Texas spent more than a decade developing a new state park in North Texas, and the project is finally reaching its first public milestone. The state will open the gates on New Year’s Day, but only for visitors who secure one of the limited reservation slots.
The park’s full debut is scheduled for 2026, but this early access event will give a select group the first look at land that has remained closed throughout construction. The timing, the controlled entry, and the anticipation surrounding the site have turned the preview into one of the most talked-about outdoor moments heading into the new year.
A Fresh Addition Years In The Making
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Palo Pinto Mountains State Park covers 4,871 acres of former ranch land positioned about 75 to 83 miles west or southwest of the Dallas and Fort Worth area. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department initiated the process in 2010 by partnering with the Texas Nature Conservancy to acquire land for a new state park in North Texas.
The first purchase totaled 3.3K acres, funded through proceeds tied to other state land. A later donation from the nearby city of Strawn added more than 1K acres, including Tucker Lake, which many expect to become one of the park’s biggest draws.
Even before it was opened, the land held strong appeal. Plateaus, canyons shaped by wind and water, rolling hills, prairie stretches, and woodlands filled the acreage. Wildlife ranges from deer and wild turkeys to nesting birds like golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos. The habitat mix offers something different at each turn, which is why the park’s lengthy development timeline has created steady interest.
What Early Visitors Will See
Texas chose New Year’s Day for a limited preview of the nearly finished park. Those with reservations will be guided by rangers through various trails. Sessions will run at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., with difficulty levels for all types of hikers.
The Raptor Ridge Trail serves beginners with a smooth, wheelchair-accessible, one-mile route overlooking Russell Creek. Intermediate groups move through the Lakeshore Accessible Trail, the spillway, and the Tucker Lake Trail, which shifts into uneven terrain. Advanced hikers cover a 3.5-mile route that crosses the spillway and dam while climbing Cross Timbers Trail and descending Ben’s Trail. Each session has strict capacity limits to maintain control of the preview while crews finalize the remaining work.
Tucker Lake, itself, covers approximately 90 acres and supports largemouth bass, channel catfish, and other species. Visitors can fish, kayak, or swim in a motor-free setting designed to maintain the area's quiet ambiance. Multi-use trails for mountain biking and horseback riding will extend deeper into the park once everything is complete.
A New Year’s Tradition Meets A New Landscape
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Texas joins dozens of other states that celebrate First Day Hikes each year. The tradition began in 1992 in Massachusetts and expanded nationwide over the next two decades. This time, the spotlight falls on the newest addition to the state park system.