# Lake Mineral Wells State Park: Penitentiary Hollow Canyon & Winter Lake Trails > Place to go for families in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington area (TX). Times are Central Time. - When: Daily 6:00 AM–10:00 PM (Penitentiary Hollow and trail system open daily; advance day-use… - Dates: Sun, Nov 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway, 100 Park Rd 71, Mineral Wells, TX 76067 - Ages: All ages welcome; Trailway is stroller and wheelchair friendly; canyon scrambling requires adult supervision; kids 12 and under free - Price: Day-use admission $7 for adults (ages 13+); Children ages 12 & under Free; Free with Texas State Parks Annual Pass - Schedule: Daily 6:00 AM–10:00 PM (Penitentiary Hollow and trail system open daily; advance day-use reservations recommended via Texas State Parks) - Organizer: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Official page: https://texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/activities/lake-mineral-wells-state-park-penitentiary-hollow-canyon-and-winter-la--listing-b54187dbee1cf1c68393cfa2 ## About Just 45 minutes west of Fort Worth, Lake Mineral Wells State Park holds one of the most striking geological landmarks in all of North Texas: Penitentiary Hollow. This dramatic natural canyon of sheer 40-foot sandstone bluffs and narrow rock labyrinths is the only natural rock-climbing and rappelling venue in the region, offering hikers and families scenic cliff-top overlooks and rugged descent paths among ancient cedar elms. Winter offers ideal hiking conditions with crisp, bug-free breezes, clear skies, and spectacular reflections across 640-acre Lake Mineral Wells. Families can hike or bike 12.8 miles of park trails or venture onto the 20-mile Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway, a flat, crushed-stone rail-trail connecting Mineral Wells to Weatherford. After exploring the sandstone canyons, relax at lakeside picnic pavilions or try catch-and-release fishing along the park's lighted piers. ## Similar picks in Dallas–Fort Worth - [Family Camping Weekend at Ray Roberts Lake State Park — Dallas Outdoor Adventures](https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/activities/family-camping-weekend-at-ray-roberts-lake-state-park-dallas-outdoor-a--listing-72fc3dfde86482ff7f022267) — Nov 13 – Nov 15 · 3:00 PM – 12:00 PM · Ray Roberts Lake State Park — Johnson Branch Unit, Valley View · From $150 · checked Oct 24. Dallas Park and Recreation's Outdoor Adventures program takes families on a guided introduction to car camping at Ray Roberts Lake State Park's Johnson Branch Unit. 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As the oldest major botanic garden in Texas, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden encompasses 120 manicured acres in the heart of the city's Cultural District. Its crowning masterpiece… - [Trail of Lights at Lake Mineral Wells State Park](https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/activities/trail-of-lights-at-lake-mineral-wells-state-park--listing-d87035f45dc1c98ea4538602) — Fri, Dec 18 (+1 more date) · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Lake Mineral Wells State Park · Free · checked Oct 20. The fourth annual Trail of Lights turns the campgrounds of Lake Mineral Wells State Park into a drive-through holiday light display. Campers decorate their campsites, and… - [Dinosaurs Live! Life-Size Animatronic Trail at Heard Natural Science Museum](https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/activities/dinosaurs-live-life-size-animatronic-trail-at-heard-natural-science-mu--listing-76cb8755df55db4aaa7d313e) — Sep 26 – Mar 1 · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, McKinney · All ages · From $14 · checked Nov 7. Deep in the woods of McKinney's 289-acre Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, prehistory roaringly returns to life each winter during the annual Dinosaurs Live!… - [Dutch Oven Demonstration and Potluck at Cedar Hill State Park](https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/activities/dutch-oven-demonstration-and-potluck-at-cedar-hill-state-park--listing-53d4d17c59e1fa080211c858) — Sat, Nov 14 · 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Cedar Hill State Park · With admission · checked Nov 3. The Prairie Dog Chapter of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society cooks at Penn Farm and invites visitors to bring a Dutch oven and a dish to share around noon, or to watch. A few… ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/events/2026-11.md) - [This weekend in Dallas–Fort Worth](https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth](https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/dallas-fort-worth.md)