Cedar Brake Outer Loop (Dinosaur Valley) Hiking Guide
Dinosaur Valley is known for the footprints in the Paluxy riverbed, but more than 20 miles of trail climb onto the limestone ridges above it. The Cedar Brake Outer Loop is the big circuit, a looping tour of the ridgelines and their cedar brakes, and at 7.5 miles by the park's count it is the longest trail on TPWD's list for the park.
Permit: Daily entrance at Dinosaur Valley State Park is $8 for each visitor 13 and older and free at 12 and under, or covered by the $70 annual Texas State Parks Pass. TPWD highly recommends reserving day passes because the park often fills; book online or by calling (512) 389-8900.
Distance and Difficulty
TPWD lists the Cedar Brake Outer Loop at 7.5 miles and about three and a half hours, and rates it challenging. AllTrails maps the full circuit at 8.2 miles with roughly 660 feet of climbing, so budget for the longer figure. The trail is well marked but rocky, and TPWD warns of steep cliffs and bluffs along the park's ridge trails; a walking stick helps on the loose descents.
Sharing With Bikes
Unlike the hikers-only Limestone Ledge and Overlook trails, this loop is multi-use, and mountain bikers ride it too. Stay alert on blind bends and step aside on narrow ledges. If you want something shorter, the park map also shows the 2.7-mile Black-capped Vireo Trail, the 1.6-mile Denio Trail beside Denio Creek and the 1.0-mile Rocky Ridge Trail with its scenic overlooks.
Birds of the Cedar Brakes
Two songbirds of the Texas cedar country nest in this park. TPWD points hikers to the Denio Trail to watch for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, and to the shrubby woodlands of the Black-capped Vireo Trail, where that species nests. Keep to the tread so the nesting cover stays intact.
Exposure, Water and Weather
AllTrails notes that many sections of the loop are exposed to the sun. TPWD's rule of thumb is a quart for every hour of activity, which at the park's three-and-a-half-hour estimate means three or four quarts per person. TPWD closes the trails in wet conditions and after heavy rain, and posts a dated trails-and-tracks update on the park's home page; read it before you leave. Check the alerts page for any burn ban, and note that campfires are never allowed in the backpacking camping area.
Entry, Dogs and Closure Days
Expect to pay $8 per person 13 and older at the gate, which opens at 6 a.m. The park often reaches capacity, so reserve a day pass. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail under the statewide 6-foot leash rule, and their waste has to be picked up and put in the trash. The park closes to everyone but permitted hunters for a few days each December and January; check the alerts page for the dates before planning a winter trip.
Hiking tips for Cedar Brake Outer Loop (Dinosaur Valley)
- Plan for 8 miles, not 7.5; the mapped loop runs longer than the park figure.
- Pack three or four quarts of water per person for the full loop.
- Watch for golden-cheeked warblers along the Denio Trail.
- Watch for mountain bikes on curves; this is a shared trail.
- Check the alerts page for December and January hunt closures.
Nearby trails to explore
- Limestone Ledge Trail (Dinosaur Valley)
- Fossil Ridge Loop (Cleburne State Park)
- Cedar Ridge Outer Loop
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Eight miles of ridge trail pass faster with a hiking partner. Use TrailMates to find Dallas-Fort Worth hikers heading to the Cedar Brake Outer Loop. Download the TrailMates app to connect.