Glen Rose
Where real dinosaur tracks lead to a wildlife safari unlike anything else in Texas
Quick Facts
Spring and fall for the best river levels and wildlife watching.
About Glen Rose
Glen Rose sits in the Paluxy River valley south of Fort Worth, where the limestone riverbed preserves actual 113-million-year-old dinosaur trackways — the most extensive and best-preserved such tracks in North America. Dinosaur Valley State Park protects these remarkable fossils, while Fossil Rim Wildlife Center just outside town operates a world-class African wildlife conservation facility where giraffes and rhinos roam the Texas Hill Country countryside.
Things to Do
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Wade into the Paluxy River and put your foot in a 113-million-year-old sauropod track. The tracks span two sites in the river bed — some showing a three-toed theropod and the enormous flat-footed sauropod walking side by side. It's genuinely thrilling and requires no special expertise to find them.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
A 1,800-acre conservation facility that's home to over 1,100 animals across 50+ endangered species from Africa and other continents. The 9-mile drive-through safari lets you hand-feed giraffes, watch cheetahs, and encounter white rhinos from your car window. One of the best wildlife experiences in Texas, period.
Paluxy River Swimming
The Paluxy River carves through limestone bedrock creating beautiful clear swimming holes throughout the Glen Rose area. Local parks and private campgrounds give access to excellent swimming during warm months.
Where to Eat
Hammond's BBQ
The best BBQ in Somervell County, with brisket and ribs that would hold their own against the Lockhart establishments.
Purple Paddle Creamery
Excellent homemade ice cream and smoothies that earn their own trip to Glen Rose.
🗺️ Getting There
70 miles southwest of Dallas on U.S. 67. 60 miles south of Fort Worth.
📅 Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall for the best river levels and wildlife watching. Summer is hot but the river swimming is excellent.
🤠 Did You Know?
“The Paluxy tracks were discovered in 1908, and a 1916 American Museum of Natural History expedition removed a large section of them — you can see those tracks at the AMNH in New York City. The ones left behind are still spectacular.”