Hike Report: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

I don't know how many times Donna and I have hiked at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area; probably half a dozen times over the last 15 years or so. It remains one of our favorite places to hike.

The park is located about 17 miles north of Fredericksburg, one of our favorite towns in Texas. The surrounding countryside is typical of the Hill Country, and the beer selections at restaurants in Fredericksburg are outstanding. I can't think of a better after-hike activity than sipping on a cold dunkel.

It had been 3 years since we last hiked this park. In the past, I never found the hike particularly challenging or demanding, but I have to admit that this latest hike left both of us a bit sore and very tired. That's just a sign of our increasing age, I guess. This was the first time that I really noticed the ups and downs bothering me.

On this hike, we stayed more or less on the Loop Trail, which park literature indicates is anywhere from 4.25 miles to 4.49 miles, depending on the source. We altered the route slightly, taking the Walnut Springs Trail, so this added a bit to our distance. Our final tally was 5.16 miles according to my GPS.

We always park our car in one of the parking lots on the east side, then walk through all the parking areas, past the camping areas, and begin our hike on the west, following the trail in a clockwise direction. Most of the loop trail is wide and well maintained. Only the section along Sand Creek is actually a foot path.

This is near the start of the trail. Note how wide and well maintained the trail is. It climbs to the right of the hill in the distance.

Initially, the trail climbs up granite slopes to the western end of the park, then begins circling back. There are good views from this area, first to the east and later to the northwest as well. There are various rock formations -- hoodoos -- that are interesting to examine. If there have been recent rains, then there will be water flowing in various places.

There are numerous hoodoo formations like these along the western part of the loop trail.

The trail crosses granite along the base of the rocks in the background. There are good views back to the east from here.

View to the east.

There are many trees in the park, especially along the western section of the Loop Trail, that are covered with moss.

Here is a closeup of the moss from above. I believe this is called Ball Moss.

Our first good sighting of Enchanted Rock (Big Rock) from the trail.

We saw at least 3 composting toilets along the trail. This one was located where the Walnut Springs Trail splits from the Loop Trail. It serves the good folks who camp in the Walnut Springs camping area, and anyone else who happens along.

As the trail circles back to the center of the park, other trails will splinter off. One of the highlights of the trail is Moss Lake, but we missed that this time since we opted to explore the Walnut Springs Trail. Where the Walnut Springs Trail rejoins the Loop Trail, there are some good views of both the Big Rock (Enchanted Rock) as well as the Little Rock. The gap between these domes is Echo Canyon, and is worth exploring.

I happened to espy this little winecup along the Walnut Springs Trail.

This is the view just before the Walnut Springs Trail rejoined the Loop Trail. That is Enchanted Rock (Big Rock) on the left and Little Rock on the right. Echo Canyon is in the gap between them.

Enchanted Rock summit. You can see a few people at the top.

Farther east, the trail turns south, providing great views of the eastern slope of Enchanted Rock. You can really see the exfoliation process of the rocks from this side. Giant slabs of rock will slide down the slopes, causing rock piles at the bottom.

This picture clearly illustrates the exfoliation process. Those slabs of rock will eventually slide down the hill and come to rest in piles at the bottom.

Here are some rocks that have slid to the bottom of a nearby hill.

The last time we took this trail, it had been raining quite a bit. At Sand Creek, we had to take off our socks and shows and wade the stream in water that came to our thighs or so. This time, however, there had not been much rain and the creek was low, which is its normal level. We were able to cross on stones placed along the trail.

Donna crossing Sand Creek. 

Here I am after crossing the creek. 

This is what the trail looks like from the creek crossing to the trail head.

Turkey Peak, with quite a few people atop it. We could clearly hear them from the trail.

Here is the obligatory picture of blue bonnets the law requires you must take when you visit the Texas Hill Country in the spring.

The trail to the summit, with quite a few people scattered along it.

This is a busy park. Take the warnings about park closures on the web site seriously. On weekends and holidays, the park will reach capacity early and the park will close. We always go during the week, but we've never been there that a crowd was not present. I can't tell you how many people we met on the trail this time. True, most were near the trail heads, but we did meet several well along the trail. We ran into a young lady and her 2 rescue dogs near where we rejoined the loop trail after walking the Walnut Hills Trail. The dogs did not seem to be in good health in the first place, and they were clearly wearing out. Later, after we got to our car, we drove to a restroom to freshen up. The restroom is near the trail head, where the lady emerged with her dogs. They found a shade tree and plopped down. Donna and I offered to baby sit the dogs while the lady retrieved her truck. The poor dogs were exhausted, and this saved them from walking an additional half mile or more.

To see previous entries on hiking this park, please visit the links below:

• "Hike Report: The Loop Trail, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, November 2015"
• "Hiking Report: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area" from May 2012