Lauren Ducommun

While most visitors head to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose to swim in the Paluxy River, there is also a free city park not far from downtown. Big Rocks Park is free, open from 8 AM to 10 PM, and is a fun place to spend a hot summer day.

It can get quite busy on the weekends, and parking is limited, so it’s worth going early or being prepared to walk a ways.

The Paluxy River flows into the Brazos River, and a small dam creates several fun swimming spots at Big Rocks Park. The water is pretty clean, and there are small rapids as well as deeper swimming areas. Our kids enjoyed snorkeling and floating on tubes, while the grandparents enjoyed lounging with their feet in the river.

A lot of families brought pop up sun shelters in the shallow areas, as shade was limited.

The park is named after the big rocks found on the edge of the river. They are fun to climb over and under, though it may be best to do this on overcast days.

We found this area of the Paluxy River cleaner and flowing faster than the areas at Dinosaur Valley State Park. And the varying depths of water were fun to play in! The water levels often change depending on the weather–and may not be safe after recent downpours.

Overall, this was such a fun free park to visit. We also enjoyed the amazing, and affordable, Tex-Mex food from Los Primos Méxican Restaurant & Cantina in Glen Rose.