Limestone Ledge Trail (Dinosaur Valley) Hiking Guide
The Limestone Ledge Trail is the hike at Dinosaur Valley State Park that puts the famous footprints under your feet. It fords the Paluxy River to the Main Track Site, where fossil collector R.T. Bird identified the world's first sauropod trackway, the first proof that those giants walked on land. It is short, wet and rocky, and whether you see tracks at all depends on what the river is doing.
Permit: Dinosaur Valley State Park charges a daily entrance fee of $8 per person 13 and older; children 12 and under are free. A $70 Texas State Parks Pass covers entry for the holder and guests for a year. TPWD says the park often reaches capacity and highly recommends reserving a day pass online or at (512) 389-8900.
Distance and Footing
Texas Parks and Wildlife lists the Limestone Ledge Trail at 1.5 miles, about two hours, rated moderate and open to hikers only. AllTrails records the loop most people walk at 2.3 miles with about 265 feet of gain. Expect to get your feet wet at the river crossing; TPWD warns that the rocks are very slippery and suggests boots or waders, and a walking stick helps on the steep, rocky ground near the bluffs.
What You Can See in the Riverbed
Two kinds of prints survive here: the big rounded tracks of Sauroposeidon proteles, the Texas state dinosaur, and the three-toed tracks of Acrocanthosaurus. TPWD's track survey describes the Main Site as a 50-by-15-foot stretch with a long line of sauropod tracks heading south and one theropod print deep enough that the toes form tunnels; it and the Main Ledge across from the parking lot are usually dry. The neighboring Bird Site, where Bird's crew dug out tracks in 1940, is usually underwater. At the main river crossing the concrete roadbed is slick with algae.
River Level Decides Everything
Tracks are not always visible, and the trails close when it is wet. After heavy rain TPWD posts a trails-and-tracks update on the park page, and has posted that the trails are closed and the tracks are not visible. Low, clear water is best; the survey notes the Ballroom site downstream shows best in late summer when levels drop. Check the update line or the park's social feeds the morning you go, and keep an eye on the sky, since flash floods can come up quickly on the Paluxy.
Fees, Reservations and Hours
Entry is $8 a day for everyone 13 and older, and free for children 12 and under. The park often fills, so TPWD recommends reserving a day pass ahead online or by phone. The gate is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the office 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The park also closes for a few days each December and January for permitted hunts; the alerts page lists the exact dates.
Dogs and the Swimming Hole
Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails under the statewide rule of a leash no longer than 6 feet, with proof of rabies vaccination. Pets are not allowed in the water or on the land around designated swim areas, so ask at the office before letting a dog near the Blue Hole, an old swimming hole beside a ledge of theropod tracks. Bring water for the dog as well as yourself; TPWD suggests a quart per person for every hour on the trail.
Hiking tips for Limestone Ledge Trail (Dinosaur Valley)
- Check the park's trails-and-tracks update before leaving; rain closes trails and hides prints.
- Wear shoes you can wade in; the river rocks are slick.
- Reserve a day pass, since the park often reaches capacity.
- Look for the Main Site and Main Ledge first; they are usually dry.
- Ask the office where dogs may go near the Blue Hole.
Nearby trails to explore
- Cedar Brake Outer Loop (Dinosaur Valley)
- Fossil Ridge Loop (Cleburne State Park)
- Canyon Ridge Trail (Fort Worth Nature Center)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Dinosaur Valley is a road trip from the Metroplex, and the drive is better shared. Use TrailMates to find Dallas-Fort Worth hikers heading to Dinosaur Valley State Park. Download the TrailMates app to connect.