Community Spotlight

 

 

Since its opening in 2011, Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center has provided Cedar Hill residents and visitors from the greater DFW area with an opportunity to explore an incredibly diverse natural environment. Located less than an hour’s drive away from downtown Dallas, the center gives you a chance to learn more about local flora and fauna while appreciating the scenic sights of this forested canyon.

History of Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center

Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center brings to life the vision of former National Audubon Society president John Flicker. Flicker wanted to find a way to give city residents in the Dallas area a chance to visit the great outdoors surrounded by local wildlife. The center features more than 200 acres of natural habitat filled with a wide range of nesting and migrating bird species, as well as rare native species of plants and other wildlife. This conservation project, which had its groundbreaking ceremony in 2008, came about when Audubon Dallas partnered with the City of Cedar Hill.

When the center officially opened to the public in 2011, Cedar Hill residents and visitors from other parts of the Dallas area were invited to explore the grounds and nature trails. Over the years, the center has offered area residents a chance to admire the canyon’s flowering dogwoods, Ashe Juniper trees and native and non-native bird species. Some of the birds that can be seen at the center include American kestrels, barred owls, European starlings, summer tanagers and painted buntings. Greater roadrunners, red-tailed hawks and Eastern screech owls are also found among the trees throughout the canyon.

Summer Events and Activities

During the summer months, you can spend time wandering along the nature trails that are part of Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. The forested areas offer a serene atmosphere filled with the sounds of water birds, warblers, woodpeckers and other local birds. The center also offers the following programs to help you learn more about birds that call this area home and birds that migrate through the region:

• Birding 101: This class for beginners offers an ideal way to learn the basics of bird watching. When you sign up for this class, you’ll get to see some of the canyon’s native birds while discovering more about the greater area’s bird species under the guidance of a certified North Texas Master Birder.
• Guided hikes: Exploring the trails on your own provides a leisurely way to spend an afternoon, but guided hikes can give you a whole new appreciation of this natural area. The center offers guided day and night hikes along Canyon Floor Trail and West Loop Trail for a fee. Learn more about local wildlife while hiking with a naturalist or educator.

Visitor Information

Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s no charge for admission, although donations that go toward maintenance and educational programs are appreciated. The center is located right in Cedar Hill on FM 1382 near Cedar Hill State Park and Joe Pool Lake. Keep in mind that the trails are only open when the center is open. To learn more about the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, visit http://dogwood.audubon.org/, or stay connected through Facebook and Instagram.