Discuss: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area - Page 2 - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

lost_but_found · 04-27-2005, 09:31 AM

Yeah, I agree. I am not looking at it for my backpacking endeavors though, I use my beat up dependable little A80 for that. I know I couldn't handle toting that extra weight with all my bping gear. But for places such as E-Rock where I can day hike and just carry my camera equipment, then all is fine! I need a personal sherpa to tote my gear so I can take pictures while out bping!!!

ploddinTod · 03-18-2006, 10:59 AM

I grabbed the ladies away from shopping in Fredericksburg and we took a mid-afternoon trip to E-Rock. Having climbed the main dome trail before, we opted for the less strenuous Echo Canyon Trail, which crosses a saddle between the main dome and Little Rock to the west.

From a distance the hordes of people looked like ants streaming up, across and down the dome trail. Shortly we were in amongst them, climbing about a third of the way up before our trail split northwest. My objective was to see how much water was in Moss Lake.

Having crossed the saddle and now descending into the canyon, we noted that the trail was rockier and required some scrambling. About half way down the ladies decided to wait for me as I plodded on. A wonderful scene began to appear as I bottomed out in the canyon. Three huge boulders 30 or 40 feet high were butted against each other and 2 or 3 people were climbing on them, posing for photos. A couple of kids were darting in and out of the cave that was formed at the base.

I didn't stop, not knowing how much farther the lake was from here. From this point on, I only saw a couple of people. Moss Lake had plenty of water in it, although quite a bit lower than its high water mark. BTW, for backpackers wanting to use the primitive site by the lake, you won't have any problem filtering here. One large tent was already set up that I could see from the trail.

Shannon · 03-18-2006, 01:07 PM

Todd,

Terrific description of a terrific trail! Justin and I hiked that trail in 2005 looking for a geocache in that vicinity (didn't find it, but I believe it's still there.) It's so lush and cool down in the canyon. We ended up scrambling up the rock a bit and watching some rock climbers working with their equipment in preparation for some climbing. We, too, hiked to Moss Lake to check it out, before heading back. It's quite a gem in an already gem of a park, and it is nice to "get lost" from the crowds that hit ERock just by taking a lesser used trail.

By the way, I hiked the trail when I was still just 6 months or so post-op from my knee surgery, so I was wearing a full knee brace and using a hiking pole for support. It took us a long while to negotiate the trail as a result, especially since as you said, it does require a little bit of scrambling... and it's a little trecherous when the rocks are damp/wet.

Postscript: I'd post photos, but since I was so early post-op, I ended up hiking without carrying my camera gear.

ploddinTod · 03-20-2006, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemist2000

I wish we had known about the cave....I guess that will be something new and different for next time.

I noticed that the cave is now marked on the map that the Park Service hands out as you enter the park. It's north of the summit dome on the down slope.
FYI.

ploddinTod · 03-22-2006, 02:17 PM

As a bonus to our E-Rock trip, we took the scenic drive along the 23 mile Willow City Loop from Hwy 16. I'd never heard of this loop but we found some info on it from literature we picked up in Fredericksburg. If you're a camera buff, bring your telephoto lens.

There are sheer, expansive bluffs and rock spires the likes of which I've never seen before in TX, except maybe Big Bend. Bald eagles are said to nest up there but we didn't see any soaring. The soft early evening light made the scene even more spectacular. And then the deer gradually began to appear as the light faded into dusk. Deer crossing the road, deer grazing next to the road, deer 40 or 50 yards from the road. They were all over the place.

We only traveled at a speed of 20-35 mph to see as much as we could. There was little to no traffic. Private property abounds on both sides of the road. So permission is needed to explore on foot.

All in all, a great day in the Texas Hill Country.

CyberCelt · 03-26-2006, 06:45 PM

The Willow City Loop is world-famous for its unique geography and wildflowers. Beware of cattle (no fences) and go slow ...

SQUASH · 04-15-2006, 07:43 PM

I PM'd ploddinTod for some information on Moss Lake, which helped me make this image. Thanks for the info. ploddinTod.

I sure wish the wind would have been a bit more calm to help with the reflection, and a few colorful clouds would have been nice too, but you take what you can get.

I was there from 4/13/-4/15.

Here's a few more from ERock: http://www.creelphotography.com/ERock.htm

ploddinTod · 04-17-2006, 01:57 PM

Thomas,

I was wondering how your trip went. Thanks for posting your photos. That is indeed an interesting perspective from the backside of the granite dome. The pink morning clouds over Frog Pond form my favorite scene.

natedg200202 · 05-22-2006, 10:43 AM

We went out to enchanted rock a few months ago with the intent of getting some good pictures. I got a few good pictures in interesting light. they can be seen at:

http://nathangriffin.com/gallery/aus...anted_rock.htm

I will go out sometime later in the summer for another try.

Alchemist2000 · 05-23-2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natedg200202

We went out to enchanted rock a few months ago with the intent of getting some good pictures. I got a few good pictures in interesting light. they can be seen at:

http://nathangriffin.com/gallery/aus...anted_rock.htm

I will go out sometime later in the summer for another try.

I really enjoyed your site. I especially liked the technical discussion. It makes me want to dig out my old FM2 that is in the back of the closet somewhere. Unfortunately, I am not much of a photographer and shooting slides with the FM2 makes that even more apparent. It makes me appreciate your images that much more!

natedg200202 · 05-30-2006, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the compliment on my site. I have been shooting slide film for a few years and I am still learning how to get the exposure right. I hope that the effort pays off when I can make the switch to digital.

Nate

www.nathangriffin.com

natedg200202 · 02-18-2007, 09:57 AM

Has anyone been out to ER lately? I can't wait to go back up there to try to get more pictures. I didn't have much luck with getting good light last time.

Nathan

www.nathangriffin.com

BigBendHiker · 02-19-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

As a bonus to our E-Rock trip, we took the scenic drive along the 23 mile Willow City Loop from Hwy 16. I'd never heard of this loop but we found some info on it from literature we picked up in Fredericksburg. If you're a camera buff, bring your telephoto lens.

There are sheer, expansive bluffs and rock spires the likes of which I've never seen before in TX, except maybe Big Bend. Bald eagles are said to nest up there but we didn't see any soaring. The soft early evening light made the scene even more spectacular. And then the deer gradually began to appear as the light faded into dusk. Deer crossing the road, deer grazing next to the road, deer 40 or 50 yards from the road. They were all over the place.

We only traveled at a speed of 20-35 mph to see as much as we could. There was little to no traffic. Private property abounds on both sides of the road. So permission is needed to explore on foot.

All in all, a great day in the Texas Hill Country.

Yep...agree totally. The Willow City Loop is a must see, must do drive. Incredible scenery and beauty.

BBH

Electric Water Boy · 03-30-2007, 04:00 PM

I took my wife to the park a bunch of years ago. She wasn't in much shape for hiking. She complained all the way to the top. But when she got there and looked around she said it was worth it.

My grandmother said she saw a guy drive a Model T to the top of the thing.

I went all through (or least what I found of it) the cave at the top once a bunch of years ago. If you do this, watch for snakes. And becareful of the opening at the back. It's steep back there.

Seems like I remember they limit the number of people in there at any given time, but that info may not be up to date.

tsumbra · 03-27-2008, 10:06 AM

"South Haven Lady at Enchanted Rock"
www.ilovepoetry.com/viewpoem.asp?id=94892
Whatever happened to her?