“The Dinosaur Capital of Texas!”
Dinosaur Valley State Park contains some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. The dinosaur tracks are located in the riverbed, so please call ahead to check on river conditions. There are two fiberglass models, a 70-foot Apatosaurus and a 45-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex. They were built, under commission of the Sinclair Oil Company, for New York World's Fair Dinosaur Exhibit of 1964 - 1965. Other activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian use in a separate 100-acre area, river swimming and fishing, and wildlife observation. The South Primitive Area, a 100-acre section of the park, is set aside for equestrian recreation, and horses may be ridden only in this area of the park. Visitors must provide their own horses. There are no marked trails. A river runs through the area, and the terrain is wooded and semi-rocky. A parking area is provided for horse trailers; no potable water is available. River water is available for horses, but you must bring your own bucket. Restrooms without showers are located in the day-use park complex.
Reviews of Main - Dinosaur Valley State Park
5 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Reviews
It was a pretty park, but it had rained the mighty before so we really couldn't see very many tracks because they were under water. If you go make sure you bring a bathing suit because the river is really nice to swim or at least sit in.
Great hocking experience and lots of track fossils to see. My 4 and 7 year old kids just love it here!
Pretty good hiking trails all through the park and nice cool river to jump in when your done.
Underrated hiking and biking park. Fun day trip.
Definitely worth it. Call ahead and see if all the prints are visible. But when we got there they said they were not and we were still able to see the prints that were casted out as well as some prints down by the water so definitely check it out if you’re an avid dinosaur lover you’ll be in love. Lots of trails as well
A short drive from Glen Rose, Texas, you’ll find a larger-than-life state park. Dinosaur Valley State Park offers the natural beauty of Texas – vibrant trees, rushing rivers, and hiking trails galore. But, what makes this state park so amazing is that you can literally walk the earth where dinosaurs roamed.
The Paluxy River runs through Dinosaur Valley, and it is along the river that you’ll find dinosaur tracks from a million years ago imprinted into the earth. In addition to viewing dinosaur tracks, you can swim, canoe, hike, horseback ride, and even camp in the park. While you’re there, consider swinging by Fossil Rim Park – a drive-thru zoo with everything from bison to cheetahs living on the conservation grounds.
We think a visit here makes for a great day trip from Dallas!
I would have been a little disappointed if this was my destination but really enjoyed spending a few hours there on the way through. How often do you get to check out real dinosaur tracks? Pretty cool...
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Main - Dinosaur Valley State Park
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
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Showers
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Big Rigs
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Fifty Amp
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Tent Sites
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Full Hookup
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Paved Sites
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Dump Station
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Water Hookup
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Potable Water
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Rec Facilities
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Standard Tent Sites
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Outdoor Seating
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