Natural Area of state park
Sunrise at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Sunset at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Granite Monoliths against Blue Sky
Enchanted Rock, as seen from the trail
Enchanted Rock Natural Area
Rock climbing is really one of the sports in which the participant tries to climb the natural rock or some man made rock walls with the goal to reach the summit of a formation or the end point of a pre defined routes. Rock climbing is quiet similar to another similar sport called the scrambling which also requires climbing a hill. But climbing is generally differentiated by the fact that climbing needs to hold his or her own wait and not just provide the balance.
Rock climbing is physically and mentally challenging sports which really examine the climber to all the extents. It can really be a very dangerous sport and proper climbing techniques with the proper climbing techniques should really be used to participate in this sport.
Rock climbing is a very old sport but it is supposed to originate during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Rock climbing evolved gradually from an alpine necessity to a distinct athletic activity.
Styles of rock climbing
Most of the climbing is considered as the free climbing and the physical strength is generally used for protection rather than support as opposed to aid climbing. In the earlier days the aid climbing was very popular.
I would like to list some kind of climbing techniques for you. They are as follows:
1. Aid climbing
Aid climbing is really one of the most favored techniques of climbing the wall. We use the weighting gears for this kind of climbing.
2. Bouldering
Bouldering is the climbing short routes without the ropes which is quiet unusual as compared to the other climbing techniques. Bouldering may be an arena for intense and relatively safe competition resulting in exceptionally high difficulty standards.
3. Free climbing
Free climbing is the climbing without the pre set belays. One person will start climbing with one end of the rope and would gradually attach it to one of the other anchor as he or she climbs.
4. Free soloing
This is quiet different from the free climbing and you should not be confused with the free climbing. In this kind of climbing event the climber cannot use any kind of protection and we all will have to agree that this is the most dangerous of them all. If the climber is not over the water then he might get killed or seriously injured if he falls. You can really understand how dangerous it could be.
5. Mixed climbing
This is another kind of climbing which requires climbing both the stone as well as the ice. It involves the specialized ice climbers as well as the specialized ice climbing tools.
Up till now you will definitely have come across the point that rock climbing is really very dangerous sports and you should really take all the precautions while taking part in it.
This part of the southern United States is one of the most popular tourist spot of the region. Natural beauty, clear and serene environment make it the favorite tourist spot in this region.
Texas Hill Country lies between San Antino and Austin and this is the area which has a vast stretch of limestone, hills, gurgling fresh streams, woods and few small towns scattered around the valley of limestone canyons.
You will come across some of the exotic places in this region. Texas Hill country covers numerous caves such as Inner Space Cavern, Cascade Cavern, Natural Bridge Cavern, and Longhorn Cavern. Besides these you can also visit Lost Maples and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Inner Space Cavern
This is the cave which you move north of Austin. This is the cave which preserves some of the remains of the ice age. Ice age bones of saber tooth tiger and giant mammoth were found in this cavern.
Wonder world
The wonder world park is a place for the family visit. This is the park which harbors some of the most beautiful natural caves formed due to the earthquakes. With the train ride, Wildlife Park and educational cave tours this park is a wonderful place to visit.
Barton Spring swimming Hole
The centre of attraction here is the swimming hole that was formed when Barton Creek was dammed. This is one of the most famous swimming holes in the states.
Enchanted Rocks
These lie eighteen miles from Fredericksburg. This is in fact the pink dome of granite which appeared to the earth surface due to the weathering and exfoliation. When you stand on the enchanted rock you actually stand on the magma chamber which once emitted the molten magma in the area. This rock is a big solidified piece of magma which got exposed to the surface due to weathering and exfoliation activity of nature.
This is one of the wonderful places to explore through hiking, tracking and rock climbing. The dome comes under the Enchanted Rocks state Natural Area and is open for the visitors seven days throughout the year.
Lost Maples
This area has which stretches over two thousand acres of the Sabinal River is the most vivid fall leaf coloration in the state. Different activities such as hiking, tracking, picnicking, fishing, peddle sports, rock climbing are carried are popular among the twenty thousand visitors visiting the area every year.
Longhorn Caverns
The cave is the main attraction of the Longhorn state cavern park. Hiking, sightseeing and camping are the activities which are most commonly enjoyed by the visitors.
Cascade Caverns
This cavern stays sixty eight degrees throughout the season. This is the place which gives the visitors a place to look below the surface over which they stand, stay and work. Escape the summer heat by visiting the cavern and watch the natural cavern rooms and huge walls carved out beautifully by the underground water.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is located about eighteen miles north of Fredericksburg and is a great place to explore the natural beauty of the area which lies in the Texas Hill Country. Camping is popular among the visitors of enchanted rock state natural area.
There are three areas in the park where you can camp. One is on the Sandy creek and two behind the pink dome itself. These places have no amenities except a flat area where you can place your tent. You can find a place among the trees. These places have composed restrooms. Besides these places you can also search your own place to lay down your camp and spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the town.
The park is open for the visitors throughout the year all seven days a week. And during the peak season which is generally the springs the park is full to its capacity. Therefore if you plan to visit the area during this time then plan well in advance.
