Guide to Dinosaur Valley State Park Tracks in Glen Rose, Texas.

Where can I find dinosaur tracks in Dinosaur Valley State Park? Is it close to parking? Do I need to hike for hours?

When people visit Dinosaur Valley State Park for the first time, this is one of the questions they have.

Finding dinosaur tracks is the most popular activity in the park. Most Dinosaur Valley State Park tracks can be easily located around the Paluxy River.

People will then go on a hike or play in the water.

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Where is Dinosaur Valley State Park?

Dinosaur Valley State Park is in Glen Rose, Texas, just south of Dallas-Fort Worth. It is approximately one hour and thirty minutes from Dallas, and one hour from Fort Worth.

You will pass the Creation Evidence Museum and Dinosaur World on your way to the park.

Dinosaur Valley is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Daily visitors can stay until almost dark.

Dinosaur Valley is a popular Texas State Park that often fills up on weekends. It is strongly advised to reserve passes for both camping and day use. I live less than 45 minutes from the park, but I haven’t been able to camp here because campsites are filling up quickly.

The park’s admission fee is $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Alternatively, use your Texas State Parks Pass to gain free admission. If you intend to visit Texas State Parks frequently in the coming year, you should consider purchasing one.

Address: 1629 Park Rd 59, Glen Rose, TX 76043.
Ph.: (254) 897-4588.

Why is it called Dinosaur Valley State Park?

As the name implies, many dinosaur footprints have been discovered in the park.

In 1909, George Adams, a nine-year-old boy, was the first to discover large, three-toed tracks in the river. It was later given the name Theropod tracks.

R.T. Bird, a fossil collector for the American Museum of Natural History in New York, visited the Paluxy River about 20 years later. He discovered more tracks and was astounded by his discovery, sauropod tracks in addition to theropod tracks.

Dinosaur Valley State Park was established in 1972 with the mission of preserving these valuable dinosaur track sites and allowing visitors to learn and enjoy them.

Park rangers and volunteers at Dinosaur Valley SP believe there are more tracks in the river waiting to be discovered. It’s only a matter of time before the water levels fall, exposing them one by one.

Like the recent Taylor Tracks, which were exposed as a result of the area’s extreme drought.

Let’s take a look at where you can find dinosaur tracks in Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Where to Find Dinosaur Valley State Park Tracks

Dinosaur Valley State Park contains dinosaur tracks in a number of different areas. They are all located in the Paluxy River’s riverbed and are all easily accessible. However, the amount of water will determine whether or not we can view the Dinosaur Valley State Park tracks.

There is 0% chance of seeing dinosaur footprints if the water level is high. If you want daily updates on the tracks’ visibility, you should either call the park or visit their Facebook page.

Five locations of tracks in the park have been identified by the Texas State Parks & Wildlife Department. Individual track sites have names in each of these sections.

So far, two types of tracks have been discovered in the park:

• Sauropod tracks, which are huge elephant-like tracks thought to have been formed by Sauroposeidon proteles.
• Theropod tracks, a smaller relative of the T-rex. It was 20 feet tall, 30 feet long, and weighted 3 to 5 tons as it stalked its victim on two legs.

Without further ado, let us start with the most current summer exposé.

Taylor Site – Track Site Area 5

This is where you may find the Lone Ranger Trail, the longest dinosaur trail in North America. There are more than 140 Theropod (Acrocanthosaurus) steps, totaling more than 500 feet.

The extremely deep tracks produced by these two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs were typically covered in mud and gravel.

Taylor Site Trackways have been well-known since the 1970s. But the catastrophic drought we are now going through has allowed a vast number of volunteers to thoroughly map, clean, and expose the entire trackway. The expose was covered by local to international news organizations.

However, you can only view them during a drought year like this one. If not, it is covered with mud or gravel and submerged in water.

How to get to Taylor Site

Park in the South Primitive Camping Area parking lot, which is directly across from the park store. The park store is located adjacent to two dinosaur models.

To access the Paluxy River Trail, enter the Horseshoe Equestrian Trailhead and turn southwest. Continue your trek to the South Primitive Camping Area’s site number 6. After then, join the river and walk down its bed for a few yards to the southwest before crossing it. After a short distance, you must cross the river once more to get to the Taylor Site.

You’ll be able to see the wide, deep tracks moving southwest. The assumption here is that the river is entirely dry. If it’s under water, you might have to wait until the next drought.

The hike from the parking lot is around 2 miles round-trip, with the majority of it in the riverbed with no shade. Each member of your group has to have at least 2 liters (64 oz) of water with them at all times. If you’re bringing your dogs, pack extra supplies!

Ballroom Site – Track Site Area 1

I made a brief trip at the Ballroom Site when I was at Taylor Site. The tracks didn’t appear to be as clear as they were when I visited in the summer of 2018. They appear to have begun to erode.

The term “Ballroom” was inspired by the numerous directions of the tracks, as if the dinosaurs were dancing. Here, you may see both enormous and young sauropod tracks. However, theropods left the majority of the tracks.

Sand and dirt frequently cover the Ballroom Site. The end of summer, when the water level is at its lowest or the riverbed is dry, is the best time to watch them.

How to get to the Ballroom Site

You will see a sign pointing to the Ballroom Site around halfway to Taylor Site. To reach the riverbank on the right side, follow the sign.

