next fork for the middle ride or stay staight on for the longest. The longer loops merge back into the next shortest (and then the next shortest if on the 12 mile).

OK, now to the ride: hard pack single track with lots of berms, many roots to negotiate, fast (and sometimes long) downhills if you want to let it go or easy cruisers if you want to take it easy, many close proximity trees, lots of switchbacks through those same trees, prairaie sections with golpher holes, creek (usually dry) crossings, a couple whoop-d-doos, several wooden bridges, etc. I think it has it all for the lower to upper intermediate rider. In my opinion all the loops are the same just longer. The 12 mile adds 4 miles to the middle loop but it's much the same for the first 2 miles. The root crossings are a bit more challenging, but with practice quite doable. The next two miles is quite boring and flat. So, don't be afraid to take the 12 if you have the time.

This is a great trail to hone your skills. There are a couple very long downsloping hard pack serpentine sections all in a row (maybe twenty) that you can practice leaning into and, most important, keeping your eyes looking ahead; several off-camber uphill switchbacks; a few non-dangerouse drop steps, some with immediate turns across the roots (although taking a buddy for the first time, he went end-over within the first 100 yards), etc.

My wife is an upper beginner rider who either puts a foot down or walks her bike through several places, particularly root infested and she absolutely loves this ride. I am dissappointed that DORBA has dumbed down some of the root crossing as now my only real challenge on each ride is to make the 8.5 mile quicker and quicker. I'm now just under an hour for the round trip. Now, go ride!

Recommended Route:
Depending you time, all.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Oak Cliff nature preserve but it's more difficult.
Glen Rose Dinosaur Park but more loose rock.

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Review Date
April 30, 2008

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: b77 ,  Racer

Summary:
This trail is a decent ride when it's open but it seems like it's closed more often than not. There are no particular sections that really stand out - just turn after turn. It's a frustrating ride because there are some decent hills that could be challenging climbs and fun descents but you there are switchbacks up every hill and there are no opportunities to pick up speed going down. It is simply not much fun to ride. The 'expert' loop doesn't really qualify as such - the entire trail is about the same. The one thing this trail has going for it is that it is fairly long, especially with the new 16 mile loop - I don't know of any other trail in the DFW area that gives you ride a continuous 16 mile loop without repeating sections. It's a good place to take beginners because it is very groomed without many rocks - you can take a newbie out and bring them back not bleeding and still ensure they have some fun.

Review Date
March 16, 2007

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: Eltbee ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Twisty and surprisingly flat. Trail has a desert-like feeling in the summer. Cactus are sprinkled along the trail. Dirt is clay-based so if it even sprinkles, you are going to make a mess of your bike.

This used to be THE trail to ride in D/FW. Now there are so many better options. The problem with this trail is that the current trail stewards have taken out or dumbed down nearly all of the climbing. This is supposedly in response to trail erosion due to the trail following the fall line. But it was a total over reaction. The whole time you are riding you are expecting the climbing to begin any moment but it never does. Also, the terrain begs for flow and it used to have it but no longer. It is a crying shame that the highest point in D/FW has this for a trail. More advanced riders have deserted this trail long ago for better options.

Recommended Route:
Trail is well-marked and map is posted at the trail head.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Boulder Park, Isle du Bois, Johnson's Branch, Grapevine, Erwin Park, Tyler

Review Date
December 31, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: sgill32 ,  Racer

Summary:
This is a great recreational/training trail. It's a pretty smooth trail so it won't beat you up. It doesn't have any climbs or decents worth mentioning. But it does offer some tight and twisty single track. It also has some good straight flat open sections as well. This is a good beginner trail and for me a great trail to train on since it's close to home and doesn't beat me up if I ride it a couple of hours.

Recommended Route:
There are 3 different loops...4.5, 7.5 and 12 miles. I like the 12 mile loop. I'm looking forward to the opening of the expert loop.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Cleburne State Park and Breaks at Bar H

Review Date
December 30, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: 99F700 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Update on Cedar Hill, looks like this trail guide isn't used too much. The 3 loops are back open, 2.5, 7 and 12 miles are the lengths. As stated in the previous review they follow the same general route as the old trail minus much of the straight up and down hill tracks due to the erosion factor. The 12 mile loop does not include the old expert loop. The expert loop is still being worked on.