MountainBikeTx.com

Dinosaur Valley State Park
 Glen Rose, TX

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14 miles

2-3

singletrack; doubletrack

network

TPWD  |  SGI

$7 per person 13 and older/day use (annual pass available for $70)

Blue | Buckeye Creek Loop | Cedar Brake Trail | Denio Creek Trail
Green | Orange | Outer Ridge Trail | Ridge Trail | White | Yellow

• Campsites with water and electric hook-ups, a picnic table, fire ring and/or grill
• Restrooms with showers
• Backpack campsites (no restrooms in the area, water is available at the trailhead)
• Day use only horseback riding is allowed in the South Equestrian Area (users must provide their own horses, no overnight equestrian facilities)
• Day-use picnic area
• Group picnic pavilion with picnic tables and a fireplace (no electricity)
• Trailer dump station
• Outdoor amphitheater
• Interpretive center located in the headquarters

TPWD website

(254) 897-4588

Dinosaur Valley State Park allows you to pedal where giant reptiles once walked, in and out of small valleys, sometimes over exposed limestone slicks that can make for quick ups and downs. ~TPWD

Welcome to Dinosaur Valley State Park For those that wonder how it got its name Map of Cedar Break Trail at the trailhead Shortly after starting you'll find this little 'S' curve We highly recommend dismounting here
To get to the trails you have to cross Denio Creek The beginning of the White trail One of the not so rideable sections of the White trail The White trail comes out and crosses the creek bed here A fun rolling section of the White trail
Jump on the Orange trail and you have many choices of where to go Most of the Orange trail is doubletrack A long stretch of Orange trail doubletrack Looking out over a field from the Green trail The Green trail on your way to Track Site #2
The Green trail starting to become singletrack The Green trail offers the best singletrack at Dinosaur Valley A slightly loose section along the Green trail A smooth, fast section of the Green trail A rocky Green trail descent (note the hard right at the bottom)
A rocky Green trail climb (note the steps at the top) A little rocky singletrack Marker at the intersection of the Blue trail and Buckeye Creek Loop A dark, rocky descent near Marker G on the White trail Another view of the descent near Marker G
The White trail offers some smooth, fast sections, too The White trail also offers some fairly technical descents Short trip down, long climb up Nothing like literally dropping into a downhill followed by a hard left (not in photo) Crossing Denio Creek back to the trailhead

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  Cedar Brake Trail is the first section of trail on your trip through the land that dinosaurs once roamed, and leads you to the Paluxy River. Cross the Paluxy River (hopefully it hasn’t rained too much lately) and jump back on your bike to the White trail. Soon after starting out the trail splits. If you go right, you’ll be taking the White trail and if you go straight you’ll be on the White trail; however, by going straight you will have to carry your bike, as the Denio Creek crossing isn’t even close to rideable.
  The White trail is a large loop consisting of the River Trail, Outer Ridge Trail and the Denio Creek Trail. Although I chose to go counterclockwise, it’s hard to say which direction is best. Counterclockwise seemed like a good choice even if it featured a long, steady climb a little ways past marker G and again before you reach marker F. For the most part the White trail is made up of decent singletrack with the occasional ‘S’ curve and rock garden, but nothing too overly technical. It’s worth noting that the reason I chose to go counterclockwise on the White trail is that from marker D and marker C to marker E is a long, steep, rocky climb. Going counterclockwise on White makes either of them a long, rocky descent.
  The Blue and Yellow trails make up the inner, connecting trails and amount to nothing more than riding along a wide path with a little doubletrack thrown in. In and of themselves they aren’t all that thrilling, but do add many more miles to the day’s trip and get you to a couple of the primitive camp sites.
  The Orange trail is >95% doubletrack. Where it intersects the Green trail is way off the map, but if you ride it to that point take a right on to the Green trail. This half of the Green trail is essentially an out and back that leads to Dinosaur track site #2 which makes for a nice relaxing break. This particular section of the Green trail is mostly doubletrack and wide path, and although it features some enjoyable descending on the way to the dinosaur tracks, you have to come back up on the return trip. Don’t worry, the climbs don’t seem that bad and before you know it, you’re back at the Orange/Green intersection. At this point continue along the Green trail and prepare for the best section of trail that Dinosaur Valley has to offer. Winding singletrack, rock gardens that aren’t overly technical so as to still be a blast to negotiate, and well packed trail are the key features of this half of the Green trail. Similar to the White trail, it’s hard to really say which direction is ideal as both have their share of climbs and descents.
  Although Dinosaur Valley lacks much of the singletrack thrills that other nearby locations can provide, such as Cleburne State Park, there’s no doubt that it’s a nice ride that is even better as a group or family ride. On top of that, how much more humbling can a place be than Dinosaur Valley State Park? After-all, the very knobs on your tires will be rolling where freakin’ dinosaurs used to walk!
~ MountainBikeTx.com(Nov 2008)

 

Dinosaur Valley State Park weather forecast

Last modified: 15 April 2012