How to camp at enchanted rock
Go on a hike and explore the area. If you plan for rock climbing then make sure that you register with the park rangers before you tread that rock.
Enchanted rock state natural area stretch over 1643.5 acres of land. A curve on the Ranch Road 965 at Gillespie llano country about eighteen miles from Fredericksburg will bring for you twin pink rocks that stand there almost secluded from the Texas Hill country. Next to these twins commonly known as Enchanted Rocks stands a Little Rock which is well covered with green trees.
Enchanted rocks have their own mystic feeling. They stand out form the rest of the Texas Hill country with little greenery and lots of big boulders and sheets of different size and shapes of igneous rocks carved out by the wind over the years.
The enchanted rock state natural area holds the enchanted rocks as its main piece of attraction. Besides this the area also has in store the Turkey Peak and Enchanted rock cave.
The twist and turns of the trails will take you to the top of the rock and will bring for you on your way some of the rarest charming scenic views. On your way to the top you will come across the pinewoods, four hundred species of oak woods, lichens, lily yucca, prickly pear, barrel cactus, strawberry cactus and about hundred species of mosses and liverworts. In the shades of oak you will find three awn and grama grass. American tripogon inhabits most of the slope of the granite rocks.
Not only this but you also may get a view of the fauna such as the white tailed dear, four different kind of hawks, black rock squirrels, bobcats and raccoons.
Two trails start near the entrance of the park. One is the Summit Trail and the other one is the Loop trail. The summit trail can be described as on of the easy and straight path which you can take to your destination. Few miles on the trail and you are at 425 feet, but the trails are easy to climb.
The loop track is almost circular path which winds you through the base of the enchanted rock. The enchanted rock summit is a bare piece of granite which is very different from the slops where you can find some of the greenery. This place gives you the 360 degree view of the area. It feels great once you reach there and take a glimpse of the area and beyond.
North of the summit has the one thousand feet enchanted rock fissure this is the igneous rock cave with tight and narrow passages and this is popular with the experienced rock climbers.
This is one of the largest rock formations in the United States. The twin granite rocks which are commonly called as the Enchanted Rock rise about 425 feet from the surface of the earth.
Enchanted rock and its little neighbor Little Rock with several small hills are covered under the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Although you will find many highs and lows but these twin rock and their little neighbor stand out from the rest.
The Little Rock next to the pinkish dome is a small hill which appears green due to the greenery which it holds. The pink granite rock on the other hand has a cover of lichens and mosses on its slope but the top appears pink and barren. The rock is actually the magma chamber and represents the solidified magma which flows below the surface of the central Texas.
The Enchanted rocks got exposed to the earth surface due to weathering and exfoliation process carried out by the nature since centuries. On your way to the summit you will come across the large boulders and sheets of rocks which are formed due to exfoliation and weathering. The geologists blame the wind and the water for this which percolates in the cracks and expands and contracts due to freezing which cause the rocks to split. This is also the main reason why the rock produces the particular creaking and crying sound during nights.
The rock is haunted by number of folklores and legends which still circulate among the natives inhabiting nearby area. There is one story where the Spanish who escaped the Indian captors by hiding in the rocks. He was said to be swallowed by the rock and reappeared. He is said to still bewitch the area.
The enchanted rock holds some of the most delicate ecosystem. You will find different types of flora and fauna native to the region. The trails will take you to the summit which is very different from the slops. The slope in fact has around hundred species of lichens, mosses and liverworts. You will also find the species of grasses and number of oak species. But the top is almost barren. It is in fact a stretch of granite from where you will get a 360 degree view of the surrounding area.
The enchanted Rock no doubt is the center piece which attracts number of tourist to this park which spreads over an area of 1643.5 acres. But there are other things as well. The area holds different forms of igneous rocks carved out beautifully by the wind and weather over the centuries. The types of rocks which you do encounter here are hard to find in whole of the Texas.
The enchanted rock is itself a beauty. This mysterious pink granite twin rock which stands silently on the Llano uplift appears so calm and patients and appears almost featureless. It has its own mystical feeling and this is hard to escape once you reach the summit and take a look around.
There are two trails near the entrance and both of them take you to the top of the rock. They are steep yet easy to climb. The Summit trail is more or less straight path to the top of the summit while the loop trail is the one which takes you round the base of the enchanted rock to the top.
On your way to the top no matter which path you take you will come across some of the wonderful natural views. South of the summit is the enchanted rock fissure which is a cave. This is the place which has very narrow and tight path and with its steep and slippery slopes is liked by the experienced rock climbers.
Besides this the area has Turkey Peak and holds a wide variety of flora and fauna. You can find a wide variety of cactus and wild flowers, about hundred varieties of lichens, mosses and liverworts and four hundred varieties of oak.
Spring is the time when the park is full to its capacity and this is the time when you can have a glimpse of most of the types of animals native to this region. While on your way through the pine woods, ponds, fissures and igneous boulders you may come across white tailed dear, red foxes, black rock squirrels, cotton rats, hawks, turkey vultures and bobcats. You may also get a glimpse of spotted whiptails, bull snakes and checkered ribbon snakes.
