Dinosaur Valley State Park

The footprints date to the Early Cretaceous, when this part of Texas lay along the edge of a warm, shallow sea. Along the tidal flats, dinosaurs left prints in the sticky lime mud, which then dried, was covered by fresh sediment, and slowly turned to rock. The tracks were sealed away until the Paluxy River, cutting down over the last few thousand years, peeled back the younger layers and revealed the ancient trackways once more.

Two main kinds of tracks show up here. The sharp three-toed prints belong to a large theropod, a two-legged meat-eater of the kind related to Acrocanthosaurus. The huge, rounded, elephant-like prints come from a sauropod, an enormous long-necked plant-eater. In some places the two trackways run together, and paleontologists have long debated whether the meat-eater was following the plant-eater, one of the reasons these trails are studied around the world.

The tracks were brought to wide attention in the 1930s, and some of the best sauropod trackways were carefully excavated and shipped to museums, where they helped scientists picture how the giant animals actually moved. The find put tiny Glen Rose on the map as a place where the deep past was written plainly in the rock.

The Paluxy also became known for a long-running controversy. Certain oddly shaped tracks were once claimed to be human footprints mixed in with the dinosaurs. Careful study showed these to be eroded or partially infilled dinosaur tracks, unusual sauropod prints, and in some cases carved fakes, not human at all. The park today tells the accurate story: real dinosaur tracks, remarkable on their own, with no need for embellishment.

The Paluxy is a spring-fed Hill Country river, clear and shallow over pale limestone ledges, edged with bald cypress, sycamore, and oak. It is a gentle place to wade, swim, and hunt for tracks, and its clarity is exactly what makes the fossil footprints so easy to see when the water is low.

This is Comanche and Tonkawa country in its deeper history, plains and cross-timbers where those peoples hunted and camped long before the town of Glen Rose grew up along the river in the nineteenth century. The town later became a small resort known for its mineral wells, and the discovery of the dinosaur tracks gave it a new and lasting identity.

Away from the river, miles of trails climb through juniper and oak woodland, home to white-tailed deer, armadillos, foxes, and a rich bird life along the water. The park is popular with mountain bikers and hikers, and near the entrance stand two enormous fiberglass dinosaur models, leftovers from a world's fair exhibit, that have become a beloved photo stop.

Spring and fall are ideal, with mild weather and often clear, low water that shows off the tracks. Summer is hot but the river makes it bearable, and the water draws crowds on weekends. Winter is quiet and cool, and a dry winter can leave the trackways beautifully exposed for those who do not mind a chill in the river.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Dinosaur Valley State Park, near the town of Glen Rose in North-Central Texas, is famous for its remarkably preserved dinosaur footprints, left in what was once a muddy shoreline over a hundred million years ago and now visible in the bed of the Paluxy River. Visitors can see the ancient tracks of enormous dinosaurs, some in the riverbed itself, walk the trails through scenic hills and along the river, swim and wade, camp, and explore this window into the age of dinosaurs. Large model dinosaurs add to the fun. With its real dinosaur tracks, river, and trails, Dinosaur Valley State Park offers a fascinating destination in North-Central Texas.

Yes, seeing the ancient dinosaur tracks is the highlight of Dinosaur Valley State Park, where footprints left over a hundred million years ago are preserved in the limestone bed of the Paluxy River, including the tracks of huge long-necked and three-toed dinosaurs. The tracks are best seen when the river is low and clear, so water conditions matter, and some are found by wading into the riverbed. Checking current river and track conditions before you go helps. The chance to stand beside real dinosaur footprints makes Dinosaur Valley State Park a thrilling destination near Glen Rose, Texas.

You can view the famous dinosaur tracks in and along the Paluxy River, hike and bike the trails through the scenic hills and woods, swim and wade in the river, picnic, camp, see the large model dinosaurs, and explore this glimpse into prehistoric times. The tracks and the river are the highlights, and families especially love the combination of dinosaurs and water play. Comfortable shoes for wading and the rocky riverbed help. With its dinosaur tracks, river swimming, trails, and camping, Dinosaur Valley State Park offers a fun and fascinating outdoor experience near Glen Rose in North-Central Texas.

When wading or swimming in the Paluxy River to see the tracks, watch your footing on the slippery, uneven limestone riverbed, supervise children closely near the water, and be aware that river levels can rise quickly after rain, so avoid the river during high or fast water. In the warm months, carry plenty of water and sun protection for the trails, and watch for snakes. The park can reach capacity on busy days, so arriving early is wise. Being cautious in the river and prepared for the heat ensures a safe visit to Dinosaur Valley State Park in North-Central Texas.

Dinosaur Valley State Park is near the town of Glen Rose in North-Central Texas, within reach of the Fort Worth area with its Stockyards, Kimbell Art Museum, and Botanic Garden, and the Hill Country to the south. That makes Dinosaur Valley State Park a fascinating stop to combine with the Fort Worth attractions and the other sights of North-Central Texas on a visit to the state.