Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Park Closed

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

  • Palo Pinto SP
  • Tucker Lake
  • area view of Palo Pinto SP
This state park is not open; it is in the construction phase of development.

Sheltered Canyons, Beautiful Vistas

Drive about 75 miles west of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex and you’ll enter the Palo Pinto Mountains. Just north of the freeway lies 4,871 acres of former ranch land that is now Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.

Once developed, this rugged, beautiful park will offer hiking, camping, fishing, stargazing and other outdoor activities.

The park's past

Back to nature

Uplift and erosion over eons formed these mountains. Today, plateaus with beautiful vistas overlook sheltered canyons.

Palo Pinto Creek meanders near the northern border of the park. A dam on Russel Creek impounds the 90-acre Tucker Lake, the centerpiece of the park.

Despite its ranching history, many native plants shelter and support a wide variety of wildlife.

History

In 2010, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department asked the Texas Nature Conservancy to seek land for a new state park in North Texas. Nearly two years later, TPWD purchased the first 3,300 acres of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, using proceeds from the sale of property on Eagle Mountain Lake (north of Fort Worth).

The park's future

Plans

Plans for the park include an extensive network of multiuse trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Trails will lead to remote areas of the park with expansive vistas.

On Tucker Lake, you’ll be able to fish, boat, swim and look for birds. Motorboats will not be allowed, to protect the park’s tranquility.

Campsites will include RV sites, as well as walk-in tent sites and primitive camping areas. Picnic areas and playgrounds will provide gathering places for small and large groups.

Creating a park

Opening a park requires multiple steps and takes several years. Many factors impact the length of this process, including funding. TPWD has not set an opening date for this park.

Baseline surveys are the first step. These surveys determine sensitive areas as well as areas to be developed. The surveys also identify scenic and interesting places at the site.

Guided by the surveys and public input, the design/development phase for the new state park is almost complete and construction has begun.

Though this park will be "light on the land," it is still a large undertaking requiring several phases.

Check back here for updates on the development of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.

Get involved

Help us open by donating to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The foundation is working to raise $9 million to contribute toward development of the park.