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Twelve Hills Nature Center

4.5 ★★★★★ 183 Google reviews · Running trail in Dallas, Texas · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Twelve Hills Nature Center's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicTrailhead parkingQuiet

Five-acre nature center featuring a butterfly garden with benches, walking trails & wildflowers.

What runners say about Twelve Hills Nature Center

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (183 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Not necessarily the most beautiful place in the world, but you forget you are in a city for a moment.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“It’s nice and quiet, if it has rained the combo of birdsong and the creek is bliss.”

Great hidden gem for locals in the Bishop Arts neighborhood. The trail feels a bit short, so it's better for a casual stroll, and not really for serious hikers. (Hint: you won't get a full workout here. Maybe try the Cedar Ridge Preserve).

★★★★★ — Hai , Nov 2021

Great outdoor space. Peaceful but nature sounds from birds and trees. Did the trail and strolled on the Stevens forest street (nearby). Amazing area.

★★★★★ — Seun , Mar 2025

It’s not a bad place to be at, just a small trail nature area that needs more shade.

★★★★☆ — Clenith , Aug 2024

What a pleasant find for this visitor to Dallas. Native Prairie grasses and flowers. Really lovely. The short, easy trail was well maintained and Easy to push a big wheeled stroller through too.

★★★★★ — Ann , Jun 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 183 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“Not necessarily the most beautiful place in the world, but you forget you are in a city for a moment.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“It’s nice and quiet, if it has rained the combo of birdsong and the creek is bliss.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Small parking lot but nice escape in the middle of the city.”

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Plan your run at Twelve Hills Nature Center

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitetwelvehills.org
  • Phone(469) 249-2817
  • Social Instagram

Hours

Monday 8 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–9 PM
Thursday 8 AM–9 PM
Friday 8 AM–9 PM
Saturday 8 AM–9 PM
Sunday 9 AM–7 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Twelve Hills Nature Center

817 Mary Cliff Rd, Dallas, TX 75208

Get directions

Running trails near Dallas

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.