The long-awaited Palo Pinto Mountains State Park near Strawn in Palo Pinto County opened on March 1st and Libby and I were lucky enough to reserve a campsite within a couple of weeks after opening. This 90-acre park, just 75 miles west of Fort Worth, surrounds Tucker Lake and is the first new park build in Texas in nearly 25 years. The park offers RV and tent camping, fishing, hiking, biking, equestrian, kayaking, and day use.
Note that sections of the park are still under construction but we did not see any ongoing work that would hamper a visitor’s enjoyment.
Nine hiking trails, from easy to moderate difficulty, are available ranging from 0.2 miles to 5.7 miles in length. We especially enjoyed Ben’s Trail and the Cross Timbers Trail. Both trails were well laid out and provided spectacular views.
Campsites include 10 equestrian sites, 25 RV/tent sites, and 10 primitive walk-in sites. Two day-use areas are available.
A variety of fauna can be found in the park including white-tailed deer, raccoon, coyote, wild turkey, and many bird species. Fishermen will find Tucker Lake stocked with bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and sunfish.
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is a jewel in the crown of the Texas State Park system, and well worth a visit. Be aware that campsites are typically booked well in advance so be sure to plan ahead.
