Answers to Go with Susan Smith
Q. I like to plan a family camping trip each September. Campgrounds are usually less crowded and it is still warm enough to swim. Can you help me find someplace less than 4 hours away?
A . “The Swimming Holes of Texas” by Julie Wernersbach and Carolyn Tracy is a great source for Texans who like to swim in our beautiful lakes and rivers.
Dinosaur Valley State Park, near Glen Rose, is listed as one of their top five swimming spots for kids. According to Google maps, it takes about 3.5 hours to get there if you drive north on 281.
Here is an excerpt of the book’s description: “Swim with the dinosaurs! Well, not quite, but at Dinosaur Valley State Park, located approximately 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth, you can swim in the Paluxy River, a branch of the Brazos.
“The eroded riverbed reveals tracks left by dinosaurs that roamed Central Texas more than a hundred million years ago, when the land was at the edge of a shallow ocean. Pick up a map and look for the tracks of theropods, brontosaurs and paluxysaurs, the official state dinosaur of Texas.
“Water levels will affect the number of tracks visible. You’re likely to catch sight of the most tracks in late summer, though some may already be visible in mid-May, when the park also blooms with fields of bluebonnets.
“You’ll find many spots to dip into the crystal-clear water at 1,500-acre Dinosaur Valley. At Dinosaur Track Site #1, The Blue Hole, you’ll find steep access to the water following trails along a low, sandy cliff thick with trees and vegetation.
“The bank is narrow here and cannot easily accommodate a large crowd. The water is deep, fluctuating between 12 and 21 feet, so children and non-swimmers should have floats. Be prepared to climb in and out of the water and for a fantastic view of the river.
“The prime swim spot is at Dinosaur Track Site #2, Main Track Site. Here the water runs shallow over an uneven rock bed. At this site you can walk across a line of slippery rocks to view a set of dinosaur tracks. A wheelchair ramp and stairs lead down from the parking area to a concrete pathway above a set of narrow limestone steps that take you down to the water’s edge. No lifeguard is on duty at either spot; swim at your own risk.”
This state park has 20 miles of hiking trails and opportunities for camping, mountain biking, an equestrian area for horseback riding, and a playground.
The authors end with this tip: “Be sure to stop for a photo with the statues of the tyrannosaurus rex and brontosaurus near the main entrance. They were part of Sinclair Oil’s Dinoland exhibit at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair.
“Take a spin through the dinosaur exhibit in the visitors’ center to read up on the massive creatures that once stomped across the vibrant landscape you’re about to enter. And either before or after your park visit, check out Dinosaur World just down the road, an entertaining attraction with opportunities for kids to learn and play.”
“Swimming Holes of Texas” identifies more than 100 natural swimming spots arranged by region. The book concludes with “five best” by category: free spots, spots for kids, dog-friendly spots, accessible spots, spots for camping, worth the drive, off the beaten path, and places to protect.
