I'm surrounded by stark, massive boulders with climbers’ voices echoing off of the canyon walls. The sun is still high in the sky but the huge rocks are high enough to shade the inner passes. I'm not in Utah or Arizona. In fact, I'm in awe that I didn't have to travel outside of Texas at all in order to find myself at these natural slot canyons. This incredible rock climbing sanctuary is in the most unlikely of places: North Texas.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park is planted directly west of Fort Worth and Dallas, in traditional small-town Texas. And yet, within these park lines lies an outdoor adventure far from normal. This highly underrated Texas state park packs a punch complete with natural rock climbing, miles of hiking trails, and tons of water activities. When it comes to visiting Lake Mineral Wells State Park, you can't really go wrong - but you can start with the best. Here are the highlights of this lovely North Texas state park:
BEST OF LAKE MINERAL WELLS STATE PARK:
Climb or Hike the Slot Canyons in Penitentiary Hollow.
Kayak or Canoe Lake Mineral Wells.
Hike the Primitive Camping Trail.
Get a History Lesson
Camp on the Lakefront.
Climb or Hike the Slot Canyons in Penitentiary Hollow
The star of the show when it comes to this Texas state park is Penitentiary Hollow. If you live in Texas, you know how shocking it is to hear that there are slot canyons near Dallas and Fort Worth at all. Honestly, it came as a shock to me to discover that there are slot canyons in Texas outside of Big Bend, to begin with. Bet you never thought that you could see the words DFW natural rock climbing together in a sentence, but unbeknownst to many, Lake Mineral Wells is a rock climbing hot spot near Dallas.
On the eastern side of Lake Mineral Wells State Park you can find the winding crevices of Penitentiary Hollow, surely packed with rock climbers on a beautiful day. Prior to diving down into the canyon, the trail flaunts fabulous overlook views of the entire park - lake included. The top rim of the rocks have rigs for climbing ropes for those who feel up to the challenge and have the appropriate gear (and training, duh.)
There are tons of twists and turns that can make this one-ish down and back trail feel much longer; plus, you can even make it down to the waterfront to try to peep some fishies. I could have hung out in the shadows of the massive rock formations all day just watching the climbers (soaking up this totally out-of-body Texas travel experience.)
Kayak or Canoe Lake Mineral Wells
Obviously, the actual lake at this Texas state park is a huge selling point when it comes to exploring during our sweaty summers. Lake Mineral Wells SP comes complete with a swimming beach and water sport rentals right at the park store. You can choose to rent kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards all for a pretty reasonable price tag. Flat bottom boats are also allowed for fishing use, but keep your jet skis and tubes at home. With 640-acres of water to explore, there are plenty of places to drop in and keep cool no matter the time of year.
Hike the Primitive Camping Trail
Okay so, when I first ventured on my hike at Lake Mineral Wells SP, I wasn't blown away. Luckily, the slot canyons came first so my adventurous itch had already been scratched. I started at the Cross Timbers area, later choosing to branch off of the black trail from the Cross Timbers hiking loop onto the primitive camping trail that crisscrossed through the woods nearby.
I'm more of a woodsy, uneven terrain type of hiker so I figured I would take the chance. That chance was a happy one, with twists and turns through the denser forest, giving me fill of nature. The full primitive purple trail starts from the parking area of the Cross Timber trails, but it's slightly right of the main entrance gate. The trail leads to the primitive camping sites (surprise!) and would be about 5 miles out and back. Or you could start on one of the other loops and pick up the purple trail on the way back.
Get a Dose of History with the Nearby Ft. Wolters Military Base
One of the cool lesser-known parts of Lake Mineral Wells State Park comes into play when you hit the hiking trails. Along the entry trail to the Cross Timbers hiking area, you'll come across a fence line. That fence line is protecting the borders of a military base. Ft. Wolters was the biggest WWII replacement training facility in the country. It also held German POWs during the war. Years after the war ended, the camp became a helicopter school where you can still find some of the landing fields alongside the hiking trails.
Camp on the Waterfront of Lake Mineral Wells
If you're simply taking a day trip to Lake Mineral Wells State Park, you'll be sure to notice the gems of campgrounds and cabins scattered along the lakeside during your trip. But if you have the chance to plan a longer stay, book a cabin or camp at Lake Mineral Wells so you can savor all of the beauty that the park has to offer. Typically camping in the summer months in Texas can be pretty uncomfortable but having immediate water access, whether you’re fishing, kayaking, or swimming, makes Lake Mineral Wells a good camping option at all times of the year.
No matter how you slice it, visiting Lake Mineral Wells State Park is an absolute must for any nature lovers in the Dallas // Fort Worth area. This underrated Texas state park will surely surprise you in more ways than one. Start planning your trip to Lake Mineral Wells today by booking a campsite or cabin on their website here.
