Troop198

Backpacker magazine lists the 5.5 mile hike around the lake as a fun hike, Boy scouts need a five mile hike for an early requirement, anyone been on the trail recently at this park.
I know we have regulars that go to that park. I have not been in years.

here is the link to the review

Dallas, TX: Cleburne State Park Loop | Hiking in Texas

natureboyhays

I was there in April of 2006, so not too recently, but trails have probably not changed too much. It doesn't seem like the trail around the lake was that long to me. I believe I walked a little over 7 miles in that park, but had to walk ALL their trails to do it, including a trail that is primarily for mountain biking (probably not a good one to have a whole bunch hiking together on), and one that zigzags around like a labyrinth below the dam (one of those kind where they cram a couple of miles of trail into about 10 acres or so) Overall, it's not a bad park, but if you want to get over 5 miles without doubling back & such, Dinosaur Valley might work better, or even better for distance (but less interesting scenery) is Lake Mineral Wells. Not sure if those are within the area you are looking at, but fairly close to DFW area. Fairfield Lake also has one that I think is about the distance you're looking for, but just an out-and-back type, not a loop. I know Ray Roberts has a lot of trail mileage, but I haven't made it there yet. In any case, we sure are having good hiking weather right now, so enjoy

Turn Key

Been out there many times and have probably hiked all of it at one time or another but never all in one chunk. Looked at the park map again and taking into account the fact that many of the hiking trails are listed as "round trip", I would expect that 5.5 miles is close to correct. I haven't been on the trails this year but don't expect there to be much in the way of changes. "Spillway Hiking Trail" is the best, to my way of thinking and well worth the effort to get there. I have some pix from the top. PM with an e-mail address and I'll send them your way when I get back to Texas (late next week). If they are still drilling, you'll get to watch a rig at work from "Fossil Ridge Trail". If your out there on the weekend, be sure to watch for mountain bikers. Hikers have the "right-of-way" but still....

Hope you have a great time and,

Happy Camping!

__________________

Troop198

Thanks for both replies, Dino Valley is at times hard to get into to camp (those darn cub scouts and girl scouts ) and want to tie a campout into the hike (maybe will look there for a winter hike) Cleburne used to be easier to get into.

At Mineral Wells your talking about the trail in the park not the rail to trail correct?

I was at Fairfield last year but only remember hiking between the camping areas and out on a trail that had no markings and blended into other trail like areas. Got so messed up had to back track out.

natureboyhays

In reference to Lake Mineral Wells SP, yes, I was talking about the trails within the park itself. If you look at the park map, you will see a kind of multi-loop system, with some trails or roads across that can be shortcuts, but if you stick to the outermost route at each junction, I believe it is about 8.5 miles. Mostly wide gravel service road type trails (even a couple of partially paved roads cut across as I remember--I believe this parcel of land used to be a military reservation), and mostly just prairie land (mesquite, elms, cottonwoods, etc), but on the farthest loop it goes up and back down a pretty good sized hill.

The trail I remember at Fairfield was one that runs about 2.5 miles to a primitive camping area (that may be the multi-trail area you noted?) and yes that one dead-ends at that camping area, just have to backtrack out.

I believe the Cleburne trail around the east side of the lake goes around to the dam, then if you cross the dam, you would have to make the rest of the way back on the park road, thru day-use areas. The loop that way I think would be shorter than 5 miles, but if you just went around & across the dam, then backtracked the whole thing, that might be 5 miles or more. It was a decent trail with some ups & downs & some overlooks of the lake.