Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

10/22/2026

What’s up danger? 👋🏽
Fat squirrel week ain’t done yet!! We’re only in the semi-finals 😏
🗳️ Go vote for your favorite squirrel in both of today’s competitions.
⏰ Voting ends at 6pm! Don’t miss your chance!!

💅 Squirrelly Temple from Fort Parker State Park
Vs
🎤 Slim Shady Pines from Bastrop State Park Buescher State Park

🤼‍♂️ Chungus from Cooper State Park Doctors Creek Unit
Vs
🤺 Chonky from Guadalupe River State Park

Winners from today’s competitions will go head to head in the final round TOMORROW 😱

10/20/2026

Sadly, our beloved Chunkamotive did not advance after his face-off with Meridian SP’s Buster. 😔

BUT FAT SQUIRREL WEEK AIN’T OVER YET! 😜
There are two more competitions happening between advancing parks! Check out there pages and go vote for your favorite squirrel before 6pm tonight!

💪🏼 Battle of the forts:
Sgt. Acorn from Fort Richardson State Park VS Squirrelly Temple from Fort Parker State Park

💪🏼 Battle of the beasts:
Acornasaurus Rex from Dinosaur Valley State Park VS Chungus from Cooper State Park Doctors Creek Unit

⏰ The clock is ticking!! Go vote, and may the best squirrels win!! 🥇

10/19/2026

The results are in… BUSTER will be moving on to the next round, tune back in Wednesday to vote for Meridian’s Buster vs Bastrop’s Slim Shady Pines.

🚨🐿️ Squirlert! Voting has closed, come back soon to see the results 🐿️🚨

The squirrels are chunky, the competition is fierce, and we’ve got a REMATCH on our hands!

Meridian State Park and Palo Pinto Mountains State Park went head-to-head during last year’s Fat Squirrel Week, and apparently, one showdown just wasn’t enough! The two parks are facing off AGAIN in today’s first elimination round, this time with two new heavyweight contenders: Buster and Chunkamotive!

🗳️How to Vote:
👍🏻 Like, react, comment, or tag a friend on this post under the PHOTO of your favorite squirrel! Each reaction or comment counts as a vote.
👎🏻 Votes in the main comment section of this post WILL NOT COUNT unless you mention the squirrel you’re voting for!
⏰ VOTING CLOSES AT 6 PM TONIGHT! Check back this evening to see who moves on to the next round!

It’s time to meet your contenders!
🚂 CHUNKAMOTIVE - Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Make way for Chunkamotive! This chunky conductor is eating his way down the railroad tracks at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. You can practically hear those plump little legs chugging along! Crunching, munching, and choo-choo- chewin’ his way his way to the top, there’s no doubt that CHUNKAMOTIVE has what it takes to win!

✋🏻 BUSTER - Meridian State Park
Hey, brother! There’s a new heavyweight in town! Buster is a little spoiled, easily distracted, and rarely far from his mother. He spends his days wandering the shores of Lake Meridian, avoiding responsibility, and enjoying the finer things in life, mostly acorns. He may not be the fiercest competitor, but he’s got the belly, the appetite, and the determination to bring the championship home to Meridian.

Only ONE squirrel can advance to the Elite Eight. The question is, which squirrel has what it takes to go all the weigh? 🐿️
✅ Cast your vote before 6 PM, and may the fattest squirrel win!

10/19/2026

🥳 TRAIL STATUS UPDATE - As of Monday, October 19

All trails are open for hiking, biking, and horseback riding!!
🥾✅ || 🚲✅ || 🐴✅

Remember to double-check the trail maps and follow trail courtesy guidelines!

10/18/2026

Dinosaur Valley vs Hueco Tanks
Vote for your favorite squirrel in the original post!

10/18/2026

Enchanted Rock vs Ft Parker
Vote for your favorite squirrel in the original post!

10/17/2026

👉🏼 As of Mon, Oct 19, this post is outdated.

⚠️ TRAIL STATUS UPDATE - As of Sat, Oct 17

Surprise!! Our trails are drying out thanks to all the sunshine! 😎

🥾✅ || 🐴🚫 || 🚲🚫 All trails are open to hikers only, but still closed to horses and bikes.

10/16/2026

Meet your heavyweight champion of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, CHUNKAMOTIVE!!! 🚂

Crunching, munching, and eating his way to the top, there’s no doubt that CHUNKAMOTIVE has what it takes to win! Now, he’s choo-choo- chewin’ his way down the tracks to face off for the state title 💪

📆 Monday, October 19, CHUNKAMOTIVE will go head to head with his first competitor from Meridian State Park
👍🏽 Once voting begins, like, comment, or tag a friend under the PHOTO of your favorite squirrel! Each reaction or comment counts as one vote.
👎🏽 Votes made in the comment section of the main post WILL NOT count unless you mention the squirrel you’re voting for!
⏰ VOTING CLOSES AT 6PM! Check back later to see the winner.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SQUIRREL

10/16/2026

We're still looking for an Administrative Park Host to join our team!

If you were born to be wild and be out in the great outdoors, then we might have the perfect spot for 🫵🏼 you 🫵🏼

👀 Our park is looking for volunteer Park Hosts to join our team! ⛺️ Live on site in exchange for helping us welcome visitors and care for our park.

🖥️ Administrative Park Hosts help with checking folks into the park and making sure they know where to go
🧼 Maintenance Park Hosts help facility upkeep and keep our park looking gorgeous
🔎 And we have openings for both!!

🌐 Go to www.TPWD.Texas.gov/volunteer/ to apply today!

10/16/2026

👉🏼 As of Saturday, October 17, this post is outdated.

‼️TRAIL STATUS - As of Friday, October 16

⛈️ Most trails are closed due to 1.5” of rain overnight.

🥾✅ || 🐴🚫 || 🚲🚫 Texas & Pacific Trail is open to hiking only, and closed to biking and horseback riding.
🥾🚫 || 🐴🚫 || 🚲🚫 All other trails are closed to hiking, biking, and horseback riding.