Best Equestrian Camping near Glen Rose, TX

Geocaching takes us on many adventures. We're adding this one to our memory banks.... Near Glen Rose, this campground is close enough for comfort, but offers some truly unique things- Dinosaurs! What a fun trip!

Dinosaur Valley State Park Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose, Texas, is a fantastic destination for families and nature lovers. With spacious campsites, clean facilities, and the opportunity to see real dinosaur tracks in the riverbed, it’s an exciting place for outdoor adventures. The park offers hiking, fishing, and swimming, and the educational trails are a great experience for all ages. Nearby Dinosaur World adds to the fun. While some campsites can be a bit exposed, the overall atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. At KPI Creatives, we love discovering unique places like this that offer both adventure and education! https://www.google.com/maps?cid=10637619299654140657

I love Dinosaur Valley SP! I’m a kid at heart, and a bit of a fossil nerd, so I always enjoy spending time in the Glen Rose area. Dinosaur Valley SP is great fun for all ages. The site we were in wasn’t as private as other sites we’ve been in, but it was still well worth it. We enjoyed the river...cool, refreshing water on a hot day, lots of dinosaur tracks to see. Lots of shade.

I have visited this park several times, and it was my first state park to explore when I was a kid. The Paluxy river runs through this park. When there’s been plenty of rain there are lots of places to swim! The blue hole is my favorite swimming area in this park, it has some deep areas, and I’ve heard of some undertows being there, so children should be supervised closely. There are some large rocks jutting out over some deep water in this area that are fun to jump from! To get to the hike in sites, be prepared to wade through the river. I believe it is a 2 mile hike to get to the most remote primitive site. Also, when the river is low you can see lots of dinosaur tracks! If you have extra time in Glen Rose, Fossil Rim is right around the corner! Both Dinosaur Valley and Fossil Rim are great places to take kiddos.

The dinosaur aspect of this park is great, but there is a lot of great stuff to do in nature as well. If you have kids into dinos this is a must-visit, but it’s great for all ages too.

Yay: Great educational and ranger programs and exhibits. Also a lot to do in the area, many other parks and museums (Glen Rose). Lots of long trails to hike on. The campsites are close to the water and one of the dino track fossils! Some of the sites are very close to the river, try to get those! There are a lot of different camping options with different facilities: electric sites, 1/2 mile walk-in sites, and 1-3 mile backpacking sites. We stayed at the walk-in and looked through the main campsite, all were very clean with good shade.

Nay: call ahead to make sure the riverbed fossils are visible and all the trails are open, but there’s plenty to do if there are any closures.

Surprise: This is one of the best parks I’ve ever been to anywhere thanks to the diverse landscapes and dino fossils!

This is absolutely one of my favorite State Parks and campgrounds I’ve ever been to. I have been visiting this park & campground since I was a child. I’ve camped, tube rafted the river, played in the water, found all the dinosaur tracks (yes, real actual dinosaurs were here) and hiked all the trails numerous times. I have never had a bad experience here. Always lots to do and I end up finding at least one new thing every time I go. The campsites are pretty secluded by trees for privacy. They are clean, well maintained and each have a fire pit and picnic table. There are tent sites as well as full hook-up sites. The public restroom & showers are always clean & well kept. The absolute best thing about this place is that you can actually touch and stand on a REAL dinosaur track!!! There are signs explaining which dinosaur left each particular track and giving all the information about the individual dinosaur and the time frame they lived there. It’s really cool, even for an adult. The water is always clear and cool. There are several swimming “holes” that are very refreshing, one even has a cliff you can jump off of into it because it’s deep & safe. The hiking is superb, with nice groomed trails and beautiful scenery. Easy enough for children but still challenging enough for the adults due to the elevation changes. The outlooks are spectacular views. I see why the dinosaur’s chose to live there. The town of Glen Rose is right down the road and they have stores for anything you might’ve forgotten or need. Also, the town has several good restaurants if you want a night off from cooking. You can’t go wrong with this State Park & campground. I can’t find one negative thing about it. Pure Texas Perfection!!

"Dinosaurs may be extinct from the face of the Earth, but they are alive and well in our imaginations."

