Joppa Preserve - Dallas County Nature Preserve - Nature preserve in Dallas - 5400 Simpson Stuart Rd, USA

The Joppa Preserve is a favorite place to run, and connects to the Audubon Center, for about a 7-mile out-and-back run. Very scenic, never crowded. Only problem can be that a train track crosses the only entrance/exit. Last visit, we waited 15 minutes for a train to get out of our way so we could leave.

My friend and I went today for the first time. Early afternoon on a Saturday. The preserve is behind a very industrialized area that has an overall sketchy vibe. Nevertheless, I wanted to give it a try. Once I got to the parking lot in the back, I got this eerie vibe. Actually, I got the vibe as soon as I drove in. The trail was a concrete path between trees, we turned around at some point and went to another trail in Dallas where we felt a little more comfortable walking at. This is not somewhere you should be alone or at when it’s dark. We did not walk far enough to see the river but from the views we got it’s not worth the drive nor risk. There’s just something about all the trash, the pot holes and the sketchy cars in the parking lot that is not enticing to come back.

The trail goes about 3 miles up to McCommas Bluff-Dallas Preserve trail. The entrance to the back parking lot is the worst part. One of the most beautiful scenery hidden in the big-D. Really surprised 😯 this places even exist in the 🏙️ city. Did see wild hogs 🐗 small bob cat 🐆, 🐰 's , several species of birds. Relaxing at the bridge 🌉 is the most rewarding.

I also posted this on All Trails: So, overall great trail. It is relatively flat with gentle grades, scenic, and shaded (the shade was great). HOWEVER I would not recommend anyone to go alone and especially not to go after dusk. My partner and I went yesterday (Sun 05-24) and encountered some "sketchy" activity. There was an unmarked white van that had accessed the trail near the exit/entrance at Locust Dr. that was not affiliated with the City or county. The bollards protecting that exit/entry were destroyed. Anyway... the situation gave us the creeps because it left and came back multiple times to the same location... We have alerted City of Dallas and the PD but they still have not gotten back to us. Also, we found large bullets and syringes with needles still intact in the parking lot. LOL other than all of this, it's nice for day time use, but please be vigilant when you go...

I've spent a lot of time at this park...I'm very comfortable there,..it's well kept ....I've fish the pond many times but not much luck....

I like this place. It was a homeless couple with 3 dogs blocking the trail towards the lake but everything was gorgeous

Cool park. Nice and open space. Connects with the trinity forest trail

I came here for a walk with my partner but we left very soon after we arrived. My “this is sketchy” alarm was going off the whole time, from the drive down the hugely pothole-ridden road, the moment i got there finding multiple people just sitting in their cars, to the dealbreaker moment when a ratty old pickup truck driven by a few raucous guys peeled out of the concrete parking area to drive down the WALKING TRAIL. This is not a lovely, family friendly spot.