Stunning autumn sunrise in Enchanted Rock State Natural Area © Dean_Fikar / iStock / Getty Images Plus Geology of Enchanted Rock Wineries are scattered across the rolling hills just outside town. This 19th-century German settlement is a Hill Country hotspot today, and it’s well-stocked with inns, shops and restaurants. Hikers can tackle more than 10 miles of trails that climb the dome and explore its perimeter.įor small-town charm, drive twenty minutes south to downtown Fredericksburg. Geologists and biologists can also study the life-swarming vernal pools that dot the summit area. The strongest gusts can make you feel as if you’re about to be hurled off the rock and flung into the horizon.Īnother surprise? The sheer number of recreational activities available, from hiking and rock climbing to birding and stargazing. On a windy day, walking up its slopes is a hold-on-tight, lose-your-hat situation. This granite giant is a Precambrian showstopper, the end result of millions of years of wild geologic action. At first glance, it's just a big, mostly barren rock to be summited and checked off your Texas bucket list. Note: Dogs ARE allowed on the loop trail, but NOT allowed on the summit.A pink granite dome rising 425ft above the grasslands north of Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock cuts a striking but mild-mannered profile. You can easily spend the better part of a day just exploring the summit and surrounding areas! If you have the opportunity to stay for sunset, well, now you may have struck granite gold! Also keep an eye out for climbers making climbing their way up! Head up onto Little Rock to look back at Enchanted to truly appreciate the unique beauty of it. Enchanted Rock is an "exfoliation dome," meaning it has layers like an onion, and as the outer layers are pushed up by the base layers, they crack and fall away. Here you can see the power of the earth in action - big & small fractured pieces of granite are seemingly frozen in place as they have broken away from the top layer and have began sliding down the face. On the descent, I recommend heading down the west face where Enchanted Rock meets Little Rock. Take out your camera, snap some photos, grab a snack and soak it all up. In any direction you look, you will be seeing miles of the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The summit is huge so there are plenty of spaces to carve out some privacy as well as mini boulder fields that offer a break to the wide open expanse you will find yourself in. The trail leads to the base of the boulder and it's left up to your imagination to pick your own path to the top. Once you get onto the granite boulder itself, you will see pockets of lichen and lonesome tree patches seemingly growing straight out of the rock. You are making your way through small boulder fields and lush desert vegetation. The trail is incredibly easy to follow - there are signs at every turn along the way. Once geared up, head straight towards the Summit Trail and begin your adventure! There are also some public restrooms and a truck with some snacks. Once inside the park, you can't miss either parking lots that are surrounded by picnic tables and well marked signs pointing towards the trails. This hike is great for all ages and is family and pet friendly (except for the summit). The summit has a lot of surface area, giving you the opportunity for a little privacy. This 5.5 mile hike with minimal elevation gain gives you gorgeous 360° views of the Texas Hill Country.
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