All about Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Dallas Texas

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a fantastic park located just a few minutes north of Dallas. The beautiful and scenic park has something for everyone. There are wide, paved hike and bike trails for those who prefer the easy way to walk or ride their bike through the woods. For those who like a challenge, there is also a wilder trail that goes up and down hills and could probably use some updates. In this guide, I’m going to tell you all about Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano Texas, including how to get there, what facilities are available on site, how much it costs to visit the park and what animals you can expect to see when you go!

Hours of Operation

The park is open to the public from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week. The parking lot closes at 10pm daily and the park closes at sunset. The preserve is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, but may remain open on New Year's Day depending on weather conditions. Are you traveling with a large group? Consider a charter bus rental, perfect for medium to large sized groups. We service all major events, and common services such as weddings, birthday parties and more.

Parking and Entry Fees

The best news of all is that parking and entry are free. No more dragging (yourself) out to the back forty of some state park just to pay a $10 fee so you can use their facilities. There is ample parking at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, and no need to dip into your bank account for entry fees. The only money you'll need is for food or drink, unless you plan to bring your own snacks or water bottles. There are no restroom facilities on location, but there are plenty of shady spots with privacy if you're in a pinch. Ready more fun? Be sure to check out Theme Parks in Dallas Texas

Park Facilities

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a 200-acre public park located just west of Downtown Plano. The park is divided into three different terrains: the hilltop, the upper slopes, and the bottomland forest. The Hilltop area has an amphitheater (with a restroom), picnic tables, and shelters that can be rented for events. The Upper Slope has restrooms, pavilions with grills, playgrounds, benches, and paved trails that are perfect for walking or jogging. The Bottomland Forest is also home to paved trails as well as unpaved ones suitable for mountain biking and hiking. This section also offers more playgrounds with picnic tables underneath them in addition to dog waste stations (so be sure to clean up after your pet).

Things to Do at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Bike, hike, run, walk and enjoy the nature around you. Birdwatching is a popular activity with more than 200 species of birds seen at the preserve. If birdwatching isn't your thing there are many reptiles and other animals to be seen as well. If you are planning a trip to the Dallas area, with a large group of passengers you can count on a Dallas charter bus to shuttle your group to your desired locations. Enjoy stress free group transportation with a coach bus rental perfect for 45-60 passengers.

Entry is free, and pets are welcome.

Pet owners: you are welcome to bring your furry friends to enjoy the park with you, but please keep in mind the following guidelines. Your dog or cat must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under voice control at all times. Pets may not be left unattended, and owners must pick up after their pets. Pets are not allowed in the playground area, nor are they permitted inside any buildings (including restrooms).

Review from customers

“I will definitely be back, next time with the whole family. I went to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve for an early morning hike on my own and had a great experience. The trail is well-maintained and there are some challenging hills but also some relaxing ones too. I also liked that there are different paths so you could adjust how far you go or where you want to go depending on what kind of mood you're in that day. My only issue was that it's very popular in the mornings and evenings, so if privacy is important then those times may not be ideal. Otherwise, I recommend going at lunchtime when it's a bit more empty and peaceful.” – Amy W., Dallas, Texas “Loved that this place was close by and didn't require us to make a special trip out of town to enjoy nature! We came here as part of our vacation from Washington state and we were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get around the trails without getting lost or having trouble hiking any parts of the paths. The trees were beautiful and provided shade during hot days which made for some very enjoyable walks through nature.” – Emily O., Seattle, Washington