Digging for Fossils

I was surprised to learn my family could dig for fossils at Mineral Wells Fossil Park. This is a free city park! There are tons of tiny fossils just below the surface. If you are wondering whether you will find something, you will find plenty of small prehistoric sea creatures. While it is dry and dusty now, this area of texas used to be underwater. Check out the “What You Can Find” tab on their website to see some pictures of the different fossils you may encounter. Think tiny. The fossils are dime-size or even smaller, but there are plenty to go around.

You will want to bring along shovels and buckets (think beach toys), an umbrella for shade, and plenty of drinking water and sunscreen. The dig sight is an open area with no shade and the sun can be intense even when the weather is mild so keep that in mind. You will also want small containers or bags for your treasures, as you are allowed to take your collection with you.

Hiking, Swimming, Kayaking, and Fishing

If you are interested in hiking, swimming, kayaking, or rock climbing you will want to stop at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway.

Looking for a hike? I recommend the Red Waterfront Trail to Penitentiary Hollow. It’s a 1.2-mile out-and-back trail that covers some rocky terrain. Penitentiary Hollow is a steep rocky area, and we saw rock climbers when we were there. Of course, I didn’t take any pictures of the coolest part of the hike, but you can see some on the park’s website here.

Be advised that if you are looking for the hike look for the Red Waterfront Trailhead on the park map. The Penitentiary Hollow Overlook is just that. An overlook that is just off the parking lot. If you have little ones or anyone in your crew who isn’t up for that length of hike, the Penitentiary Hollow Overlook is a good option. If you want the hike, this isn’t the place to start. We spotted Penitentiary Hollow on the map and started there which just had us walking back to the trailhead. Seeing the payoff first made the hike a little anticlimactic.

The kids and adults enjoyed the views and the exploration even if we hiked it backward. We went in the summer and it was hot. Much of the trail is shaded so that helps, and we went swimming first to cool down. The fact that we were still wet kept us a little cooler. Just remember to bring plenty of water. Also, if you do visit in the Spring it may be muddy from the rain.

There is a swimming beach at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. It is a simple swimming beach on a lake. Nothing special about it except that it is water, and water is magical and makes anything more fun. We visited with friends and the kids spent over an hour swimming around in the water and probably would have spent longer if everyone wasn’t starving and ready for lunch.

We did not try any of the boating options on our visit, but I hope to go again and try out our kayak and paddle boards. You can also rent them for use at the park.

Lake Mineral Wells Participates in the Tackle Loaner Program if you are interested in fishing and don’t have your own gear.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park is dog friendly, so you can bring your fur babies exploring as long as they are on a leash. There are places to picnic and restrooms available. You can check out my post Tips for Texas State Parks for more information on how to plan your visit.

Sample the Mineral Water

A trip to Mineral Wells is not complete without sampling the mineral water for which the town is named and Crazy Water is the place to try it. In the early 20th century, the locals claimed that mineral water cured a great many ailments. People came from all over to drink the mineral water and bathe in the bathhouses of Mineral Wells, Texas and find health. Crazy Water was and is the most famous mineral water around these parts so when in Rome…

This is the stop on our road trip that the kids are still talking about. You can have a mineral water tasting to sample the flavors of water with different mineral content. There is a soda fountain that uses fizzy Crazy Water mineral water and mixes in flavors for a fun soda fountain experience. We enjoyed our sodas on a little patio outside the store.

The Travel Plan

Mineral Wells is about eighty miles from Dallas and you can plan on about an hour and a half without traffic. Of course, depending on where you are in the metroplex it will take you more or less time. The town is small and all the stops are within ten miles of each other. I recommend starting at Mineral Wells Fossil Park if you are planning an early day or ending your day there if you plan to stay later to avoid the heat and sun of the mid-day. Crazy Water is located in between the fossil dig and the state park so we hit that up next and then finished the day with swimming and hiking.

We brought along a picnic lunch to enjoy at the state park and snacks for the hike so I didn’t get a chance to try any of the local restaurants. A quick search reveals a few choices that have my stomach growling. Happy Days Diner serves breakfast all day as well as other diner food and has homemade ice cream (a favorite for my family). If you’re looking for something a little fancier, Brazos Market and Bistro looks like it would be worth a stop. About twenty minutes north of town off TX 377, there is a spot called Sweet Jesus Donuts, Deli, and More. For anyone who fancies themselves a connoisseur of donuts, I’m not sure you could resist the chance to try a donut from such a place.

Mineral Wells packs a big punch for such a small Texas town. If you have a day and a spirit for adventure, you will find a hidden gem in this West Texas town. Enjoy your travels!