The Outdoors in Bedford, Texas
Bedford is a Mid-Cities suburb between Fort Worth and the airport, and its outdoors center on one genuinely good city park — a 68-acre spread with a lake, a water park, and enough to fill a whole day — backed by a set of neighborhood parks. It's compact but well-equipped.
Here's where to get outside in and around Bedford.
Boys Ranch Park
Boys Ranch Park is the jewel of Bedford's park system — 68 acres built around a small urban lake with a spray fountain and a fishing pier. A jogging path loops the lake, and the park packs in youth baseball and soccer fields, sand volleyball and tennis courts, a roller-hockey court, and the Splash water park for summer.
With picnic tables, grills, covered pavilions, and an all-abilities playground, it's the kind of park that covers just about everything a family wants, and it's the center of outdoor life in Bedford.
Neighborhood Parks
Beyond Boys Ranch, Bedford keeps a set of neighborhood parks — Briarwick Park and Springdale Park among them — with sports fields, courts, and open green space spread across the city for everyday recreation.
They give residents green space close to home to complement the big central park, keeping a walk or a game within easy reach in any part of town.
Around the Mid-Cities
Bedford's spot in the middle of the Mid-Cities puts more outdoors nearby. The Trinity Trails and the parks of neighboring Hurst, Euless, and North Richland Hills are minutes away, and Lake Grapevine's shoreline recreation is a short drive north.
Between Boys Ranch Park in town and the neighbors' parks and trails, Bedford has solid everyday outdoor options for a compact suburb.
City & County Parks
Municipal and county parks, greenspaces, and recreation areas in and around Bedford.
- Old Bedford School
- Generations Park
- West Park
- Central Park
- Bedford Trails West Park
- Carousel Park
- Chisolm Park
- Rickel Park
- Vivagene Copeland Park
- Mayfair Park
- Brook Hollow Park
- Stormie Jones Park
- Wan-ka-kani Park
- East End Trail Park
- Sparger Park
- Melrose Park (Private)
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Lakes Near Bedford
Lakes and reservoirs within about 30 miles of Bedford, by approximate straight-line distance. Access, boating rules and camping vary by lake, so check with the operator before you go.
- Grapevine Lake · ~10 mi
- Lake Arlington · ~11 mi
- Mountain Creek Lake · ~14 mi
- Joe Pool Lake · ~19 mi
- Lake Worth · ~19 mi
- Eagle Mountain Lake · ~21 mi
- Lewisville Lake · ~23 mi
- Benbrook Lake · ~24 mi
State Parks & Natural Areas Near Bedford
Public lands within reach of Bedford — state parks, natural areas, and historic sites managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife — with approximate straight-line distance from town.
- Cedar Hill State Park · Dallas County ~18 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Greenbelt Unit State Park · Denton County ~32 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Elm Fork Unit State Park · Denton County ~35 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Isle du Bois Unit State Park · Denton County ~37 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Pond Creek Unit State Park · Denton County ~37 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Sanger Unit State Park · Denton County ~37 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Jordon Unit State Park · Denton County ~39 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Trail Corridor Unit State Park · Denton County ~39 mi
- Lake Mineral Wells Trailway - Weatherford TH State Park · Parker County ~40 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Pecan Creek Unit State Park · Denton County ~40 mi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from Bedford. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
FAQ: Outdoors in Bedford
Boys Ranch Park is Bedford's flagship 68-acre park, built around a small urban lake with a fishing pier and spray fountain, with a jogging path, baseball and soccer fields, sand volleyball and tennis courts, a roller-hockey court, and the Splash water park.
Yes. The Splash water park is part of Boys Ranch Park in Bedford, a seasonal spot for cooling off during the summer, alongside the park's lake, trails, and sports facilities.
Boys Ranch Park is the main one, with a lake, trails, sports facilities, and a water park. Bedford also keeps neighborhood parks like Briarwick and Springdale, with more parks and the Trinity Trails in the neighboring Mid-Cities.
East Texas guides — an easy drive from Bedford
Weekend trips, lakes, festivals and small-town food east of the metroplex.
Best Lakes in East Texas
A fact-checked guide to 17 East Texas lakes, from Lake Fork's trophy bass and Caddo Lake to Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake Tawakoni. Sizes, species, access and rules come from TPWD.
Read Guide →Best Hiking Trails in East Texas
East Texas hiking trails checked against park and Forest Service sources: Tyler, Daingerfield, Mission Tejas and Martin Creek Lake state parks, the Four C Trail and the Sawmill Trail.
Read Guide →East Texas State Parks Guide
Twelve East Texas state parks from TPWD: Tyler, Caddo Lake, Atlanta, Lake Bob Sandlin, Tawakoni, Purtis Creek, Cooper, Martin Dies Jr. and more. Camping, cabins and passes.
Read Guide →Fishing in East Texas: Complete Guide
A sourced guide to fishing Lake Fork, Lake Palestine, Cedar Creek and Lake Athens: bass slot limits, where TPWD says the fish are, and Texas license rules.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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