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

Shannon · 11-19-2001, 07:56 PM

Share you comments or questions about Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, located in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Alchemist2000 · 03-20-2005, 08:00 AM

We had been wanting to visit Enchanted Rock State Natural Area for sometime and finally made it this past week during Spring Break. I would strongly recommend it to everyone.

The trip up to the top of Enchanted Rock was a definite must-do. There were mobs of people, including little kids and grandparents, doing the same thing. However, it was still defiinitely fun. Even better, and much less crowded, were trips to the tops of the other peaks in the park. We actually went to the top of each of the six peaks in the park while we were there. I think our total gps track for the hike (which included lots of detours and a trip back to the picnic area for an extended lunch break) was 9.8 miles in 9.5 hours. I think our favorite peak of the trip was the most remote, Flagpole at the north end of the park. We encountered half a dozen deer along the loop trail on our way to that area. Despite the large numbers of people in the park, we seemed to have that area of the park totally to ourselves. Don't let the lower elevations fool you...the views were spectacular from all of the peaks.

BTW, we stayed in Fredericksburg, which was a fantastic part of the trip in its own right...lots of interesting things to see and do.

ploddinTod · 03-20-2005, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemist2000

We had been wanting to visit Enchanted Rock State Natural Area for sometime and finally made it this past week during Spring Break. I would strongly recommend it to everyone.

The trip up to the top of Enchanted Rock was a definite must-do. There were mobs of people, including little kids and grandparents, doing the same thing. However, it was still defiinitely fun. Even better, and much less crowded, were trips to the tops of the other peaks in the park. We actually went to the top of each of the six peaks in the park while we were there. I think our total gps track for the hike (which included lots of detours and a trip back to the picnic area for an extended lunch break) was 9.8 miles in 9.5 hours. I think our favorite peak of the trip was the most remote, Flagpole at the north end of the park. We encountered half a dozen deer along the loop trail on our way to that area. Despite the large numbers of people in the park, we seemed to have that area of the park totally to ourselves. Don't let the lower elevations fool you...the views were spectacular from all of the peaks.

BTW, we stayed in Fredericksburg, which was a fantastic part of the trip in its own right...lots of interesting things to see and do.

On top of the main peak is a cave, actually a fissure in the rock, that's fun to explore. By the way, how difficult are the other, secondary peaks to climb? Moderate bouldering? These old knees are starting to ache.

Alchemist2000 · 03-20-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

By the way, how difficult are the other, secondary peaks to climb? Moderate bouldering? These old knees are starting to ache.

Not that bad. The most challenging thing in many cases was figuring out the best approach or best retreat. We are both in our 50's (read old, tired knees

) and not in great shape, but we made it. I am sure there were more difficult approaches for some of the peaks, but we typically took longer approaches looking for some type of unofficial trail or animal trail, rather than thrashing through the brush. As far as the climbing, there was nothing more than what I would think of as "steps", although it was moderately steep in some places. In any case, it was great fun and seemed much more adventuresome than simply walking up the side of the main peak with the rest of the mob.

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

ploddinTod · 03-20-2005, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemist2000

Not that bad. The most challenging thing in many cases was figuring out the best approach or best retreat. We are both in our 50's (read old, tired knees

) and not in great shape, but we made it. I am sure there were more difficult approaches for some of the peaks, but we typically took longer approaches looking for some type of unofficial trail or animal trail, rather than thrashing through the brush. As far as the climbing, there was nothing more than what I would think of as "steps", although it was moderately steep in some places. In any case, it was great fun and seemed much more adventuresome than simply walking up the side of the main peak with the rest of the mob.

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

That's some good information. Thanks. The one thing that turned me off about this park is the throng. It's good to know that one can find an isolated spot for adventure travel. :cool:

munkee · 03-23-2005, 10:19 AM

I've camped out there a few times in both the primitive (backpack) and walk-in sites. It wasn't bad in the primitive areas, and you get to pick your own spot within an area, but can be crowded. Buzzard's roost is farther away from things but very thorny with a LOT of cacti. I much preferred the trail that cuts between the two main domes and the area next to the pond. The walk-in areas were nice and close to restrooms and such. And as long as you don't mind the budding guitarist doing his rendition of Bon Jovi, you will probably be alright.

I don't think there are too many places that match the view of the stars from the top of the rock though, especially when there is a meteor shower. You can almost reach out and grab them.

01ACRViper · 04-14-2005, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

That's some good information. Thanks. The one thing that turned me off about this park is the throng. It's good to know that one can find an isolated spot for adventure travel. :cool:

thats the main reason i've stayed away from this park for a while, but i went this past weekend and it wasn't that bad on Friday. i stayed in the moss lake area, and the most i saw people was another group of people every 30 minutes or so coming to camp. i climbed the rock ~3pm, and were no more than 10 people. when i climbed again at 7:30, i was the only one on top. that was a suprise. i climbed again saturday morning around 11 with my full pack on, and i was geting the weirdest looks from the hundreds of people up there. it's an amazing difference the day can make in crowds.

http://www.beckerphoto.net/galleries/Enchanted_Rock/

not sure if that will work, first time trying it

munkee · 04-15-2005, 02:31 PM

That link worked fine. Nice pictures by the way. There's just something mystical about that place. I don't care how crowded it gets.

ploddinTod · 04-18-2005, 11:55 AM

Very nice pictures, Ryan. I think you captured many different aspects of the park, from the rounded main dome to the craggy rocks and boulders to the dark caves and crevasses.

