It is formed by the convergence of the North Paluxy River and the South Paluxy River near Bluff Dale, Texas in Erath County and flows a distance of 29 miles (47 km) before joining the Brazos just to the east of Glen Rose, Texas in south central Somervell County.

The Paluxy River became famous for controversy in the early 1930s when locals found dinosaur and supposed human footprints in the same rock layer in the Glen Rose Formation, which were widely publicized as evidence against the geological time scale and in favor of young-Earth creationism.

However, these anachronistic "human" footprints have been determined to be elongated dinosaur tracks, river scour marks, and hoaxes.

Though there are some that still cite the trackways as evidence against the geological time scale, the general consensus is that all of the human tracks were either fake or interpreted incorrectly.

In 1986, Glen Kuban found that most tracks are V-shaped, with indentations at the front that indicated the presence of three robust digit impressions, often with sharp claw marks.

Kuban, in 1989, argued that this trough-like depression must have been left by the metatarsal bones of the foot, a part that is typically elevated above the ground in dinosaurs.

Both plantigrade and regular tracks that only consist of digit impressions were found at the sites, indicating that the dinosaurs could switch between both modes of locomotion, depending on behavior.

The metatarsal mark would have been created by deep sinking of the feet into soft mud, leading to partial or full immersion of the digits and metatarsus.

Furthermore, a plantigrade locomotion would have resulted in a highly crouched limb posture while walking, which is unfeasible at large body sizes given the increased stresses on muscles, bones, and tendons.