Covid Mitigation Activity: Cretaceous Park

So, this week’s Covid Mitigation Activity was to take a visit to Jurassic Park …. actually, Cretaceous Park in our case.  About a half mile west from the Hwy 183 bridge that crosses the South Fork of the San Gabriel River near Leander, lies twelve or so dinosaur footprints embedded in the Glen Rose formation of the river bed.

Based on the shape of the three-toed prints, geologists believe they may have belonged to a huge carnivore called the Acrocanthosaurus which is a theropod dinosaur that existed in the Early Cretaceous, about 120 million years ago. These guys reached about 40 ft. in length and weighed up to six tons.  

 Seeing them dry is not as impressive as when wet.  That/’s easy as there is plenty of water to dampen them. The circular ring around a couple are man-made; perhaps a failed attempt at removal?

There are also supposed to be some faint sauropod tracks closer to the 183 bridge but we did not see those.  As vaguely round depressions, they blend easily into the surrounding erosional features of the river bed. These fellows were giant, long-necked herbivores, similar to the once-named “brontosaurus”.

There are a few palaeontologists that question the Acrocanthosaurus tracks’ authenticity. “Poor farmers in the region during the Great Depression learned they could sell the chiseled-out tracks for significant profit to visiting tourists and paleontologists. And when the supply got low, they learned some innovative ways to boost the inventory”.  However, the Glen Rose formation is famously prolific for dinosaur tracks throughout Texas including Dinosaur Valley State Park. 

I, for one, will continue to imagine this huge creature lumbering down what is now the river bed, looking for a tasty herbivore for dinner.

 Getting there is easy.  

• Set your GPS for this street address:  601 S Gabriel Dr. Leander, TX 78641.  https://goo.gl/maps/vXVDy95Ux2Aw1Hk36
• Park in the obvious space between the north and south 183 carriageways.
• Walk down to the river on either side of the parking lot.  Turn left (west) and walk upstream for about 0.6 miles
• The theropod tracks are here: https://goo.gl/maps/ft419fUVZqk or 30°37'01.1"N; 97°52'05.8"W. 
• If the river is flowing fast or the water level is high, don’t bother going. It could be dangerous and the tracks are in the river, so you would not be able to see them anyway.
• The river bed and banks are public but the property on either side is private.

Enjoy !!!!