This Texas state parks is one of favorites. I have been quite a few times since I was a kid and it never gets old. It is just inside of Glen Rose, Texas, located along the Paluxy river. This park will bring out your inner child.

Let's start with the facilities. Sosome of the bathrooms are old, but they are well maintained even with all the traffic. This park gets very busy in the summer. So we tent camped but we stayed at an RC site because they don't have water only sites and with a 4 year old and my grandmother, I didn't want to have a walk-in (no bathrooms nearby) or a backpack site. There is quite a bit of shade around the campsites, and there are awesome playgrounds for children.

Now there are a LOT of trails. They will give you a map that is very helpful and let's you know where all of the track sites and overlooks are. The main track sites are along the river and are so cool see! There is also information things everywhere that tell you about the tracks that were excavated so make sure to check those out!

The one problem I had was that we went during a drought, so the river is very low and makes it hard to view some of the tracks, also swimming was a bust. So make sure you check the river advisory on their website to see what your getting into. Especially in the hotter months you definitely want to get in the river to cool off.

This place is larger than life, so make sure you plan your hikes beforehand. My favorite trail is the Buckeye trails. It is about 2 miles, so good for kids, and it is up through the woods. Lots of shade and variety in the path. Don't miss out on this adventure.

Great COE campground on Lake Whitney with well spaced sites for trailers and tent camping. Includes a large section for equestrian campers that includes paddocks for your horse as well as trails to ride on. There are both 30 and 50 amp spots as well as tent camping sites. A boat launch, shallow swimming areas and 2 playgrounds round out this fantastic, family friendly campground!

Late in the day we stopped at Lake Mineral Wells State Park, TX. We weren't sure where to go as the gate was unmanned at our arrival. We missed the turn to the campground, but a friendly and helpful Texas State Park Officer directed us how to get there. He helped us with how to make payment as well. 

The campground was beautiful. It was quiet, the bathrooms were clean, and the lake was serene. There are at least 3 campgrounds, including shelters, equestrian, a loop for tenters, and a loop for larger rigs.  We stayed in the Plateau loop. Even though we only stayed one night, I would go back.

This place fits me. Dog park, horse stall rentals, storage unit rentals, recreation room, bathrooms and showers, tiny home rentals. Most people stay here long term. Country feel but not far from Walmart, gas stations, eateries, etc...

Been to this park a couple of different times it has rock climbing boating,fishing, trails for walking, hiking. separate camping loop for tents and also separate one for horses. We have camped there in February, in June and also October

Best camping ground ever! Bathrooms and restrooms are newly remodeled, everything is clean and organized. Every camp spot has its own water source and electricity hookup, makes a huge difference at the hot Texas summer days and perfect for spending the nights not in a complete dark in case you’re using only a tent without a generator. The trails are great even in the Texan summer as many of them are beside the river where you can cool off. Highly recommended for families with kids all ages!

From website:

Find dinosaur tracks, camp, picnic, hike, mountain bike, swim, fish and paddle in the river, watch for wildlife, look for a geocache, ride your horse, or visit our interpretive center.

Stay at one of our campsites. Explore 20 miles of trails. Shop our park store for souvenirs, camping and fishing supplies, books and much more.

Discover dinosaur tracks It’s easy to find dinosaur tracks in the park – just head to the river!

Campground Review

I spent a night at Holiday Park which is one of three on Benbrook lake. It used to be father outside of town, but as the suburbs creep in, it is slowly becoming surrounded. In fact, it appears part of the property had been sold off for development as one camp road ended and houses began. It must be a wonderful perk for those residents to be able to just walk in for swimming or fishing. I neglected to do a satellite view before choosing my spot, so I was in one of the handful that had no trees. It was fine though as there are covered tables and the polls were strong enough to hold me in a hammock as well as put up shade. I was also right on the water, so there was a nice breeze.

If you’re into fishing, this spot is for you. Every couple of minutes there was a “plop” from another fish popping out of the water. If you have a small boat, you could drop in right from your site and head out across the lake. Take care though, there are a few boats and some moving pretty quick.

Love wildlife? There were dozens of deer out of all sizes. I came across 5 different groups of them as I was driving around taking in the entire campground. Of course, where there are deer there are ticks. Make sure to use insect repellent and give yourself a check.

