Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Happy Friday everyone! We made it through the week! If you follow me on Insta you already know I was stuck in bed for a few days this week, so I didn’t make it out much, and definitely not to any new parks. But my body needed rest to kick those allergies to the curb, it is what it is. Listening to my body is definitely something I’ve had to learn how to do this year… I’ve always been able to go-go-go… always pushing myself to the limit. Well, I hit that limit real hard earlier this year and I’m not inclined to do it again. So rest days are a priority now and I’m learning to appreciate them rather than worry that I’m “wasting time”.
Anyway, I thought this would be a good week to tell you about a trip I took last month down to Texas Hill Country! The company that I work for (Outside, Texas) has a location in Austin as well and asked if I wanted to go help out down there for a weekend.
“Sorry, it won’t be a fun Austin trip” said my boss. “Challenge accepted” I thought.
So after driving down and working for a couple of days, I spent some much needed time with family, and then headed for the hills. I wasn’t sure at first where I was going to go since there’s so many beautiful parks to choose from in the area, like an overwhelming amount. I knew some friends happened to be staying in hill country for the week so after reaching out to them, I decided on Enchanted Rock to join them for a sunrise hike!
Enchanted Rock is home to the largest single piece of granite in the United States, rising 425 ft above the base level of the park and 1,825 ft above sea level, the dome itself covers a whopping 640 acres. Climbing the dome takes around 30-45 minutes and is equivalent to climbing the stairs of a 30-40 story building! With about 11 miles of trails going up and around the base of the dome, you can get a variety of views that will take your breath away at every turn. Also, the climb will quite literally take your breath away. And leave your thighs burning. Or maybe that’s just me. But I promise its worth it! Just trust me, ok?
This was actually my third trip to the park, and it grows more magical every time. The first was a family road trip when I was still a child, we didn’t get to climb the dome and I only have vague memories of the visit. The second was a few years ago, also with family, and in July I believe. We drove in from staying in Burnet, and made it early enough that it wasn’t too hot. I definitely recommend starting with the Summit Trail to beat the heat and get the hardest part out of the way.
This trip, I camped at the park for a night and let me tell you what a restorative experience that was. The campgrounds back up to the Little Rock area of the park, which is comprised of giant boulders that you can climb around to see the park from a different point of view. After setting up camp I made it up there to explore in time to watch a beautiful sunset, with a glimmering Waxing Crescent Moon rising just above it. ( The picture attached does not do it justice, I promise I’ll work on my photography skills. Bear with me.) I couldn't help but hear a piece of a song from one of my favorite Texas Country bands in my mind as I watched in awe -
“And I remember our first night abroad
As the sun traded shifts with the moon
It was a lot to take in for some eyes from East Texas
But all I could see was you”
-Shane Smith and The Saints
Poetic, right? So was this view. After watching that spectacle for a while I made my way back down to the campsite, where I started a fire and made some dinner. The boulders illuminated by the moon and stars (this is an International Dark Sky Park afterall) on a crystal clear Texas night were the ideal setting for sitting by that fire, reading a book, and listening to the calls of the coyote in the distance.
I awoke early the next morning excited to meet up with my friend Heather, and meet her husband Kevin, to climb to the summit as the sun started its daily climb into the sky. After such a clear night it ended up being awfully overcast that morning, so we didn’t exactly get the sunrise view that we had imagined, but I’m still grateful for the early start. By the time we reached the top there was only one other couple up there, leaving us room to enjoy the view without any distractions. Being up there in the calm and quiet of the morning was an experience I would think only compares to being on the Moon. That may sound like an exaggeration, but I assure you that it’s truly a whole other world up there. The unhindered views that went on for miles were only the beginning of the wonder we felt. As you start exploring the dome you realize that there’s a whole ecosystem thriving at the top.
On my previous visit to the summit we noticed several patches of cacti, grasses, and wildflowers scattered across the dome. While I thought they were beautiful and I marveled at the resiliency of nature -to be able to grow atop a giant slab of granite… mind blowing- I’ll admit I didn’t give it much thought. But that trip was in July which is obviously very dry. Going in November this time I got a lesson on how the seasons truly create the world we live in. It’s been a rainy fall this year and there were small pools, called vernal pools, all over the top. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, these pools develop over time into microhabitats, and house a unique group of plants and animals.
As if seeing how these plants are able to grow isn’t cool enough, we got to witness the wildlife thriving in these pools! We saw several tadpoles zooming around, and apparently there’s also a species of tiny freshwater shrimp that survive here. They eat the algae and plankton, and also provide food for the many species of birds in the area. See? Totally other worldly.
After making the trek back down, you definitely want to make time to hike some of the other trails in the park. They take you around the base, through other landmarks, and open up to some truly incredible views of the surrounding hill country. The park does sit alongside Big Sandy Creek, but there are no water activities available and in the dry months there isn’t much water.
However if you’re a total water baby like I am, you simply must be in water anytime you can. Luckily hill country has some of the most beautiful and clear rivers, one of which being the Llano.
This river runs north of Enchanted Rock through the town of Llano and into Kingsland which you can reach from the park in about 30-45 minutes, and is a gorgeous drive on its own. There are several bridges that cross over the river and many of them have parking areas where you can stop for a dip, which I highly recommend. The llano is spring fed and therefore pretty cold water year round, but can be so refreshing in the blazing Texas sun. Personally I always find a dip in wild water to be a spiritual and rejuvenating experience - as with any trip into nature, but water is always something extra special for me. I leave feeling cleansed and purified, the stress washed away in the current and I re-enter the world ready to take on whatever comes my way.
As you all know, I've had a rough time this year, as most of us have. Before taking this trip I was feeling pretty lost again. I had already put the wheels in motion to get this site launched, but was lacking confidence and didn't know how to take those final steps. After a couple of days in the Texas wilderness, my insecurities were carried away on the wind and I was ready to make the next moves. I was reminded of “the why”, which is to help others experience the things that are bringing me back to life. The Beauty of Texas in all its forms. However I can’t give the Texas landscape all of the credit… once again the people of Texas played an integral role in my trip, and in my life. Everyone I spent time with over this weekend gave me something that I am forever grateful for… a listening ear and a good push. After having this site pretty much ready to go for weeks, I got up the nerve to hit that publish button the day after I got home. So I’m sending a massive thank you to Janie, Joseph, Monir, Heather, and Kevin for building me up when I had fallen apart. It’s been such a fun experience so far, and I can’t wait to see where else we go!
Do you know the difference between a State Park and a State Natural Area? I didn’t so I looked it up for us. According to this article in Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine -
“State parks (such as Palo Pinto Mountains) are areas of natural or scenic character developed to provide recreational opportunities. State natural areas (such as Kronkosky) preserve areas with outstanding natural attributes; their primary emphasis is on protecting those resources, not on recreation.”
How to get there:
The park is easy enough to get to. Located about two hours out of Austin, or about 4 hours from DFW. The Llano river like I said has many access points, but the spot I found is known simply as The Slab in Kingsland, which was also pretty easy to navigate. Traveling on TX highway 71, you’ll turn east onto county road 307 and take that until you get to the bridge. There’s plenty of safe roadside parking along the road on the east side of the bridge.
Trails:
The 11 miles of trails here range from easy to challenging, and can be mixed and matched to create a route unique to you and your capabilities.
In addition to the Summit Trail I’ve done a mix of Echo Canyon, Base, Turkey Pass, Frontside, and Loop trails. Each one offers unique terrain and views, and i’d love to go back and explore more of the other trails. This really is a stunning area and you just can’t go wrong no matter how you choose to explore it.
