Cleburne State Park has campsites and hiking trails wrapped around the shores of Cedar Lake. The park was built by the CCC and completed in 1940.
Location
5800 Park Road 21, Cleburne, Texas 76033
The park is twelve miles from Cleburne, Texas.
Cost
The entry fee for Cleburne State Park is $6 per person over the age of 13. There is free admission for people ages 12 and under.
There are additional fees for overnight stays which vary depending on the type of lodging or campsite.
To save money when visiting Cleburne State Park, I recommend looking at a Texas State Parks Pass. The pass costs $70 a year. The benefit of the pass is that it allows the pass holder, and any passengers in their vehicle to enter the park without paying the day use fee.
Reservations
Reservations can be made in advance online. Reservations can be made for campsites or for day use. Reservations should be made as soon as you know your plans.
This is a popular park that often reaches capacity, even for day use. If you do not have a reservation you may be turned away at the gate.
The busiest times at the park are during spring and summer, when the weather is nicest.
Staying at Cleburne State Park
Campsites
Campsites with electricity range from $20 – $25 per night. They have picnic tables, fire rings with a grill, and a post to hang a lantern from. These sites have hook ups for water and electricity. There are restrooms in the vicinity.
Full hookup campsites range from $28 – $30 per night. These sites have all the same features as the other sites, but also have a full sewer hookup.
Cabins
Cabins are available for $60 per night. Weekend reservations have a two night minimum.
These cabins have lights, electricity, and air-conditioning. They do not have attached bathrooms or kitchenettes. Linens are not included and you must bring your own. There is a water spigot outside the cabin.
Pets are not allowed in the cabins, and tents are not allowed around the cabins.
Restrooms with showers are available in the vicinity, but not at the individual cabin.
Group Facilities
There is a primitive youth camping area for large groups. It is $42 per night. There is water and bathrooms in the vicinity.
Cedar Lodge is a group hall with kitchen. It is $200 per day. This is an air conditioned building. It has a very large kitchen with a commercial refrigerator, stove, sink, and food prep areas. It is only available for day use.
There is a dining hall available with two barracks. It is $450 per night. The facility houses up to 48 people in halls with bunk beds. It has air conditioning, water, and electricity. The kitchen is well equipped for preparing food for a large group of people, with a commercial refrigerator and stove.
Hiking Trails
There are nine trails in Cleburne State Park. They range from very short easy trails to challenging trails.
Fossil Ridge Trail, Limestone Ridge Trail and Inner Loop Trail are challenging trails that are also great for mountain biking.
What is there to do at Cleburne State Park?
You can fish in Cedar Lake. Fishing licenses are not required for fishing from the shores of a state park. The park has an ADA-Accessible covered fishing pier. There are many fish in the lake including bass and catfish.
Cedar Lake is good for swimming. The water is very clear.
You can kayak or canoe in Cedar Lake. The park offers rentals for kayaks and paddle boards from a self-service kiosk that only accepts credit cards.
Many of the trails in the park are suitable for mountain biking.
This park has lots of wildlife, and you can try nature photography. In the spring there are lots of wildflowers, and some of the animals in the park include armadillos, rabbits, coyotes, birds, and ducks.
What to do near Cleburne State Park
Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne has a population of 32,000 people and is twelve miles from the park. The town has numerous hotels and restaurants as well as attractions. It is the county seat of Johnson County and has the courthouse. You can visit the Chisolm Trail Outdoor Museum.