Rocks and River: A view of the Paluxy River seen from the rock field at the Big Rocks Park in Glen Rose, Tex. The water level is controlled by small levees or spillways seen in the center of the photo. The water level at the park is generally shallow, which allows for easy wading or relaxation on hot Texas days. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
View Through the Rocks: Two boulders at Big Rocks Park lean on each other above the rocky shore of the Paluxy River forming a window. A view through the window shows visitors enjoying time in the cool waters of the river on a sunny weekday afternoon. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
The tiny Texas town of Glen Rose offers many outdoor opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. One of the popular stops is Big Rocks Park which sits on the banks of the Paluxy River just blocks from the historic downtown area of town.
There are several activities available at the park, but two features stand above the rest; the unique field of big limestone rocks which offer hiking and climbing opportunities and the cool clear waters of the Paluxy River which offer great relief from the hot Texas sun during summer months.
This popular work of nature attracts adventurers and nature lovers from new and far. On a given day you may see families, groups, and individuals hiking around the big rocks or wading, swimming, or relaxing in the clear waters of the Paluxy River. Ages of visitors range from toddlers to grandparents enjoying various activities around the park.
Dozens of huge limestone boulders make up the big rocks field at the park. These boulders range from a couple of feet high to over ten feet in height. The big rounded geological formations offer climbing with various degrees of difficulty.
Between the boulders one may see sandy and grassy areas or pools of water from the nearby river. Climbers can move from boulder to boulder testing their abilities along the way. After ambling amongst the boulders, it is popular to dip their feet in the river or hike a local trail.
The Big Rocks Park is located at 1014 NE Barnard St. just blocks from downtown. There is parking at the park, and the best part is this park is free to visit. The park is a day use park, but a privately owned RV Park is located across the street from the park.
Glen Rose is located about an hour southwest of Ft. Worth making it an easy day trip from the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area. Another popular attraction in the town is Dinosaur Valley State Park located about five miles from downtown Glen Rose.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
A Day at the Park: A scooter and several pairs of shoes sit beside the boulders while children play at the Big Rocks Park in Glen Rose, Texas. The limestone rocks range in size allowing visitors of all ages to enjoy climbing and scrambling among the field of boulders. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Limestone Boulders: Dozens of limestone boulders form the rock field at the Big Rocks Park in Glen Rose, Tex. Shown are a couple of visitors walking atop the boulders. While the boulders do not look that big they will vary in size from a couple of feet high to heights of ten feet or higher. Most of the boulders are round or oval and feature slopes that allow visitors to climb and move about through the rock field. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Paluxy River: Shown is a view of the Paluxy River as it passes one block from the historic downtown area of Glen Rose, Tex. This view of the river is a few blocks upstream from the Big Rocks Park creating a tranquil setting for visitors and residents of the area to enjoy. A county park and walkway can be seen on the shores of the river on the right side of the photo. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