Prior to your visit, it’s a good idea to call the park or check their Facebook page. Just to make sure the tracks can be seen.

Blue Hole – Track Site Area 1

The only footprints found here are those of theropod dinosaurs. The tracks are typically submerged in water and are visible from the top of the riverbank. However, the last time I went there, the lake was covered in dirt and I was unable to see it.

Four sauropod tracks may be seen at North Blue Hole, which is another location. There are also pretty deep theropod tracks on the ledge as well.

How to get to Blue Hole

You will find a sign for Blue Hole on the right as you travel along the Horseshoe Equestrian Trail to Taylor Site. Simply follow the notice and walk slowly along the riverbed. You must pay attention because there is no specific signage on the track.

Alternatively, you can park in the Blue Hole parking lot and go as directed by the sign. Alternately, proceed from the Main Track Site along the Paluxy River Trail until you reach the Blue Hole tracks.

Opossum Site – Track Site Area 1

To observe these trails, you must cross the river. It is located in the bed of Opposum Creek, which feeds the Paluxy River. Theropods left behind most of the tracks. A small location that is difficult to access, yet the tracks are typically dry and visible.

How to get to Opposum Site

Pass the park store while driving. Parking lots with a playground and picnic tables behind them may be found on the left. Park your car, then proceed to the rear Group Picnic Pavilion.

To get to the riverbed, use the stairs. Soon after making a right turn, you will come to the Cedar Brake Outer Loop trail. Cross the river by following the trail. After crossing across, turn left down the riverbed until you come to the tracks.

If the river is high and moving quickly, you can’t cross it, and the tracks are hidden by the water.

Main Track Site – Track Site Area 2

The most visited location in the park where you may observe dinosaur tracks from theropods and sauropods. To see the tracks, you must cross the river. It means you can’t cross the river to see the tracks when the water is high and the current is strong.

If the water is cloudy, the tracks are also obscured.

How to get to Main Track Site

To get to Main Track Site, follow the road sign. When coming on the weekend, try to get there before 10 a.m. to secure a parking space.

Take the stairs to the riverbank, then proceed to the tracks site by stepping stones. Although it is not difficult to cross the river here, the step stones are frequently wet. They are slippery, so use caution. I’ve witnessed numerous individuals trip and fall while attempting to cross this river.

RT Bird Site – Track Site Area 2

Visit R.T. Bird Site whenever you are on this side of the river. R.T. Bird discovered the Sauroposeidon proteles tracks here for the first time. It’s difficult to observe this site because it’s typically submerged.

R.T. Bird and his colleagues dug a sizable collection of tracks on this location in 1940, but the most of them have been lost to erosion.

How to get to RT Bird Site

Follow the Limestone Ledge Trail away from the Main Track Site. Before you reach the intersection, you will see the R.T. Bird site on the left.

The Ozark Site – Track Site Area 2

Directly across from the R.T. Bird site, and is typically submerged. When the water is clean, four extensive sauropod trails can be seen heading south from the riverside.

I could only see one track each time I went to the park. This section of the river seems to always be muddy.

This location was joined to R.T. Bird’s location in 1940. The tracks have been broken off due to deterioration.

How to get to Ozark Site

Turn left along the Paluxy River Trail before you cross the river to the Main Track Site. On your right, you will see a sign directing to Ozark Site.

Denio Site – Track Site 4

While most of the theropod and sauropod tracks in this area are submerged, you can view a few of them from the riverside. When there has been a lot of rain, the paths are often obscured by heavy mud.

How to get to Denio Site

Take the Paluxy River Trail in the direction of the campground if you are parking at the Main Track Site parking lot. Continue trekking on the route until you see the Cedar Brake Outer Loop Trail marker. Turn left onto the trail. Don’t cross the river when you arrive there. Take a left on the riverbank until you reach a sign pointing to Denio Site.

If you wish to go back to the Main Track Site parking lot, take the route you came from. You can reach the Main Track Site by remaining on the riverside, but only when the riverbed is exceptionally dry. And it doesn’t always get dry in the summer.

Take the Cedar Brake Outer Loop Trail in the direction of the river if you park near the group site campgrounds. Then adhere to the above instructions.

Are the tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park real?

Naturally, they are. However, given the nature of the river’s limestone bed, many people believe it is not real. It looks like manmade prints.

The herbivorous (plant-eating) and carnivorous (meat-eating) dinosaurs lived here about 113 million years ago. When the dinosaurs walked across the tidal flat, they left tracks in the mud. After being preserved for millions of years, they were finally uncovered in 1908 following a significant flood.

Are dogs allowed at Dinosaur Valley State Park?

Yes! It’s one of my favorite Texas parks to explore with my dog Snoopy. Following a look at the tracks, we enjoy going for a hike at Dinosaur Valley.

Make sure your dog is always on a leash, even if you think you’re alone hiking with your dog on the north side of the park. Leash length is limited to six feet.

You can swim in the water with your dog, but not in the vicinity of the swimming sites.

Also, don’t forget to gather their waste and place it in the trash. You may be wondering why I advised throwing the trash out. Because some people simply bagged their waste and left it for a ranger to collect.

Even a hike with your dog program and a session on basic dog training were available the summer before Covid.

The park store, group pavilion, and the headquarters are the only sites where pets are not allowed.

Nearby Attractions

• Glen Rose, the Dinosaur Capital of Texas.
• Cleburne State Park.
• Meridian State Park.