One of the most popular natural treasures of Central Texas is a giant pink granite dome rising 425 feet above the ground just north of Fredericksburg. Enchanted Rock is a favorite destination for camping, hiking, day trips, rock climbing, and stargazing. So what makes it so “enchanting”? Read on for some fun facts about Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and an overview of our recent day trip to this fabulous park.

Mythical Legends & Ghost Stories: Enchanted Rock is one of the most visited parks in the Texas state park system and has fascinated people for thousands of years, inspiring many magical tales. The Tonkawa Indians thought that ghost fires flickered on top of the dome because of a magical glittering scene at night, and they also believed that it was haunted by ghosts who left footprints in the rock. Today we know that his shine can be attributed to the moonlight reflecting off of wet rock and vernal pools after a rain, and the ghostly footprints are just indentations caused by weathering. It’s also noted that the rock’s odd creaking and groaning was a frightening mystery of the past, but geologists say that it’s natural for the dome to creak as temperatures change. For more great stories about Enchanted Rock’s legends and lore, check out some interesting facts in The Handbook of Texas or from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.

Stargazing:  Enchanted Rock’s rural dark sky makes it one of the best public places for stargazing in Central Texas, and in fact, it has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, meaning the skies there are still dark enough to view the Milky Way with minimal intrusion of artificial light. If stargazing is on your wish list for future family fun, read much more about stargazing in Enchanted Rock on the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.

Camping: Because Enchanted Rock is a very popular area for camping, campsites book up way in advance. You can choose from 20 primitive hike-in campsites for $14 and 35 walk-in sites for $20 (plus daily entrance fees). Get the full details about camping and reserve your site online.

Hiking: Enchanted Rock is a perfect place for hiking! You can take a 4-mile Loop Trail around the rock to see an array of beautiful formations, but while you’re there, you’ll certainly have to try the shorter, but steep, Summit Trail that leads to the top of Enchanted Rock. While it’s only a 0.6-mile hike, climbing the rock is like climbing the stairs of a 30- or 40-story building! So while it’s not a particularly difficult hike, it does give your legs a workout.

We recently took our kids out for a day trip to hike the Summit Trail and explore some of the shorter trails around the park. Our morning weather started out very chilly and windy with a thick blanket of clouds that made it feel like we were climbing right up into the sky on our hike up the Summit.

When we went down the Summit Trail, we took time for a picnic before hiking around on ground level. At that time, the sun came out, and the beauty of the park was illuminated!

After our picnic, we decided to go for a hike along the Turkey Pass Trail. Click here for the trail maps. You can see that there are so many hikes to choose from — nearly 11 miles of hiking trails! Our kids loved climbing some of the rocks near Turkey Peak.What to Know Before You Go:

• The most important thing to note is that advanced reservations are needed — whether for day passes or camping. Advanced reservations for day passes and overnight stays are required on weekends, school breaks, and holidays and are encouraged for regular weekdays because they usually reach capacity every day. To guarantee entrance, you can reserve passes online, or by calling the customer service center. Day fees are $8 for adults, and free for kids ages 12 and under.
• Pets are only allowed in the designated day-use picnic areas, the campgrounds, and on the Loop Trail, but they are NOT allowed on the popular Summit Trail. Best to leave them at home if you can.
• Bring plenty of drinking water.
• If you’re interested in rock climbing, you must check in at park headquarters and sign a climbing release form. Read through the Climbing Information before you go.
• The park gate is open daily 8:30 am – 5 pm
• The Park is located 18 miles north of Fredericksburg, TX at 16710 Ranch Rd. 965.

For much more information to help you plan your visit to Enchanted Rock, and to reserve your passes, please visit the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.