Swimming holes near Dallas
Sourced below, last checked November 4, 2026. Confirm with the park office before you go.
The closest natural swimming to Dallas with public access is in state parks about 1.5 hours southwest and west: the Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley, the lake at Lake Mineral Wells, and spring-fed Cleburne State Park. None has lifeguards. For sandy lake beaches instead, see lake beaches near Dallas.
| Dinosaur Valley SP | Swim in the Paluxy River; $8 entry; gate 6 am to 10 pm; about 1 hr 33 min (80 mi) [1] |
|---|---|
| Dinosaur Valley closures | Public hunts close the park Dec 6 to 10 and Jan 10 to 14 [2] |
| Lake Mineral Wells SP | Swimming allowed, no lifeguards; $7 entry; 6 am to 10 pm; about 1 hr 32 min (78 mi) [3] |
| Lake Mineral Wells rules | No skiing, tubing or personal watercraft on the lake [3] |
| Lake Mineral Wells closure | Park closed Dec 4 to 11 [4] |
| Cleburne SP | Swimming and no-wake boating; $6 for ages 13+; 7 am to 10 pm; about 1 hr 25 min (65 mi) [5] |
| Texas state park swim rule | Swim only in designated areas; pets and glass are not allowed in swim areas [6] |
| Leashes | 6 ft maximum in all Texas state parks [6] |
Drive times are approximate: OSRM routing without traffic, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Dinosaur Valley: wading next to tracks
Near Glen Rose, this park puts you in the shallow, rocky Paluxy. The riverbed is also where the park's famous dinosaur tracks are, so expect families on the rocks. River levels change quickly with rain; check the gauge below.
Water data
- USGS 08091500, Paluxy River at Glen Rose: 1.69 cfs, 1.71 ft gage height at Nov 4, 2026 7:00 PM CT (provisional, captured when this page was built).
Readings show flow or level, not water safety.
Lake Mineral Wells and Cleburne
Lake Mineral Wells, west of Fort Worth, keeps its small lake quiet by banning skiing, tubes and jet skis, which makes it calmer for swimmers. Cleburne centers on a spring-fed lake where boats must stay at no-wake speed. Check the TPWD alert pages for both before going in December.
Water data
- Water Data for Texas (TWDB): Lake Mineral Wells: 861.17 ft, 84.5% full on 2026-11-04 (captured when this page was built).
Readings show flow or level, not water safety.
A bit farther
About two and a half hours north is Turner Falls in Oklahoma, closed for swimming until May. Lake Texoma on the state line has Corps and state park beaches. All Texas picks are on the Texas hub.
Common questions
Where can I swim in a river near Dallas?
Dinosaur Valley State Park allows swimming in the Paluxy River, about an hour and a half from downtown without traffic.
Do Texas state parks have lifeguards?
No. TPWD says swim only in designated areas and that no lifeguards are on duty.
Sources
- TPWD: Dinosaur Valley State Park. Last checked November 4, 2026.
- TPWD: Dinosaur Valley park alerts. Last checked November 4, 2026.
- TPWD: Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Last checked November 4, 2026.
- TPWD: Lake Mineral Wells park alerts. Last checked November 4, 2026.
- TPWD: Cleburne State Park. Last checked November 4, 2026.
- TPWD: State park rules. Last checked November 4, 2026.