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Dinosaur Valley Campground

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Under the umbrella shape of the Paluxy River, Sites 1 - 46 are located right in the heart of former dinosaur stomping grounds (no pun intended!

) where, once upon a time, theropod and sauropod footprints were embedded in the soft limestone along the river bed. This campground is far and away the most swanky at the park, and comes equipped with water, electricity, showers, restroom facilities, parking and a dump station. There are also a few “bare bones" sites located throughout the eastern portion of the park, where you’ll have to hike anywhere from 1 - 2.5 miles to access your site. Rustic, remote, and obscured by the dense vegetation, these sites are full of natural beauty and offer lots of privacy. Just make sure to bring some extra clothes as there is a decent chance you’ll get wet traversing the river! Seriously, is there anyone who actually enjoys soggy hiking socks? A third grouping of sites in Dinosaur Valley offer an (almost) authentic Mesozoic Era experience at this primitive campground located just below Denio Creek. From this hike-in site, you’ll be just a short walk from the banks of the Paluxy River where theropod tracks were found nearly a century ago. The only luxuries provided at these sites are a fire ring and a lantern pole, so you’ll want to come prepared with just about everything!

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23 ratings · 7 reviews

Douglas G.recommends

April 22, 2019

There's some nice primitive camping here. Stay away from camping at state parks on the weekend if you enjoy being alone.

Christian S.

October 21, 2018

I have camped at Dinosaur Valley several times, both backpacking into the Primative area which is well treed with lots of foxes running around, and in the tent site areas. The tent sites are a little close together but do offer trees for hammocks and shade. The hiking here is really fun for all ages, my 3 year old had a blast crossing the river and exploring the tracks, and hiking over the rocky terrain! Fossil Rim Wildlife park is also in the area which gives another great activity for all ages! Close to DFW for a get away as well!

Christian S.recommends

October 3, 2018

Sites are a little close together, but the exploring is awesome. GREAT for kiddos!

Lisa A.

August 14, 2017

We had a great time camping at Dinosaur Valley State Park. We decided to camp in the primitive camping area which was about a mile hike to our campsite. There are so many dinosaur tracks to see! When we went it was during a drought (6months no rain!) So we didn't check the weather forecast before we left and ended up getting caught in a torrential downpour that turned into a flash flood! Fortunately, we were up on a hill so the flooding didn't really affect us. We just waited in our leaky tents until morning and packed up to leave. In the end we kinda had to be rescued by the rangers, but all-in-all we had a great time and our experience makes for a great story!

Lisa A.recommends

August 13, 2017

It's prone to flash flooding so be sure to check the weather before you go

Evan A.recommends

April 23, 2017

Call ahead to check the water level of the river separating the primitive area, crossing it is required.

Jose V.

January 22, 2015

This was my third time camping and first time hiking in to a primitive campsite with a backpack. Being the beginner that I am, my pack weighed in at about 50 lbs (I weigh about 150 lbs) and I still enjoyed the hike. I would consider it a relatively easy hike. We camped in the middle of January and it did get a little cold - 28 degrees on Saturday morning. We stayed at the #3 primitive campsite. This campsite is one of the farther sites. I did hear a lot of air traffic in the sky all throughout the night, but the night was pitch black and it was easy to get a good look at the stars.

Your guide to camping in Dinosaur Valley Campground

Overview

Biking

Considered to be a mountain biking paradise for some, Dinosaur Valley State Park offers about 17 miles of challenging and diverse trails. Expect steep climbs, long and fast descents, and flashes of limestone. The trails tend to stay pretty open, so you have time and space to explore. The trails are challenging, so it’s recommended that less experienced riders take it easy and use caution. Find trail maps online before you visit.

Fishing

When you’re not searching the riverbed for dinosaur tracks, drop your fishing line into the Paluxy River to test your skills. A number of fish call the Paluxy home, including yellow and channel catfish, alligator gar, freshwater drum, striped bass, and largemouth bass. Don’t fret if you forget your fishing supplies—they are available for purchase in the camp store.

Hiking

Dinosaur Valley State Park is one of the coolest places around to hike. After all, where else can you explore more than 15 miles of trails for ancient dinosaur tracks? The park offers at least 12 trails: some paved, some through the river, some to scenic outlooks, and some with refreshing swimming holes. Check out a trail map for further information and special points of interest, like one spot where you can take a photo with dinosaur models that were featured at the New York World’s Fair in 1964-1965. Did someone say Instagram photo-op?

Horseback riding

There’s nothing like exploring Dinosaur Valley State Park’s 100-acre South Primitive Area on horseback. Expect a wooded and semi-rocky terrain. Potable water is not available, but the river travels through this section, so horses can drink from the river if you bring a bucket.

Swimming

Swim in a river where dinosaurs once roamed at Dinosaur Valley State Park! The Paluxy River is a lot of fun, but be sure to swim in groups, be aware of your surroundings, and know the risks of the region. People who are not strong swimmers should wear a life jacket.

Wildlife watching

Whether you’re on foot, horseback, or bike, Dinosaur Valley State Park offers plenty of opportunities for catching sight of the local wildlife. Of course you’ll probably want to explore and map the dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River bed, because how often does an opportunity like that come around? The area also contains an interesting array of plants and animals due to its position at the intersection of a number of ecoregions. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for two species of endangered bird: the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo. Wild turkeys and many types of resident and migrant birds can be found here as well. Additionally, you may see white-tailed deer, coyote, bobcats, raccoons, beavers, skunks, armadillos, fox squirrels, rabbits, and opossums. In the water, look out for striped bass, largemouth bass, yellow catfish, channel catfish, alligator gar, freshwater drum, and bluegill.