New Palo Pinto Mountains State Park to Open Sunday

AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is opening the gates to the new Palo Pinto Mountains State Park on Sunday, March 1. This is the first state park to open in North Texas in more than 24 years. 

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located outside Strawn between Abilene and Fort Worth, offers Texans 4,871 acres of former ranch land to hike, bike, fish and explore.

With the exception of a few areas still under construction, the park will largely be open to hiking, camping and general day use.

“The opening of the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park marks an exciting new landscape for Texans to explore,” Governor Greg Abbott said. “This state park will expand outdoor opportunities for families across our state and showcase the natural beauty that makes Texas, Texas.”

“This is a tremendous moment for Texas State Parks and the state of Texas,” said director of Texas State Parks Rodney Franklin. “Opening Palo Pinto Mountains State Park represents the culmination of collaborative efforts that includes our Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as well as private donors. I am proud of the dedication of our TPWD team but also the unwavering support of the Texas Legislature and the voters of Texas that have brought us to this moment. State park staff stand ready to welcome families far and wide to begin making memories at Texas’ newest state park.”

Abbott said he is passionate about expanding public access to land, and TPWD is acquiring and opening land to the public at a historic pace. 

Future state parks that will be available for Texans to enjoy: 

• Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area - estimated 2026
• Post Oak Ridge State Park – estimated 2029
• Bear Creek State Park – estimated 2029
• Honey Creek State Natural Area - estimated 2029
• Powderhorn State Parks and Wildlife Management Area - estimated 2029
• Chinati Mountains State Natural Area – estimated 2032
• Davis Hill State Park – estimated 2034

 Palo Pinto Mountains State Park offers visitors a chance to escape from the bustling pace of the city into the juniper-topped hillsides and hardwood bottomlands of the Cross Timbers.

As of Wednesday morning, 24 of the park’s 57 campsites were available for Sunday, and there were still 139 day passes available.

For more information about Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, including a schedule of events, park and trail maps, visit the park’s page on the TPWD website.