Heavy rains in Texas this past summer brought more than flooding and destruction. As floodwaters carved through creek beds and washed away years of sediment, they revealed something few people expected: prehistoric clues to life on Earth more than 110 million years ago.
While the storms wreaked havoc across Central Texas, volunteers working to clear debris uncovered large dinosaur footprints that had been buried beneath layers of dirt and rock. These fossilized tracks offer a rare and tangible connection to the distant past, inviting scientists and curious locals alike to rethink this landscape not just as part of a modern disaster but as a window into the ancient world. Research teams from the University of Texas quickly mobilized to document and preserve the prints, already noting how exceptional their preservation and size are. Everyday people who happened to be in the right place at the right time played a big role in bringing this fantastic discovery to light and helping experts better understand the creatures that once roamed the region.
Heavy rains in Texas didn’t just expose geological history they literally uncovered traces of dinosaurs that once walked this land. The footprints were found embedded in limestone along the Sandy Creek area of Travis County, an area that had been overwhelmed by floodwaters that swept away soil and brush that hid the prints for millions of years. At least fifteen individual prints, each about 18 to 20 inches long, were identified in the field by volunteers helping with post‑flood cleanup. Paleontologists believe these tracks were made by large carnivorous dinosaurs similar to Acrocanthosaurus, a formidable predator from the early Cretaceous period. The surrounding limestone belongs to the Glen Rose Formation, a rock layer known for preserving dinosaur footprints and trackways that date back over 110 million years. Researchers are now using 3D scanning and mapping tools to document the site and gain deeper insights into the size, gait, and possible behavior of these prehistoric animals.
Table of Contents
Dinosaur Footprints Over 110 Million Years Old
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Discovery Trigger | Heavy rains and floods in Central Texas |
| Location | Sandy Creek area, Travis County, Texas |
| Estimated Age of Footprints | 110–115 million years |
| Number of Footprints Found | At least 15 |
| Track Size | 18–20 inches long |
| Likely Trackmakers | Large theropods similar to Acrocanthosaurus |
| Geological Context | Glen Rose Formation limestone |
| Research Methods | 3D scanning and mapping |
How the Dinosaur Footprints Were Exposed by the Rains
- In early July 2025, Central Texas experienced historic flooding that caused widespread damage and loss of life across several counties. While flood response efforts were already underway, volunteers clearing debris along Sandy Creek made a surprising discovery. Where mud, brush, and rock had once covered the landscape, they now found unmistakable impressions of large three‑toed footprints in the exposed limestone. The power of the floodwaters stripped away surface layers of sediment, effectively turning a cleanup site into a paleontological treasure trove. Local officials confirmed that the footprints were authentic dinosaur tracks after paleontologists from the University of Texas examined them. The prints were preserved in sediment that ossified into limestone over millions of years, locking in the impressions left by prehistoric feet.
- The wetter and warmer climate of the Cretaceous period, when these prints were made, was very different from the Central Texas of today. At that time, what is now Travis County was part of a vast coastal plain near the Western Interior Seaway, a huge inland sea that split North America. Dinosaurs thrived in these rich environments, and as they walked across soft mud and soil, they left footprints that, under the right conditions, would later become fossils. The Glen Rose Formation, where these tracks were found, spans a large part of Central Texas and has been a rich source of fossilized footprints for decades.
What We Know About the Trackmakers
- Scientists believe the tracks were made by theropods, large meat‑eating dinosaurs that walked primarily on two legs. The general consensus among experts working on the site is that these prints likely belong to dinosaurs similar to Acrocanthosaurus, a predator that measured up to 35 feet long and dominated its ecosystem during the early Cretaceous. Though similar in appearance to T. rex, Acrocanthosaurus lived tens of millions of years earlier and had physical features that were distinct, such as a more slender body and longer forelimbs. The size of the footprints and their spacing on the limestone surface helps scientists estimate the size and stride of the trackmakers, offering valuable clues about how these animals may have moved and behaved.
- The discovery of multiple footprints arranged in patterns suggests that either a single dinosaur walked across the area multiple times or that more than one individual passed through. Some tracks appear to overlap or run parallel to others, adding to the intrigue about whether these dinosaurs were alone or part of a group. Researchers hope that continued analysis will reveal more about how these animals lived and interacted with their environment.
The Glen Rose Formation and Its Fossil Legacy
- The limestone layer where these footprints were found—the Glen Rose Formation—is one of the most fossil‑rich geological units in Texas. Dating back to the lower Cretaceous period, this formation contains an abundance of dinosaur footprints across multiple sites around Central Texas. Most famously, Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose has become a hotspot for well‑preserved trackways that show both theropod and sauropod dinosaurs in motion. The Glen Rose trackways at that state park are visited by thousands of enthusiasts each year, who walk along dry riverbeds to see the tracks preserved in situ.
- While many dinosaur footprints have been documented previously, every new discovery adds fresh data to our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. The Central Texas region’s rich paleontological record shows that dinosaurs were not only common here but used this varied landscape as they hunted, grazed, and migrated. Finding new tracks, especially those that remain intact after millions of years buried underground, gives scientists invaluable physical evidence to piece together ancient behaviors that bones alone cannot fully explain.
Why This Discovery Matters
- The dinosaur footprints uncovered by the heavy rains in Texas are significant for several reasons. First, they are exceptionally well‑preserved examples of early Cretaceous life and date back over 110 million years, a time when dinosaurs were among the most dominant species on Earth. Second, these tracks provide direct evidence of how these creatures moved through their environment—details that are difficult to infer from skeletal remains alone. Footprints capture a moment in time, frozen in rock, that can tell us about stride length, gait, and even potential group behavior.
- Finally, discoveries like these remind us that natural disasters, while destructive, can also reveal aspects of history that have been hidden for millennia. When floodwaters or droughts remove surface debris, they expose underlying rock and fossils, drawing attention to features that might otherwise remain buried. Paleontologists say that such events, though tragic in other ways, often lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of ancient worlds.
Future Research and Preservation Efforts
- Now that the footprints have been identified and preliminarily mapped, attention has turned to documenting them in detail and ensuring they are properly protected as cleanup continues in the area. Researchers are using drones, surface scanning technology, and other tools to create high‑resolution 3D models of the site. This digital documentation is crucial because it allows scientists to study the footprints without risking damage from foot traffic or equipment used in flood recovery work.
- Local authorities are also working with paleontologists to establish boundaries around the tracks so they aren’t accidentally destroyed during continued debris removal. Because the site is on private property, its exact location has been kept confidential, but officials are committed to preserving the footprints while still moving forward with cleanup activities. While the region heals from the flooding’s human toll, this remarkable paleontological find has become a beacon of scientific curiosity and excitement.
FAQs About Dinosaur Footprints Over 110 Million Years Old
How old are the dinosaur footprints found after the Texas floods
The footprints discovered in the Sandy Creek area are approximately 110 to 115 million years old, placing them in the early Cretaceous period.
What kind of dinosaurs made these tracks
Paleontologists believe they were likely made by large carnivorous dinosaurs similar to Acrocanthosaurus, a 35‑foot‑long predator that lived in what is now Texas.
Where in Texas were the footprints found
The tracks were found along limestone outcrops in the Sandy Creek area of Travis County, central Texas.
Why did the heavy rains reveal these fossils
The intense flooding eroded soil and debris that had covered ancient rock layers, exposing the limestone where the dinosaur footprints were preserved.
