Cameron Park

Very nice zoo. You think being in waco it would be small but you would be wrong. Great place to take the family. Animals are well taken care of and it’s peaceful

If you like a cozy outdoor place with some fun hiking trails… Go here. I’m 27 yrs old, not gay, not into mud and this place was great.

Nature trails galore, scenic views, and inner solitude.
Next to the national parks and wildlife in Austin, TX Cameron Park in Waco, TX has got the be one of the best in Central Texas. The natural beauty of the park and forestry next to the Brazos River is one the best views in Texas. Around mid-​Spring is when the flora and fauna is at it’s peak beauty. There are well over 20+ nature trails and routes (jogging, hiking, biking, & horseback riding) with different scales of difficulty and over 10+ points of interests to view. This is an outdoor fitness nut’s paradise, literally. Elevation level can differ as much as 400+ feet; seriously, you have to see it to believe it yourself. Overall, I can only talk so much good about a place before you have to see it for yourself. Check this place out when you can because it’s FREE and you can never beat that price.
Side note: I recommend first-​time visitors to dress appropriately to the weather and wear some nice, supportive running shoes. Check out «Lover’s Leap» as it has the best view. «Mouth of the Bosque» is the best place to start your hiking.

My wife and I were visiting Waco for Baylor homecoming when she decided to surprise me with a morning of hiking. I had only driven by Waco on the way up to Dallas, so I wasn’t expecting much.
I was surprised and elated by the Brazos River and the expansive trail system offered by Cameron Park. The park includes plenty of pavilions for picnicking, playground areas for kids, ramps for boats/​kayaks to enter the Brazos, and miles of trails accommodating runner/​hikers, mountain bikers (with rated trails), and horseback riders.
The park has signage posted frequently around the park that provides helpful maps of the park and trails and also gives short explanations of the history of the area and the significance of the trails. I’m a bit of a history buff, so I really enjoyed reading and learning more about the park and the development of the area.
We started the day climbing Jacob’s Ladder, a short flight of stairs going from the river up to the club house on the upper ridge. I confidently surged up the stairs full pace trying to set a new record, only to stop 75% of the way up with burning quads and glutes. I walked the rest of the way and enjoyed the little side trip.
The rest of the morning we hiked the trail along the river and relished the lovely fall weather, the peaceful beauty of the river, and the chatter of friendly squirrels along the way.

Great place to go biking, running, or walking your dog. I’d never go by myself or at night due to hearing lots of stories about women being attacked in the park. Usually pretty populated on the weekends which is nice!

I’m a HUGE fan of this park, its moderately safe.
There are quite a few hiking trails, some for beginners, some for advanced hikers.
There are yellows (I believe, for easier trails), blues (moderate trails), black (advanced trails), double black (very advanced trails.).
There have been a few attacks in the park, one very bad one about 5 years back was done to a woman by her Ex boyfriend, and recently a few have happened by the same man, and they (the police) believe to have caught him.
Its a great park, it is patrolled by park rangers (?), its is a great place to get away from your busy life and get out for a work out and just breath in a little fresh air.
Its got horse trails, bike trails, kayak and boat entrances at certain docks of the park, you’re welcome to fish off the bank of the river at the park as well.
Its great for picnicking which seems to be the go about on the weekends at Cameron park, there is Frisbee golf, along with childrens play ground areas, and pets are welcome in the park as long as they are cleaned up after in necessary areas.
Get out, enjoy the sun — but please have some common sense and don’t go alone into the woods on the hiking trails and get hurt or worse. Esp at night ladies.
My safety concerns of the park are the only reasons I’m not giving 5 stars.

I make a point to drive through/​stop at the park whenever I go to the Zoo. The play areas are well kept, and it is nice to walk the rolling hills. My favorite part if going up and down «Jacob’s Ladder» with my kids. It is also nice that the park is free (not part of the State Park program or any other fee based entry). Probably my only complaint is the bathrooms. They look OK from the outside, but they are pretty nasty even by park standards.

Cameron Park offers a welcome reprieve from the constant sounds of traffic that emanate from I-​35 and Valley Mills, which are Waco’s lifelines and organizing principle. But not five minutes from downtown is over 400 acres and over fifteen miles of trails that run along the Brazos and Bosque rivers. It includes disc golf, picnic areas, ample woods, and even 100 foot limestone bluffs, which offer remarkable elevation for this area. The trails are plentiful, so much so that it’s slightly overwrought and can be considerably confusing without a map, but they offer nearly endless variation for the hikers, runners, mountain-​bikers, and equestrians who spend their free time in the park. Few cities can boast a park of such extensive wilderness and charm.