The topography is unique in that the blacklands roll into towering limestone escarpment. The escarpment has outcrops that run from Mexico to Kansas. The park is reminiscent of the Texas Hill Country and one will forget they are in the Metroplex while visiting Cedar Hill State Park.

The park is refuge to 5 native tallgrass prairie remnants which are federally listed as endangered. The tallgrass prairie remnants are the most important natural resource in the park. These small remnant prairies are dominated by Indian Grass, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Sideoats Grama, Switch Grass, and many other native grasses. Other plants of interest in the prairie land include Rosin-weed, Old Plainsman, Wand Milkweed Antelope-horn Milkweed, Celestials, Spiderwort, Sensitive-briar, Purple Coneflower, Bluebell, Blue Sage, Fleabane, Ladies Tress, Iron Weed, Engleman Daisy, Maxamilian Sunflower, Downy Paintbrush, Heath Aster, Trout Lilly, Standing Cypress, Eryngo, and others. Eastern Gamma grass was reintroduced by park staff in selected areas as well as Meadow Pinks. The Cedar Hill area is unique in that historically it is where two climax eco-systems converge.

The tallgrass prairie and its rolling black clay soil clashes with the rugged limestone escarpment. Hundreds of years ago an ancient cedar forest covered the escarpment. It was in that rugged ancient forest that Golden-cheeked Warblers thrived. Sadly the Golden-cheeked Warbler is on the verge of extinction due to habitat destruction. The last Golden-cheeked Warbler was seen in the area in 1969. The tallgrass prairie was migratory habitat for the Eskimo Curlew now thought to be extinct. The transition zone between these climax ecosystems was full of brush, interspersed with grasses and small trees that were burned frequently by the prairie fires. This was home to the endangered Black-capped Vireo last seen in the area in 1993. Overall, upland forests that include cedar elm, honey locust, mesquite, and juniper trees dominate the park. In the scenic, wooded hills, common animals include bobcat, coyote, fox, squirrel, armadillo, and raccoon. Lake fishing is good for large-mouth bass, white bass, crappie, and catfish. The park is also an excellent flyway for Neotropical birds.