Mills Bennett Park

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Mills Bennett Park is a beautiful park located in Salado, Texas.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

The park covers 44 acres and offers visitors a variety of activities and attractions. Some good reasons to visit the park include hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and picnicking. The park is also home to several historical sites, including a 19th-century cemetery and the ruins of an old gristmill.

One of the most popular attractions at Mills Bennett Park is the hiking trail. The trail is well-maintained and offers visitors stunning views of the park's natural beauty. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, squirrels, and birds.

In addition to hiking, visitors to Mills Bennett Park can also enjoy fishing. The park has a small lake stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegill. There are also several picnic areas throughout the park, making it a great place to spend a day with family and friends.

Interesting facts about Mills Bennett Park include the fact that it was once a working gristmill. The mill was built in the 1850s and was used to grind corn and wheat. The mill operated until the early 1900s when it was destroyed by a flood.

The best time of year to visit Mills Bennett Park is in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. The park is also beautiful in the fall when the leaves change color. However, it's important to note that the park can get crowded during peak season, so visitors should plan accordingly.

       

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
View more

Featured Parks