I particularly like the closeup of the spiderwort.

lost_but_found · 04-26-2005, 01:58 PM

I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures! They had great composition! What kind of camera/lens are you using, out of curiosity?

This park has some amazing photo-ops and is the first of two reasons I still enjoy the relaxation of hundreds of people and the overall pleasure of shared solitude. The other is E-Rock is my favorite place to go scrambling, it just has some amazing routes to explore! Sometimes you can find some really amazing 'hide away' places out there that actually give you some solitude. And the contrast of the pink granite, water, the blue sky and green foliage just make for some amazing pictures!

01ACRViper · 04-26-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost_but_found

I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures! They had great composition! What kind of camera/lens are you using, out of curiosity?

This park has some amazing photo-ops and is the first of two reasons I still enjoy the relaxation of hundreds of people and the overall pleasure of shared solitude. The other is E-Rock is my favorite place to go scrambling, it just has some amazing routes to explore! Sometimes you can find some really amazing 'hide away' places out there that actually give you some solitude. And the contrast of the pink granite, water, the blue sky and green foliage just make for some amazing pictures!

those were with my 300d. some were with the 18-55mm kit lens, the others with the 50mm 1.8. next up is a 24-70L, then a sigma 70-200 2.8

lost_but_found · 04-26-2005, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01ACRViper

those were with my 300d. some were with the 18-55mm kit lens, the others with the 50mm 1.8. next up is a 24-70L, then a sigma 70-200 2.8

I'm shooting for the 70-200mm f/4.0L next. Got some saving to do though!

Shannon · 04-26-2005, 05:18 PM

Justin loves that lens... so much so, I rarely get to use it. He uses it for the portraiture aspect of our business. Be warned, though -- it's a HEAVY lens. Heavier than the 300mm f/4 L lens I primarily shoot with. We don't have a lot of L lenses, but the few we have paid for themselves a long, long time ago!

PS: Excellent pics. Sorry I didn't post earlier. I've also looked at a handful of the ones you posted a link to in another thread. Enjoying the high shutter speeds to stop action, I see. Only suggestion -- compose, then fire. That way, you could get things like people's goofy (or intense concentration) looks as they prepared to throw (looked like disc golf, but I couldn't tell?) Makes for more interesting, compelling photos. But not every photo needs to be a work of art, and I'm the first to admit that. Photography should always be fun... and digital is the essence of fun, allowing you to experiment and do all sorts of things people really didn't do much when it meant film and processing costs just to "see what this does."

lost_but_found · 04-26-2005, 06:02 PM

Yes, it is heavy!! I was looking at it a couple of days ago, or more to say drooling over it! I get excited just thinking about saving the money up for it!! But I have heavier lenses for my old Nikon, so it is all that bad!

That is one of the main reasons I have invested into the professional digital market, I can play around with shots and get immediate results. Then use that knowledge and take it to the manual Nikon. There is just something about film that still captures my inclination towards photography and I have to say that I am always far more excited when I am waiting for my film prints to come back from the developers! I think it is that wait and the suspense of not knowing exactly what you are going to get that keeps me enthralled in the analog/film world. But being broke all the time isn't so conducive to taking rolls and rolls of film.

I can't say that stop action is one of my favorites, but since the 300D has far less shutter lag than my old camera and takes bursts of 6pictures, I decided to get a few pictures of us out playing disc golf. But I generally lean more towards marcos and slow shutter speeds. That is one the main reasons I wanted the upgrade, I get to use a remote shutter button and can use the bulb setting and take some serious exposures - plus the having access to what really makes a picture, the lenses! I think night pictures and the strange contrast of light and dark you get is so appealing to my senses, and are generally my favorite shots to work with. But I do a lot of macros - mostly flowers because they are easy. But I like depth of field a whole lot too.

I guess this should be in the photography forums huh?!

01ACRViper · 04-26-2005, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon

Justin loves that lens... so much so, I rarely get to use it. He uses it for the portraiture aspect of our business. Be warned, though -- it's a HEAVY lens. Heavier than the 300mm f/4 L lens I primarily shoot with. We don't have a lot of L lenses, but the few we have paid for themselves a long, long time ago!

PS: Excellent pics. Sorry I didn't post earlier. I've also looked at a handful of the ones you posted a link to in another thread. Enjoying the high shutter speeds to stop action, I see. Only suggestion -- compose, then fire. That way, you could get things like people's goofy (or intense concentration) looks as they prepared to throw (looked like disc golf, but I couldn't tell?) Makes for more interesting, compelling photos. But not every photo needs to be a work of art, and I'm the first to admit that. Photography should always be fun... and digital is the essence of fun, allowing you to experiment and do all sorts of things people really didn't do much when it meant film and processing costs just to "see what this does."

it is very heavy

in the Guadalupe Mtns this winter i carried just the 300d/kit lens/filters/battery/tripod, in addition to my comaping stuff, and the difference was VERY noticable

i shot a few tennis matched for the team at UT using a 300mm f2.8, i would never buy anything that large to hike with. my arm almost fell off

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