Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

08/27/2026

We’ve been receiving a lot of phone calls and DMs from folks worried about our park due to the Ross Wildfire in north Palo Pinto County. We greatly appreciate everyone’s concerns.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is safe.

Here are some answers to the most common questions we received:
❤️ We are still open!
🙌🏼 We are not evacuating.
⚠️ If conditions change, we will post an official alert on our social media & website.
🙅🏼‍♀️ To avoid confusion, our park will NOT post updates about the fire unless it directly affects our park.
🗞️ If you would like updates on the fire, please follow official local sources.
💨 Air quality changes regularly due to the smoke.
😷 If you have respiratory concerns, check AQI levels on a weather app before heading our way.

Thank you everyone for the love and support! Everyone stay safe 🫶🏼

08/26/2026

It’s , and we want YOUR PUP to become the next Bark Ranger! 🐶

This self-guided program allows you and your dog to explore our park and get a certificate if you complete 2 of the 3 challenges:

📝 Rules & Resources Quiz
📸 Photo Scavenger Hunt
🦮 Go for a Hike!

Hope to see y’all out here soon!

08/21/2026

💅🏼 Kinda chic tips for visiting Palo Pinto Mountains State Park 😌

💧ALWAYS bring more water than you think you need. It’s too hot to forget it!
👨🏼‍💻 Remember to double check park alerts, weather forecasts, and plan ahead for your visit.
💩 Bag and dispose of your pet’s ✨natural gift✨properly.
💌 When arriving after HQ closes, use the self-pay station by the sliding door to check-in to your campsite and pay day-use fees.
🚽 Do not, I repeat, DO NOT hook up your sewer line to the fresh water value. It’ll create a gross mess, and you’ll be cited for illegal dumping.

Hope you enjoy your time with us, and we look forward to your visit! 🥰

08/21/2026

🎶🎤 “I’m slipping into the lava, and I’m tryna keep from goin’ under. Baby, who turned the temperature hotter?” …. But for real, who made it so freaking hot outside?!?! 🥵🌡️

🫠 Due to the fact that it’s supposed be 90° by 9:30 tomorrow morning, we are cancelling Archery 101.

🎨 INSTEAD!! Come enjoy painting and button making in the AC of our Headquarters Conference Room between 10am and noon tomorrow, August 22. Not registration required, just show up! All supplies will be provided.

08/18/2026

Check out our programs happening this Saturday and next Saturday!!

🏹 Archery 101: Come learn the basics of archery!!

🎣Angler Education Instructor Training Workshop: Become a TPWD certified angler educator!!

08/14/2026

The location for tomorrow’s Toxic Trivia has been moved the shaded picnic area in Canyon View.

Come test out your knowledge about snakes and poison ivy!! And if you win, we’ve got a prize for you 🎁

08/13/2026

👋Howdy hey, everybody! This is Ranger Kate, and I wanted to take a moment to share a video with y'all.

🎥This video highlights the community built online in preparation of our park opening and the humbling experience it has been to meet you, our audience, in person now that our gates are open. There's nothing like it! This park is too pretty to hide away, and our rangers love getting to share it with you. ❤️

🐸🦉PS: Our next Night Hike (Registration Required) will be happening tomorrow at 8:30pm! Don't miss out!

Before the first new state park in 25 yeas opened, staff at Palo Pi...

08/12/2026

We've got some ✨STARS✨ in our park!!!

⭐️ Rangers Scott and Mark received the Stars in Our Parks 2025 in Maintenance and Operations for their efforts in managing the facilities here at the park and helping with our park's conservation efforts. From keeping trails accessible and safe to searching for Golden Cheeked Warblers, these guys have tackled every task while still welcoming visitors. Way to go, guys!

⭐️ Ranger Kate received the Stars in Our Parks for 2025 in Interpretation for her work in creating park programs and building connections on and off the park. Have you taken a field trip to the park or attended a ranger-guided hike? That's Kate!

⭐️ Ranger Adams, our Park Superintendent, received the Director's Award for Excellence for his skills while opening the newest state park in Texas! Ranger Adams organized rangers, other TPWD staff, and contractors to get this park open. "Excellence" is aptly put, and this award was well earned!!

Thank you, Rangers!!

08/12/2026

🔥🚫 BURN BAN IN EFFECT 🚫🔥

As of Wednesday, August 12, our park is under a burn ban. No wood fires are permitted at this time. Charcoal & conisterized fires are still allowed.

❤️ Help us protect the land you love!

08/06/2026

School is BACK 👏🏼 IN 👏🏼 SESSION 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
😏 And field trips to our park is how you can 🎶 be like the cool kids 🎶

🧑🏽‍💻 Check out the options we have for schools and reach out to start making plans for the semester!

😎 Schedule a Ranger-Guided Field Trip this fall semester where we provide the programs, materials, activities, crafts, and a ranger to guide you throughout your visit.
And it’s all FREE!! 😱

😌 If you’re more of the chill type of cool kid, you might prefer our Self-Guide Field Trip option where we offer recommendations and guidelines to help you plan your field trip to our park, but you’re in control of your activities and programs. If the field trip you plan is TEKs aligned, we can offer your group free entry!

💅🏼 We get it. Sometimes a cool kid’s schedule gets really busy. No worries! We offer Ranger Visits to schools! Choose from a list of programs that our Ranger can bring and share the wonders of nature and history in your own classroom! Or learn about the job opportunities in STEM 🧑🏽‍🔬

📆 Reach out and schedule a Field Trip or Ranger Visit today!

🔗 For more information, you can find detailed descriptions on the “Field Trips” tab of our website linked in our bio.