Are you planning a trip to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area? This list of seven things to know before you go to Enchanted Rock will give you some history, some tips, and some other useful information to help make your trip as great as possible.

 

1. People have been living or visiting the rock for 12,000 years.

That’s a long-ass time! You can even find bedrock mortars throughout the park, which is where native people ground or pounded their food into the granite.

2. It’s a place of legend.

There are a TON of legends associated with Enchanted Rock. Here are just a few:

• Tribes who lived in the area (the Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche) considered it a portal to other worlds.
• The rock has been called “Crying Rock” by tribes such as the Tonkawa, who lived in the area in the 16th Century and heard unexplained creaking and groaning. (Geologists now believe this noise came from the rock contracting at night as it cooled after being heated by the sun all day).
• The Spanish thought that the rock could either be a lost silver mine or the gold of El Dorado. In fact, mines dating back to the Spanish Colonial period were found on the nearby Packsaddle Mountain. (Spoiler: there’s no gold in them thar hills.)
• There’s also a John-Smith-and-Pocahontas-type legend of a Spanish soldier (Don Jesús Navarro) who fell in love with Rosa, a Christian daughter of the Indian chief Tehuan, who he met at a mission in San Antonio in 1750.  Rosa was kidnapped by a band of Comanches bent on sacrificing her to the spirits of Enchanted Rock, but Navarro followed them there and rescued her just as she was about to be burned at the stake. (Classic White Savior story, amiright? And why did she have to be a Christian native? But that’s another post for another day.)

3. It’s gonna be hot.

When I was first planning a trip to Enchanted Rock, the #1 response I got from other people was: “Oh, I did that once… man, that was hot.” It almost seemed like most people actually had BAD experiences hiking the rock, and they all seemed pretty convinced it would be a bad experience for me too. (Of course, this could be because most people like to complain more than they like to be positive, but that’s yet another post for yet another day.)

Ignore those people. Yes, it’s hot, but that’s because it’s a giant granite rock that bakes in the sun all day. It’s Texas. If you go in the summer, it’s summer. If you’re going to let that stop you, then you shouldn’t bother going ANYWHERE in Texas.

So be prepared to deal with some heat, dress accordingly, take lots of water, and you’ll be fine. 🙂

4. You should get there early.

One way to avoid the heat is to arrive as early as possible in the morning. When we hiked it, we got there BEFORE the park officially opened and were hiking before 8am, and it was delightful. Though it was humid (it was June in Texas, after all), there was a slight breeze. We also had the rock almost to ourselves.

In addition, Enchanted Rock is a popular place to go, and the park closes once it reaches max capacity. (Park closures are guaranteed on all Saturdays from September through July 4th weekend, and they also occur on most Sundays and school holidays.) Lines start forming to enter the park as early as 8:30am.

Plan to get there as early as possible to maximize your chances of enjoying your trip. 🙂

5. You should consider camping in the park if you’re into that kind of thing.

Did you know that Enchanted Rock was named the best campsite in Texas by MSN in 2017? You can also come and go in the park as you wish if you have a camping pass, so you don’t need to worry about getting in line or park closures.

6. There are other hiking trails in the area.

Yes, there’s the rock, but there’s also 11 miles of hiking trails in the area. This area is shaded and also has water which you may or may not accidentally drag your BFF through enough times that she asks, “Why are you leading this hike, again?” (Answer: “I have no idea.”)

 

 

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