Have fun at Dinosaur Valley State Park with our recommendations.
Dinosaur Valley State Park is located just a short drive west of Fort Worth, Texas, in the small town of Glen Rose. This town wouldn’t be the Dinosaur Capital of Texas without all the dinosaur attractions it has to offer. What kid doesn’t like dinosaurs? Mine has since he was a toddler, and now he is thirteen. Whenever I get the chance to take him to see these creatures, including dinosaur tracks. Our visit was anything but boring. Explore these things to do at Dinosaur Valley State Park.
Fun Things To Do At Dinosaur Valley State Park
There is more to see and do besides looking for dinosaur tracks – although that’s the main reason visitors go to this park. Don’t forget to bring a picnic and your best walking shoes!
If you’re in the area for a while, below are some things to do near Dinosaur Valley State Park.
Dinosaur Valley State Park Tips
When you first enter the park, life-size dinosaurs of the T-Rex and the Brachiosaurus (also known as the Long Neck) greet you, which, to me, are one of the main attractions in the park. Be sure to bring a picnic as plenty of picnic tables are available, close to T-Rex! It’s like having lunch with the dinosaurs.
Don’t worry if you forgot something – the park store is close to the entrance and stocked with picnic supplies, snack items, and several fishing supplies if you plan to fish.
The scenic Paluxy River runs through Dinosaur Valley State Park and is home to numerous dinosaur tracks, including those of the ancient Acrocanthosaurus and the Sauroposeidon. We all know that many visitors flock to the park to view the ancient dinosaur tracks and try to find the Sauropod tracks, but there is plenty more to do besides mapping out the tracks.
Dinosaur Attractions in Texas
Also, if you didn’t get your dinosaur fix at the park, Dinosaur World is a couple of miles down the road. So is Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. You could spend an entire weekend in this area visiting these attractions. It’s such a great place for the whole family to roam.
Finding Dinosaur Tracks At Dinosaur Valley State Park
The most asked question is: “Are the Dinosaur Valley State Park tracks real?”
According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, they are. Dinosaur track visibility largely depends on the amount of rain the area has received, which determines the likelihood of spotting tracks. The water levels must be low to see them. But to find them, you will probably have to wade through the water.
So, as you can guess, the best time to avoid going is after a total downpour that this area experiences from time to time.
When we visited, my son and his friend were determined to find any dinosaur track they could – large or small, it didn’t matter. So off they went to walk on rocks in the river and wade in the water to find them. They had a great time together naming all the types of dinosaurs they thought they had seen. I stayed back to take pictures. Well, I didn’t want to walk across those rocks. Brody later said, “Mom, you would not have made it” – thanks, son! In my defense, those rocks were slippery, and I didn’t have the correct shoes.
Read about Mapping Dinosaur Tracks, and if you want, download the digital dinosaur track maps on your GPS-enabled smartphone.
Pro Tip: Wear good water shoes when you go out there to look for the dinosaur tracks.
Things To Do At Dinosaur Valley State Park
On May 13, 2023, the park celebrated 100 Years of Texas State Parks with its 100 S’more Years of Texas State Parks! Free s’mores were given to everyone with a paid park entry.
Admission: $8, and 12 and under are free.
1. Visit The Interpretive Center
Be sure to swing by the Interpretive Center to catch a glimpse of the dinosaur exhibit and many more educational experiences.
2. Have A Picnic
Why, yes, you can have lunch with the dinosaurs!
There is a designated picnic area with plenty of picnic tables in the park next to a children’s playground, but it is busy during lunchtime. If this area is too crowded, there are a few picnic tables at the front next to the park store, where we had lunch close to TREX. The store is open in case you forget something at home. It’s a small store, but they offer a variety of drinks, snacks, and more.
3. Hike Or Bike At Dinosaur Valley State Park
The map you receive when checking in mentions all the trails. It’s your guide to miles of trails – at least 20 miles of nature trails to explore. Some trails are more complex than others; the map lets you know which. Whatever trail you choose to hike, wear a good pair of hiking boots or shoes because some paths are steep and rugged.
Pro Tip: Save some energy to hike up to the Paluxy River Scenic Overlook area. That’s the only way to get there. Parking is not close by.
4. Go Geocaching In The Park
Discover hidden finds while hiking the trails. We were excited to find out we could look for geocaches at the park. Do you have the geocaching app on your phone? If not, get it. This sport is so much fun! We were lucky and found two geocaches, and the boys were thrilled. This would be a brilliant place to start If you’ve never done geocaching in Texas State Parks.
5. Jump In The Blue Hole Swimming Pool
The Blue Hole is a popular spot for swimming. There are plenty of places to dip your feet in the water in the park, but at The Blue Hole, where it’s 20 feet deep, you can put your whole body in the water. Walking down the rocky ledge was quite a picture of me, but I did it, and it was fun. Once I got down to the swimming area, Chastity saw a snake, and that was it for us – we left that area. I didn’t see it!
Pro Tip: Life jackets are a must! There is a “Borrow A Life Jacket” stand with life jackets available for anyone to use while swimming in the river. I wish I had gotten a photo of it. The life jackets looked pretty new.
6. Go Tent Camping
If you like to tent camp, you’re in luck with overnight lodging. You will not find cabins here, only campsites with or without electricity.
Pets: Feel free to bring your dogs, as they are welcome!
7. Fish
Bring your pole and fishing gear to fish for catfish, bass, carp, and gar. Fishing is free from the bank and in the water. Worms are available for sale at the park store.
8. Horseback Riding Near Dinosaur Valley State Park
Saddle up and enjoy spectacular views along the park’s scenic trails next to the Paluxy River on a guided horseback tour. Guided trail rides are through Eagle Eye Ranch Carriage Company. They will take you to the best places to see the natural beauty around the scenic park. We didn’t do this, but we will be saddling up for a ride on our next visit! It looked amazing.
See, there are many things to do at Dinosaur Valley State Park besides looking for tracks. Have fun!
Things To Do Near Dinosaur Valley State Park
- If there’s a time during your visit, consider visiting Fossil Rim for an incredible safari experience.
- We wouldn’t be known for dinosaur attractions in Texas without Dinosaur World. It’s located not too far from the park. Check out more life-like dinosaurs.
- The town of Glen Rose boasts some impressive shops and restaurants. It’s got that small-town feel.
Here are more North Texas State Parks To Visit.
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