The state of Texas acquired this area of 1643.5 acres in 1979 and opened it for the visitors in 1984. Since then Enchanted rock State Natural Area is visited by number of tourists from around the world. The centre of attraction is the pink granite dome which stands out from the rest and is called as the famous Enchanted Rock. It is in fact twin domes or what you can say mounds which have an immediate neighbor as well called as little rock. All the three stand out in the Texas hill country.
The Enchanted Rock
The rock remains isolated and is not on a direct route to any town. It is about fifteen miles from Fredericksburg and as you take a curve along the ranch road 965 they appear in full view standing peacefully under the bright sunlight.
This huge mass of solidified magma came to the earth surface due to exfoliation and erosion. You can call it a small piece of the molten mass of the magma which runs below the Texas.
The natural features of the area
The park has in store different colors and shapes of igneous rocks to marvel besides the natural flora and fauna.
The area holds delicate ecosystem of different wild species of animal and plants. You will find here different species of cacti, wildflowers and plant species. Among the wilds you will come across the white tail dears, foxes and many more.
Trails for hiking
The park gives you seven miles of hiking trails and four miles of loop trails. The Summit Trail is an easy and direct route to the top of the dome. The six miles Summit Trail involves 425 foot elevation gain hike to the top of the enchanted rock. The Loop Trail is a four mile circular track and is famous among the backpackers and hikers. This loop passes around most of the granite pieces and keeps most of the time around the base of the rock.
Enchanted rock Fissure
An Enchanted Rock Fissure which is 1000 foot long granite cave is also one of the places in this national park which you can explore if you are one of the experts in hiking and rock climbing. There are other different routes as well, the list of which can be obtained by the visitors from the park headquarters.
Activities that you can take in this area
The park is opened for the visitors from the morning till five in the evening for different activities such as hiking, picnicking, and tracking, rock climbing and camping. Biking is allowed on the flat surface only. The common trails are well marked and give most of the scenic views of the area and beyond.
This five hundred foot high pink dome which stands silently in Llanos Uplift, approximately fifteen miles from Fredericksburg has its own story to tell. The enchanted rock state natural area today spread over an area of 1643.5 acres of area over Big Sandy Creek.
This huge pink granite piece is nothing but the magma which cooled at depth about one billion years ago and got exposed to the surface due to erosion and exfoliation.
The pink dome was acquired in 1978 by the Nature Conservancy of Texas, by warranty deed, from the Moss family in order to protect the area from development. It was later taken up by the State of Texas in 1979, which added the facilities there and reopened it for the visitors in March 1984 for different activities such as tracking, hiking, rock climbing and the likes.
Enchanted Rock is famous among the archeologists and geologists. The rock not only has a geological history but also appear in the many Indian legends. Some legends ascribe magical powers to this rock while others tell you that the rock is inhabited by the ghosts.
There are several interesting legends which the folklore and the natives of this place have in store. The name enchanted rock is derived from these very interesting legends. The natives of this place to hide form the Anglo invaders settled around the two tiers of the rocks. The Anglo invaders were unable to track them from the ground and the natives believed that the rocks due to its magical and spiritual powers made them invisible.
The area was also inhabited by the Tonkawa in sixteenth century who believed that the ghost fires flickered at the top of the dome. They believed that the rock is inhabited by the ghosts who gave unexplained creaking and groaning sounds at night and hence the name Enchanted rock. The word in fact derives from the Spanish text which means crying rock.
This one billion year old pink dome is visited by humans since 11,000 years. The first exploration of this area began after 1973 when the Spanish invaded the area and intensified their effort to colonize Texas.
Today it is a most famous place among the visitors who enjoy tracking, camping, hiking and stargazing.
You can enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, tracking, rock climbing, bouldering, picnicking and bird watching. Biking is also permitted but over the flat surfaces. The area is also open for different geological study, archeological surveys and other natural studies which can be conducted over the area.
Near the state park entrance start the two trails. One of them is the loop trail which goes around the base of the enchanted rock and the other one is the summit trail which is more or less a straight trial which takes you directly to the top of the dome. These trails cover the entire area of the park and offer you some of the most wonderful scenic views of the area and beyond.
The summit trail rises about 425 feet in about few miles. The trails are steep bout not difficult to climb. There are other ways as well which are not restricted to these most common trails. The list is available with the headquarters.
If you love adventure then you can take up with your own trails but remember that this is not easy. People often get lost while doing this and they are left with no other option but to trail backwards on the very same way. But if you are determined to explore those hidden trails then make sure that you have your bag of food and water with you.
Best time to visit the area is during spring. This is the time when you will get a view of most of the colorful wildflower as you search your way to the top of the dome through the dwindling trail passing by the pine woods, large oaks, ponds and different shapes of rocks carved out by the weather over the years.
The summit will give you the 360 degree view of the area. It is a bare piece of rock which has its own mystical feeling. The north of the summit has the famous 1000 foot enchanted rock fissure which with its steep and slippery slopes is famous among the experienced and professional rock climbers.
You can crate your own camping site in this area but the primitive ones are three, two behind the dome and the other one near the sandy creek. Most of the visitors simply trail down to their cars and back home, after capturing the scenic view.