Dinosaur Valley Primitive Hike-in Camping

Dinosaur Valley State Park (Glen Rose)

Dinosaur Valley State Park, outside Glen Rose and a short drive from Fort Worth, is known for dinosaur tracks in the bed of the Paluxy River. Away from the track sites, seven primitive hike-in campsites sit across the river in what TPWD’s maps call the Acro Ridge backpacking area.

TPWD puts the sites 1 to 2.5 miles from the trailhead, and getting there means wading the river, which makes this a short but real overnight.

The hike

The park covers about 1,525 acres, and its tracks are roughly 113 million years old, left by theropods and sauropods, according to Wikipedia. TPWD notes that tracks “are often hidden by water and silt.” When drought dried most of the river in 2022, more tracks appeared; under normal conditions, the department said, they’re underwater and filled with sediment.

Every route to the hike-in sites starts with the Paluxy. TPWD says you must wade it, and North Texas Trails (2020) notes that the crossings vary: stepping stones work in places, while on the east side “expect to have wet socks and shoes.” The park’s trail map warns that the rocks are very slippery and suggests boots or waders and a walking stick.

Backpacker’s 2013 route crosses the river at the track site, then climbs a blue-blazed trail upslope, with a side trail to a ridgetop, a bridge, and a stretch along the river. It then follows white blazes past two primitive campsites, one “under oak canopy,” before reaching a vista over the park and the hilly rangeland below and rejoining the blue trail for the last 1.2 miles. The article calls it a 6.8-mile loop, although its trail facts say 10.9.

The Outbound’s guide starts at the Cedar Brake Outer Loop trailhead and goes about 3 miles out and back to campsite 4. It describes a gradual route and the steeper Buckeye Trail, and suggests holding your pack overhead when crossing. TPWD’s trail list includes the Cedar Brake Outer Loop (7.5 miles, rated challenging), the Black-capped Vireo Trail (2.7 miles), the Denio Trail (1.6 miles), the Buckeye Trail (1.4 miles), and the Rocky Ridge Trail (1 mile). The trail map also warns of steep cliffs and bluffs.

A forum poster on Big Bend Chat (2021) cautions that hiking in from the river may mean “bullnettle and lots of briars.” A Dyrt reviewer reported in December 2022 that the trails across the river were closed because of mud.

For other short Texas state-park overnights, see Caprock Canyons and Colorado Bend.

Tips

Call before you go. TPWD says to call (254) 897-4588 for river conditions.
Fill up at the trailhead. There’s no water at the sites.
Pack for a wade. Keep gear dry, and wear shoes you don’t mind soaking.
Arrive before dark. TPWD strongly recommends it on a first visit.
Reserve ahead. TPWD says the park often reaches capacity.

Camping

TPWD lists seven primitive hike-in sites, each for up to eight people, and says none are within eyesight of each other. There’s no water, restrooms, showers, or picnic tables at the sites. Ground fires are prohibited, and the trail map marks the backpacking area “No Fires Permitted.” The park’s current burn ban allows containerized fuel stoves for cooking only. Pets are allowed on a leash 6 feet or shorter and can’t be left unattended; horses aren’t allowed. The park map’s general rules set check-in at 2 p.m., checkout at noon, and quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Inside Intel: A Big Bend Chat forum poster (June 2021) wrote that of the seven sites, four (2, 3, 5, and 6) “give a fair amount of privacy from the trails,” while site 1 is “literally a wide spot in a popular birdwatching trail” and site 4 sits at a trail junction. The Outbound, though, says site 4 is “large enough for several tents.”

Trail facts

Distance: 1 to 2.5 miles to camp (TPWD); 6.8-mile loop (Backpacker, 2013)
Route type: Out-and-back or loop
Difficulty: Moderate; river wade, steep sections
Campsites: 7 primitive hike-in sites, 8 people each
Water: None at the sites; fill at the trailhead
Permits: Campsite reservation (TPWD recommends reserving ahead)
Fires: Ground fires prohibited; stoves only during the burn ban
Dogs: Allowed on a 6-foot leash
Trailhead: Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Wading the Paluxy to Dinosaur Valley's sites:

Every route to the hike-in sites starts with wading the Paluxy River, and the park map warns the rocks are very slippery. Five tips for crossing, from picking your spot to unbuckling your pack.

Read the crossing tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.