Texas' Newest State Park Is Opening In 2026 And Full Of Recreation Trails

For the first time in nearly two decades, North Texas will open a brand-new state park. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park has been "coming soon" for years, but it looks like 2026 will finally be the year for this patch of expansive and historic land to welcome visitors. And when it does unlock its gates, there will be plenty to do for both locals and tourists alike.

The new park is big: It stretches for 4,800 acres and has 16 miles of trails to explore on foot, bicycle, and horseback. It's an outdoor adventure just waiting for guests, and it will be Texas' 90th state park. Some of those trails will be remote, providing a tranquil view from overlooks at land that was once used by ranchers. For thousands of years before that, the land was home to Indigenous people.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will undoubtedly join the list of Texas state parks that are perfectly suited for stargazing adventures, as it's situated away from major cities. The park will also provide unique views of railroads, since active tracks are near its borders. Perhaps of most interest to those not looking to hike through nature is the new access to the park's 90-acre Tucker Lake that serves hilly views, plenty of fishing opportunities, swimming areas, and lots of space for non-motorized recreational boating.

Building a brand-new state park isn't easy, especially when it's as big as Palo Pinto Mountains. Texas purchased the first 3,300 acres for the park from a ranching family roughly two decades ago. Since then, the state continued to acquire more land. In 2023, the recreational trails began to take shape.

The miles of trails are available to all visitors, and some are natural while others have a paved surface, making them accessible for those with disabilities. The trails are also wide, stretching as far as 6 feet across to make socializing while exploring more attainable. While construction is still ongoing, the park's design is considered "light on the land," meaning much of the nature within it will remain protected and undisturbed.

Interestingly, the land on which the park now rests has been on humans' collective radar for centuries. Evidence of ancient campfires and stone-carved weapons have been discovered on the land, and white settlers first arrived near the area in the mid-19th century.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park sits just outside of Strawn, Texas, founded in the late 1800s and whose residents rely on Tucker Lake as a water supply. Strawn and the park sit about 100 miles to the west of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (be sure to have a car to get there), which now provides international travelers with TSA's new screening method that doesn't require pulling out your passport. Since plans for the state park were unveiled, Strawn has actively promoted itself as a destination for visitors to Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. Within the city limits are multiple restaurants and overnight accommodations including The Watson House.

Campers, however, will be happy to know that Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will offer about 60 designated campsites for those wanting to sleep in nature. The park will have both primitive camping sites and RV sites available for overnight guests. There will also be picnic areas and playgrounds available nearby to help park visitors make the most of their time.

As of this writing, there is no official opening date for the park, and it is still closed to the public. However, some lucky guests did get a preview of it on New Year's Day when rangers led private hikes through some of the completed trails. Official opening dates, events, and more details will be released on the park's official website. Later in 2026, northern Texas will also welcome a unique, family-friendly theme park resort presented by Universal in nearby Frisco.