Must cross the Paluxy River twice. Water was near knee deep first cross.
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Ed Kotapish - 11/24/2018
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Distance: 7.60 Miles
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We started out with the weather at a chilly 40F. The first river crossing was in near knee deep water for me (knee deep for my daughter). The hike was a nice walk around and under trees, mostly cedars, with slight ups and downs in elevation. The paths were still quite wet even though there hadn't been any rain for almost a week. Very well marked at trail departures. The second crossing was in ankle deep water near the Tracks 2 site. Things warmed up as we went and it was pleasantly warm with a nice breeze when we finished. This hike may become an annual thing for Thanksgiving.
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Brooke_Lee - 2/22/2016
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Distance: 6.50 Miles
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When it comes to getting wet, and crossing rivers this was perfect for my hiking group and I. We got to cross the Pulxey and found our way to the 45 foot tall waterfall. Since the lack of rain the waterfall wasn't too impressive - but the trek across the river was awesome. We loved the solitude throughout the whole park, not a single other hiker around. The only real complaint I have about the park is how they mark their trail. We tried hiking the dark blue trail, and got lost several times due to the markings on the trees not really giving too much direction. But this is a place we will be traveling to again in the future!
Dinosaur Valley SP
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CraigS - 6/27/2015
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Distance: 4.00 Miles
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The water was high, not much to see in the way of "Dinosaurs", but we did enjoy the hiking.
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dis466 - 4/9/2015
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Distance: 2.20 Miles
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Trails are mostly easy to follow but not blazed..easy to get off of a trail and find yourself on another. Lots of nice views and flora.
A favorite of mine
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rodavenport - 10/4/2014
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Distance: 15.00 Miles
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I really enjoy Dinosaur Valley. It is very active along the river and on the campground side of the river but once you get over on the backside of the park you pretty much have it to yourself. The occasional hiker or bike rider is about all you see
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theperfectstorm - 6/20/2013
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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Short hump up the blue trail and the yellow trail. Rain last night left the trail a little soft, but easily traversed.
A Really Cool Place!
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Blaze - 4/14/2013
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Distance: 5.80 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 51 minutes
I hiked the trails of Dinosaur Valley State Park as a part of a group. This group also hiked Cleburne State Park the preceding day (you can find my log of that trail here).
Hiking the trails of Dinosaur Valley State Park is interesting because there are several places where you can find dinosaur tracks preserved in the limestone (the dinosaurs were the original hikers, lol!). The trails take you across the scenic Paluxy River, up to the top of a large hill adjacent to the river, and around different areas of the park. This is a great place for families to take their kids as there is a lot to see and learn. Kids love playing in the clear waters of the river.
Since some members of the group were tired and/or injured from the previous day's hike, we didn't hike all of the trails as we had to cut the route short. This left plenty of daylight, so I departed from the group to hike the trails of nearby Meridian State Park (you can read my log of that hike here).
Lots of trails here, and DINOSAURS!
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BANDA - 6/11/2012
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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Very interesting park, with lots of trails and informational signs and exhibits.
Great trail for beginners, it was for us
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HarleyHikers - 10/10/2010
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Distance: 2.20 Miles
Duration: 2 hours
We hiked there sunday afternoon. Beautiful day. The park had a troop of boyscouts there, but we only saw them near the parking area. No camping was available, they were full, but we travelled there on our hogs to hike it anyway.
If it has been raining, you may be unable to cross into the area of the trails, or more importantly, cross back out to your car.
Look forward to going back, Next time we'll reserve a campsite.
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jeepy_girl - 3/28/2010
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Distance: 6.00 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Nice hike, saw only a few people on the trails, more by the river. The river was running pretty high, so crossing the river was a bit tricky, but still doable if you didn't mind getting your feet a bit wet. There were a few unblazed trails that we got turned around on, but nothing major. Otherwise a very nice hike and definitely worth the drive from Dallas. Will be going again.
Great trails, dogs allowed
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maastrichtian - 6/10/2009
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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I hike (and camp) this park about once a year, and I just wanted to add to this listing that dogs are definitely allowed. I'm realizing that the "No Dogs" on this site are meaningless. not sure why it says this, but it's very misleading, my 3 dogs love these trails and every now and then we can crash into the river to cool off. The campgrounds and tracks areas are very crowded but one hike I saw no one back on the trails, and another maybe 2 other people. Great surprise, close to Dallas.
Decent Hike
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rodavenport - 5/24/2009
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Distance: 8.25 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
A lot of activity in the park and along the river. Once you get across the river there is not much activity except for a few backpack campers and hikers. Even though I prefer badlands and rough country hiking I enjoyed this one. I did take a stroll along the main river to check out the Dino tracks. There were plenty of them to see.
