Lake Mineral Wells State Park: Red Waterfront Trail (Blog Hike #986)

Trail: Red Waterfront Trail
Hike Location: Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Geographic Location: Mineral Wells, TX (32.81422, -98.03063)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Date Hiked: February 2024
Overview: A rocky out-and-back past interesting slump blocks with views of Lake Mineral Wells.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lake-mineral-wells
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=955490
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 10, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Mineral Wells, take US 180 east 4 miles to the park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive the main park road to the main picnic area, where this hike begins.

The hike: Lake Mineral Wells State Park opened only in 1981, but the area's reputation as a recreation and resort destination started more than 100 years prior.  In 1880, James Alvin Lynch drilled a well on nearby land that produced water that supposedly cured his wife's rheumatism.  People flocked to the area for the water's curative effects, and a resort destination was born.  In 1922, Lake Mineral Wells was built to supply drinking water for its namesake resort-based town.

            In 1925, the United States military came to the area and established Fort Wolters, which operated as a US Army base from 1925-1946 and as a US Air Force base from 1951-1973.  After the base closed, 3282 lakefront acres of its land were donated to the State of Texas to create the park we visit today.  Located less than an hour west of Fort Worth, the park offers many amenities including a 77-site developed campground, biking on the 20-mile paved Lake Mineral Wells Trailway, the usual aquatic recreation on the lake, and 12.8 miles of hiking trails.  The Red Waterfront Trail described here is the park's shortest trail, but it is also the most scenic due to the unusual rock formations it passes.  Those rocks also make this hike more challenging than you might expect for a hike of this length, so do not underestimate the difficulty of this hike.

Trailhead at picnic area

            The trail starts across the park road from the picnic area; an information board and interpretive sign mark the trailhead.  The rocky trail heads north, going steeply downhill through a forest of stunted and gnarled live oak trees typical of this region, which is called the Cross Timbers.  There are many wild trails in this area, and only occasional brown carsonite posts with red squares mark the real trail.  Look for the posts and keep picking your way downhill around the trees and rock outcrops.

Descending to the lakeshore

            After 0.1 miles of steep and occasionally muddy descending, the trail deposits you at the shore of Lake Mineral Wells.  A wooden boat dock sits here, and great views across the lake extend to the north.  Next the trail curves right and begins following the lakeshore.  This section of trail is flatter but no less rocky than the initial descent, plus more wet areas will need to be negotiated.

Lake Mineral Wells, 1st dock

Lake Mineral Wells, 2nd dock

            At 0.5 miles, a short-cut trail exits right to head uphill to the Penitentiary Hollow parking lot.  All of the trails in this area are marked with brown carsonite posts bearing red squares, so the markings can be confusing.  You want to stay on the trail closest to the lake to see the best scenery.  Soon you reach a second wooden boat dock that offers more excellent lake views.

Cave between slump blocks

            Just past the second dock, the trail curves right to begin heading uphill into the rock outcrops.  Just when there seems to be no way to climb further, the trail heads through a narrow cave formed by two huge slump blocks leaning against each other.  The large person I am barely fit through this cave, but I managed to slide through.

Stone staircase

            When you emerge from the other end of the cave, you can see the railings of an overlook atop the cliffs above and in front of you, but again there appears to be no path to climb up to the overlook.  The solution is to angle left, which reveals a steep, narrow, twisting stone staircase.  Carefully climb the staircase to reach the top of the cliffs and Penitentiary Hollow overlook.  This drive-up overlook offers a great view of the rock outcrops and slump blocks you just climbed through, and Lake Mineral Wells extends off in the distance.  Unlike the people who drove here, you made it to this overlook the hard way, so take some time to enjoy the view.

Penitentiary Hollow overlook

            After you have savored the view, you will need to get back to your car at the picnic area.  If you want to repeat the scenery you saw earlier, you could retrace your steps or use the short-cut trail, which leaves from the parking area adjacent to the overlook.  A less scenic but easier way back to the trailhead is to walk the park road, which features moderate traffic but good shoulders to help hikers avoid the cars.  Choose the option that seems best to you to conclude your visit to Lake Mineral Wells State Park.