Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Cedar Hill

"Lizards don't bite", says my know it all four year old, to the herpetologist standing in front of him on the trail at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. 

"They don't?  Well, what do you think this lizard is doing?"  says the herpetologist to my know it all four year old son. 
"He's just trying not to fall!"  my four year old says, referring to the skink lizard hanging by his teeth to the herpman's finger.  He is one of three herpetologist we met from the North Texas Herpetology Society on the trail, recording and photographing the different species of reptiles they found. 

“If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.”
-- Raymond Inmon


 

The Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill is filled with a variety of wildlife.  The two hikes offer beautiful views of Joe Pool Lake and the cedar hills of North Texas.  The Canyon Floor trail is a 1/2 mile ADA accesible hike.  The West Rim Trail is 1 and 2/3 miles, and mostly canopied by the forest.  It has a rise of 150 ft, thanks to the limestone uplifts that provide the area's namesake.  The trail offers several scenic views of nearby Joe Pool Lake.  Both hikes were easily traversed by my four year old, although we had constant stops to observe the caterpillars, lizards, ladybugs and butterflies we encountered along the way.  Owned by Audubon, it features a nature center, gift shop and education classroom that was filled with third graders on a field trip on our visit.  They offer naturalist led hikes by appointment.   

My Mommy Tips: 

• Pack a lunch, there are tables in front of the center which offer a nice place for lunch.  They have nice restrooms for hand washing and potty breaks. 
• The Canyon Floor Trail is suitable for strollers, the West Rim Trail is not.
• Magic words for me are "group discounts".  Group discounts are available. 
• For younger children, take a pack of colorful toy lizards or butterflies for some unstructured fun in the nature play area, or make a game of hide and find with them. 

For more information;   http://tx.audubon.org/dogwood-canyon-audubon-center 

To learn more about the history of Cedar Hill, visit the Cedar Hill Museum.  http://cedarhillmuseum.com/history.php

Nearby places of interest; http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7473555083464157207#editor/target=post;postID=2081074619645386993

Thanks to Jean Bean photography for allowing me to use her photo of the skink she took that day, and for always being ready for a fun adventure.  To see more of her work, follow her facebook page; http://www.facebook.com/#!/JeanBeanPhotography