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TXLimey - 3/21/2009
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Distance: 3.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Started on the White Trail at the west end of the park and, took the lower Blue trail at intersection B. Took a wrong turn and headed off trail at the Yellow Trail intersection (up the steep hill). Finished taking the blue trail to track site 2, then down green trail a little ways.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4503_094r.pdf
Nice hike on a cool Saturday morning.
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RockWing - 11/17/2008
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Distance: 7.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Blue Trail
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swatmama67 - 10/12/2008
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Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
This was our second trip to this park for hiking. We took the Blue Trail starting on the west side of the park, caught the short trip up to the scenic overlook (I think this was a Yellow trail), then followed the white trail at Denio Creek a short distance to the trailhead. I'm not sure how far this is, I can't find it marked anywhere on the map. When we were there in May we had to cross the river in knee deep water but this time the river was low so we walked across dry rocks.
We stopped for a quick picnic at the overlook. The hike up to the overlook was kind of steep, but not treacherous by any means. My kids are 5 and 10, and none of us had any trouble. It was worth the extra time to go to the overlook- it was really pretty. We also stopped one other time to let the kids play in the river.
We saw maybe 3 other families on the trail and there were a fair number of families playing in the river.
Blue Trail and Yellow Trail to scenic overlook
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CedrHillr - 10/10/2008
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Distance: 1.70 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
I started in early afternoon on a Friday on a clear, sunny day. There was small crowds around river, playing and looking for the dino footprints but I didn't see anyone on the trails. Started on Blue trail to yellow trail to scenic overlook. This was challenging but doable for a middle age, not in great shape guy like myself. I could see for miles,(with help of binoculars), up to Chalk mountain where I could make out the cars going up it on Hwy 67, over to the long necks poking their heads up, (even a red T-Rex was visable). To the east I could see the tops of the nuclear plant. I went back to blue trail and followed it further past wildcat hollow, There was some (impressive for north Texas), canyon walls along here and found a small trail leading to a crossing on the river. I couldn't resist soaking my feet in the cool running waters. very popular park, but now know why.
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allenshank - 8/2/2008
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Distance: 4.50 Miles
Duration: 4 minutes
We started with the white trail and finished with a wide loop of the green and blue trails. We saw almost no one until the second river crossing when we ran into a couple hundred people playing in and around the river. There was lots of great scenery from pristine dinosaur footprints to some pretty great views from the top of the green trail overlooking the valley. The trail was not too difficult, but it hit 105 degrees, so it became much more difficult than it normally would have been.
I will definitely do this hike again when it is a little cooler.
It was Memorial Day weekend
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Joefirefighter - 5/24/2008
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Distance: 3.80 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
I took my son on his first backpacking trip to Dinosaur Valley and we hiked portions of the white, Denio Creek, yellow and blue trails.
The trail starts by fording the Paluxey river, which runs a little over knee deep on an adult. My son worried about crossing it again if it rained overnight.
Just before arriving at the campsite, I slipped while trying to cross Denio Creek and spent the rest of the time w/ wet hiking boots. Fortunately, I had my amphibious shoes to run around in.
We camped at primitive site #2 next to Denio creek. The creek had an approximately three foot deep swimming hole right next to our camp site which my son spent most of the afternoon splashing around in. We did leave the swimming hole when a gaggle of kids came up the trail and jumped in the pool and proceeded to pull rocks and logs off the bottom of the pool, stirring up sediment and completely clouding the water.
We looked for the scenic overlook at the end of the blue trail, but failed to find it.
It rained that night, and the tent I had bought for moving into backpacking and out of car camping failed to keep us dry.
The next day we met my wife and daughters and spent the day visiting dinosaur tracks, eating a picnic and playing in the Paluxey river.
LOVE IT
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mdn1402 - 5/17/2008
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Distance: 5.00 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
We started out on the blue trail and ended on the white trail. I loved every second of it. We even saw some mountain goats up on the trail and tons of Cardinals. I will be going back to try other trails.
dinosaur footprints
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caspalding66 - 3/29/2008
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Distance: 5.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Dinosaur footprints and great terrain
Denio Creek
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CedrHillr - 2/9/2008
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Distance: 2.50 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Middle of week. Only saw two people the whole trek. Started at parking lot at Cedar Break trail. Crossing river was challenging, which was running pretty swift, Got my feet wet on that one, while trying to stay on the stepping stones, the hill was steep to get to blue ridge trail some good views along the way but so much at end where there was suppose to be a scenic view, not complaining though. Then went over yellow trail to Denio creek, a few little waterfalls, towering cliffs closer to paluxy. Nice trails. Want to go do another scenic spot on yellow trail? But haven't yet looks like good views from up there. Nice park but crowded on weekends.