Lake Mineral Wells State Park

In March 2006, Donna and I hiked a long loop trail in Lake Mineral Wells State Park. A year or two before that, we hiked several miles of nearby Lake Mineral Wells State Park Trailway, which connects to the state park via a spur trail. Now, Donna is not especially good at recalling places, but for some reason, she recently began remembering our hike in the park. She even recalled landscape details. So, by executive order, "we" decided to return to the park for another hike.

The park is located just east of Mineral Wells. It contains about 640 acres, and includes a nice little lake. There is even a location in the park called Penitentiary Hollow which is considered by many to be the most popular place in North Texas for rock climbing.

Unfortunately, because of recent rains, all trails in the Cross Timbers section of the park were closed when we arrived at the park gate. (see park trails map). This is precisely where we wanted to hike. Now, there is another trail in the southern section of the park that was open, but it is very short and we were not interested in it. So, we made the best of a bad situation.

First, we decided to visit the aforementioned Penitentiary Hollow. We parked in the nearby day use area, then made our way down the short path to an area that provided an overlook to the hollow. I then worked my way down a serpentine set of rock steps to the bottom of the hollow. I'm not good at distances, heights, and such, but the bottom of the hollow looks to me to be about 2 stories or so below the land above. Rock climbers will hone their skills on these rocks. It is quite a unique place and worth a visit if you are in the area.

Approach to Penitentiary Hollow. The site was closed to rock climbers on the day we visited.

Lake Mineral Wells. The tops of the rocks at the bottom of the picture are found in the Hollow.

Some of the rocks of Penitentiary Hollow with the lake in the background. I snapped this photo as I was descending the steps.

The Hollow. The trash can gives some idea of the size and height of the rocks.

The steps leading into and out of the Hollow.

Donna with Lake Mineral Wells in the background.

After visiting Penitentiary Hollow, we decided to take a short hike along the Trailway. The Trailway follows an old railroad grade from Weatherford to Mineral Wells, a distance of about 20 miles. Years ago, we hiked 5 miles west from the Weatherford trailhead and back (total distance of 10 miles). We followed the connecting spur trail past a very nice and large amphitheater. A short distance beyond this, the trail then switchbacks down a slope before crossing an open meadow and connecting to the actual trailway.

Trailhead for spur trail from park to Trailway

Once we reached the actual trail, we headed west. We crossed the footbridge that crosses US 180, then turned back.

Amphitheater along the spur to the Trailway

Distant view of the trailway footbridge over US 180.

Our approach to the footbridge.

On the footbridge

Looking west towards nearby Mineral Wells from the footbridge. 

Looking east towards Weatherford from the footbridge.

Once back to the car, we decided to drive around the park. We always enjoy cruising through the camp grounds and checking on potential camp sites and seeing the rigs RVers have. To get from the east side of the park to the west side, you must cross below the dam. On this day, the wind was really strong and was blowing quite a bit of water over the dam.

A park vehicle is crossing below the dam.

We cross below the dam.

Recrossing the dam. In this picture, you can see some of the small whitecaps that were sloshing over the dam.

This is a nice park. There is a small store along the lake just east of the dam. The campsites are well developed, though I did not see any with full hookups. Water and electric sites are plentiful, though. There are lots of trees, and many campsites offer views of the lake. Should we ever RV again, this park will be a place we hope to spend some time.