Dinosaur Valley State Park: Low-River Sauropod Track Hikes in Glen Rose

About this adventure

Located just an hour southwest of Fort Worth in Glen Rose, Dinosaur Valley State Park is globally renowned for its real, preserved dinosaur footprints embedded in the limestone bed of the Paluxy River. Winter is widely considered the absolute best season of the year to visit: the cooler, dry North Texas winter weather brings river levels to their lowest and clearest points, revealing remarkable 113-million-year-old tracks that are frequently submerged during spring and summer rains. Kids will marvel at the immense, three-toed footprints left by the fierce carnivore Acrocanthosaurus and the giant, elephant-like depressions left by the 70-foot-long sauropod Sauroposeidon. Beyond the riverbed track sites, the park boasts 20 miles of scenic hiking trails that wind through rugged limestone ridges, juniper-forested canyons, and panoramic valley overlooks. Be sure to pack waterproof boots or a spare pair of shoes for stepping into the shallow riverbed.