Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is a 4,871-acre preserve with high plateaus overlooking canyons and a main water feature consisting of an 90-acre lake. The landscape is defined by multiple 1,400-foot peaks that form part of a Cross Timbers forest region.

The land was formerly owned as a ranch before the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired it in 2010 with help from the Texas Nature Conservancy. This acquisition created one of North Texas's newest protected areas for public enjoyment.

The land shows traces of long-term occupation through remnants of old campsites and scattered artifacts from Indigenous peoples who lived here for thousands of years. Walking through the park, visitors may notice these signs of past human activity woven into the terrain.

The park sits about 75 miles west of Dallas-Fort Worth and serves as an accessible destination for day visits or extended stays. Visitors can enjoy multiple trails for hiking and biking, horseback riding routes, camping spots, and fishing locations throughout the grounds.

The lake operates under a no-motorboat policy, which creates a quieter experience for paddlers and anglers. This restriction helps maintain more natural conditions in and around the water.