The Outdoors in Southlake, Texas
Southlake is best known for its shopping, but it backs up to Lake Grapevine and holds the roughly 758-acre Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve — a big block of the Cross Timbers ecosystem with more than 20 miles of trails. For an affluent, built-up suburb, it has kept a real amount of open land.
Here's where to get outside in and around Southlake.
Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve
The Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve is Southlake's outdoor centerpiece — 758 acres of Cross Timbers habitat with more than 20 miles of hiking trails and close to 700 species of plants and animals, from white-tailed deer to bobcats and coyotes. It's a genuine natural area, not a manicured park, and the trail network is deep enough to spend a whole morning in.
The nature center itself runs programs and education, and the surrounding preserve gives Southlake something most suburbs its size don't have: real wildland within the city limits.
Bob Jones Park and Lake Grapevine
Adjacent Bob Jones Park sits on the shore of Lake Grapevine, with a fishing pond, pavilions, picnic tables, a playground, and a dog park. It's the developed counterpart to the preserve, and it connects the town directly to the lake for boating, fishing, and shoreline trails.
Lake Grapevine is the region's big-water anchor, and Southlake's spot on its north side puts marinas, beaches, and miles of lake trails within easy reach.
Bicentennial Park and City Trails
Closer to the center of town, Bicentennial Park spreads across more than 80 acres with scenic trails, picnic areas, and a large playground — the everyday city park for Southlake families. It ties into the town's broader trail system for walking and biking.
Between the preserve, the lake, and the city parks, Southlake covers the full range: a hard trail run, a lake day, or an easy afternoon at the playground.
City & County Parks
Municipal and county parks, greenspaces, and recreation areas in and around Southlake.
- McPherson Park
- Rustin Park
- Summit Park
- Bicentennial Park
- Central Park
- The Preserve
- North Park
- The Terrace Park & Walking Trail
- Pickering Park
- Glenwyck Farms Park
- Mayor's Hill
- Solana Courtyard
- Solana Plaza
- Monterra Community Park
- Milestone Park
- Bob Jones Park
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Lakes Near Southlake
Lakes and reservoirs within about 30 miles of Southlake, by approximate straight-line distance. Access, boating rules and camping vary by lake, so check with the operator before you go.
- Grapevine Lake · ~3 mi
- Lewisville Lake · ~16 mi
- Lake Arlington · ~18 mi
- Eagle Mountain Lake · ~19 mi
- Lake Worth · ~20 mi
- Mountain Creek Lake · ~20 mi
- Joe Pool Lake · ~26 mi
- White Rock Lake · ~26 mi
State Parks & Natural Areas Near Southlake
Public lands within reach of Southlake — 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 ~25 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Greenbelt Unit State Park · Denton County ~25 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Elm Fork Unit State Park · Denton County ~28 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Isle du Bois Unit State Park · Denton County ~29 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Sanger Unit State Park · Denton County ~29 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Pond Creek Unit State Park · Denton County ~30 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Jordon Unit State Park · Denton County ~32 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Trail Corridor Unit State Park · Denton County ~32 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Johnson Branch Unit State Park · Denton County ~33 mi
- Ray Roberts Lake - Pecan Creek Unit State Park · Denton County ~33 mi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from Southlake. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
FAQ: Outdoors in Southlake
The Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve is a 758-acre natural area in Southlake, part of the Cross Timbers ecosystem, with more than 20 miles of hiking trails and close to 700 species of plants and animals, including white-tailed deer, bobcats, and coyotes.
Yes. Southlake sits on the north side of Lake Grapevine, and Bob Jones Park on the shoreline offers a fishing pond, playground, dog park, and access to the lake for boating, fishing, and trails.
Southlake's parks include the 758-acre Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve, Bob Jones Park on Lake Grapevine, and the 80-plus-acre Bicentennial Park near the center of town, all tied into the city's trail system.
East Texas guides — an easy drive from Southlake
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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