The Outdoors in Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne sits in the wooded, rolling country southwest of Fort Worth, and it has real outdoor range for a town its size — a state park with a spring-fed lake, a solid bass lake, and a solid set of city parks. This is the edge of the Cross Timbers, so there's more forest and hills here than out on the prairie.
Here's where to get outside in and around Cleburne.
Cleburne State Park
Cleburne State Park, about 11 miles southwest of town, is the outdoor highlight — dense forest and wildflower fields around a 116-acre spring-fed lake, with nearly 13 miles of hiking and biking trails, much of it along the shoreline. It's a full four-season park for camping, paddling, fishing, and hiking.
The spring-fed lake and the wooded hills make it feel more like the Hill Country than the flat prairie to the east, and it's a genuine retreat a short drive from the city.
Lake Pat Cleburne
For bigger water and serious fishing, Lake Pat Cleburne is a roughly 1,550-acre reservoir on the Nolan River just southwest of town, with good bass fishing. Anglers come from across the region for it, and it offers boating and lakeside recreation as well.
Between the state park's spring-fed lake and the bass water at Lake Pat Cleburne, the town is unusually well set up for anyone who fishes or paddles.
City Parks and Trails
In town, Cleburne keeps a set of city parks and trails for everyday recreation — ballfields, playgrounds, and walking paths spread across the community. They cover the close-to-home outdoor time between trips to the lakes.
With the state park, the reservoir, and the city parks, Cleburne gives you options from a quick evening walk to a weekend of camping on the water.
City & County Parks
Municipal and county parks, greenspaces, and recreation areas in and around Cleburne.
- McAnear Park
- Winston Patrick McGregor Park
- J. E. Standley Park
- P.D. Lacewell Park
- John S. Butner Park
- Hulen Park
- Westhill Park
- John P. Bradshaw Park
- Carver Park
- Stone Park
- Byron Stewart Park
- Winchester Park
- Belclaire Community Park
- Chisholm Trail Outdoor Musuem
- Lakeshore Park
- Elisa Carver Park
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Lakes Near Cleburne
Lakes and reservoirs within about 30 miles of Cleburne, by approximate straight-line distance. Access, boating rules and camping vary by lake, so check with the operator before you go.
- Benbrook Lake · ~19 mi
- Lake Arlington · ~26 mi
- Joe Pool Lake · ~28 mi
State Parks & Natural Areas Near Cleburne
Public lands within reach of Cleburne — state parks, natural areas, and historic sites managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife — with approximate straight-line distance from town.
- Cleburne State Park · Johnson County ~11 mi
- Dinosaur Valley State Park · Somervell County ~25 mi
- Lake Whitney State Park · Hill County ~29 mi
- Cedar Hill State Park · Dallas County ~31 mi
- Meridian State Park · Bosque County ~36 mi
- Lake Mineral Wells Trailway - Weatherford TH State Park · Parker County ~38 mi
- Lake Mineral Wells Trailway - Garner TH State Park · Parker County ~47 mi
- Lake Mineral Wells Trailway - State Park TH State Park · Parker County ~48 mi
- Lake Mineral Wells State Park · Parker County ~49 mi
- Lake Mineral Wells Trailway - Mineral Wells TH State Park · Palo Pinto County ~51 mi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from Cleburne. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
FAQ: Outdoors in Cleburne
Cleburne State Park is a wooded park about 11 miles southwest of Cleburne, built around a 116-acre spring-fed lake, with nearly 13 miles of hiking and biking trails plus camping, paddling, and fishing. Its forest and hills sit at the edge of the Cross Timbers.
Yes. Lake Pat Cleburne is a roughly 1,550-acre reservoir just southwest of Cleburne with good bass fishing, with boating and lakeside recreation as well.
Cleburne offers Cleburne State Park (a spring-fed lake with nearly 13 miles of trails and camping), bass fishing and boating on Lake Pat Cleburne, and city parks with ballfields, playgrounds, and walking trails.
East Texas guides — an easy drive from Cleburne
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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