The toilets and showers are showing their age, so they are not for the squeamish. There are no hiking trails to speak of, but they do have an equestrian trail and sites if you have horses. Bicyclists seem to love it here as I saw dozens riding the streets. I got to barely hear a Friday night football game being called across the lake with bright stadium lights and all. Site prices were $14 for just the covered table or $28 with water and electric

Pros

• Close to town
• Easy online check in
• Friendly park staff
• Access to various water sports

Cons

• City is encroaching
• Relatively expensive
• Not many hiking trails
• Aging facilities

Product Review

As a ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products from time to time. I was given the opportunity to test the Hellagood blanket by Belmont Blanket. As a cover, it is very warm. The soft layer is a faux fur with medium plush. The other side is a rubbery, waterproof material. The soft side tended to hold onto debris and pet hair, but cleaned up with a few shakes. It's a bit heavy, weighing about 3 lbs, so it's not bad for day hikes, but I would not recommend it for long excursions. I laid it out on the wet ground and it is completely waterproof. If you camp in a rainy area, the blanket would act as a decent rain shield. It got a bit chill once the sun went down and the breeze came off the lake. Soft and warm by the fire. When I went to sleep, I realized I’d forgotten my pillow so I folded it up with the soft side out and slept like a baby. All in all, I love the blanket and look forward to using it on other trips.

Pros

• Soft
• Waterproof
• Washable
• Durable
• Handmade in the USA

Cons

• A bit heavy
• Tricky to roll up
• Kind of pricey

Spacious walk-out site. Real hot in July (as expected for Texas). Fire ring and lantern like available. Overall lovely site at a great park.

I've camped at several Texas State Parks recently. They're very nice places to camp at. Restrooms are well kept. Some are free and can stay up to 14 days.

Beautiful little spot, only stayed a night. Walk right up to lake. Spots to our right had kayaks to put in right at campsite. Dump site on the way out. Spotted a Texas bobcat.

This is one of the better parks Texas has to offer just in terms of the hiking and unique features. Along the water there are places where you can see dinosaur footprints in the rock. There is also a river to play in and miles of amazing hiking. If you want to camp, you need to book plenty in advance since the park is so popular.

Dinosaur Valley lives up to its name! Anyone can easily access the river and see the dinosaur footprints this park is know for. Dinosaur Valley has trails for the experienced hiker and family oriented as well as plenty of room along the river to swim and escape the Texas heat. Campsites are a good size and offer shade. I’ve been many many times and keep coming back! It’s also nice for you dog!

This is a great place to bring kids. There is an on-site store, as well as galleries that talk about what it was like when dinosaurs roamed N Texas. The tracks don’t disappoint! There is also a great swimming spot at the first track site.

The drive-in campgrounds aren’t very private... and the tails around the campground make it easy for people to walk through your site. Something to keep in mind if you camp with your pets, or want privacy.

We had a blast participating in the Texas Outdoor Family camping program!! We learned how to cook with Dutch ovens, went geocaching and found dinosaur footprints in the river. It was truly a wonderful experience. Even when it got cold and we had a hard time starting our fire, the amazing park rangers came over to help us get a blaze going. We’ve recommended this site to many friends already and will definitely return. Great for families with kiddos who are especially into dinosaurs!

Lake mineral wells state park was great for biking, hiking, swimming and fishing. We had something fun for all 6 of us. My husband and I stayed in our tent, while rest of family stayed in their RV. It has been a very rainy month in Texas so some trails were closed. The camp store was awesome.we didn’t take advantage of the kayak or canoe rentals, but the prices were reasonable. Bathrooms, while a little dated were clean and had soap!

On my quest to visit many different Texas State Parks, this one was a great one and one that I would surely return to! The dinosaurs that were here some 100 million years ago intrigued me as well as the beauty of the park itself. My visit was in November and the weather was great. This park offers many hiking trails of different degrees of difficulty as well as access to biking on most of the trails. The campsites were reasonably spacious and  private. The sites on the outside of the loop offer the most privacy and are typically larger. The bathroom facilities have been updated and are very clean and well maintained. I found the staff to be very friendly and offered great advice on where to hike and to photograph for great views. And yes, seeing the actual dinosaur footprints was an easy hike. It was really amazing to stand and see something so real that actually happened so long ago!!