Dinosaur Valley Campground

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.