01 July . 2016
Get enchanted at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Located just 16 miles north of Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area has cast its spell on human visitors for more than 12,000 years. Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 1700s, and the era of modern day explorers began in 1978, when this massive pink granite dome became a state natural area.
Legend has it that the name comes from a Spanish conquistador captured by the Tonkawa Indians. The Spaniard escaped by hiding among the rocks, giving rise to the Tonkawa legend of a “pale man swallowed by a rock and reborn as one of their own.” The Indians believed he wove enchantments on the area.
Today, Enchanted Rock weaves its enchantment on more than 250,000 people each year, making it one of the most visited parks in the state park system.
Rising 425 feet above the base elevation of the park, Enchanted Rock peaks 1,825 feet above sea level. The entire dome covers 640 acres, and climbing it is equivalent to climbing the stairs of a 30- to 40-story building.
Other smaller domes include nearby Turkey Peak and Little Dome. They are all small and visible parts of a huge 62-square-mile underground area of granite called a batholith.
Activities include hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, bird watching and stargazing.
For more information, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife here.