If you’ve been lucky enough to call Texas home or pass through our great state there’s one thing you probably know: Texas has a lot to offer. From north to south, east to west, we have something for everyone. We put together 3 of the most interesting state parks in Texas, but did you know there are actually more than 90 state parks for you to visit and make memories at?
Two words sum up what you find at Palo Duro Canyon State Park: incredible beauty. Located outside of Amarilly, Texas this park offers stunning views of a gorgeous canyon filled with rock formations. Activities include camping, horseback riding, hiking, nature study, bird watching, mountain biking and scenic drives. One of the best ways to explore this park is on the 1500 acres of horseback trails, just like the cowboys did. Admission is a mere $5 for adults and children 12 and under are free. If you’re looking for a guided tour check out the Old West Stables, where you can enjoy a meal and get a tour to Timber Creek Canyon and the famous Lighthouse formation. Reservations are required for the tour.
Located at Franklin Mountains State Park the Wyler Aerial Tramway is located a stone’s throw from El Paso. The parking area to access gondola’s is 4,692 feet above sea level. Half the fun of visiting the park is the winding drive along the Franklin Mountains to access the parking lot. Gondolas are available to ride to the top of Ranger Peak. This 4 minute ride takes you 5,632 feet above sea level to a point where you can see 7,000 square miles encompassing three states and two nations (United States and Mexico). The viewing platform offers 360 degree views, a gift shop, and more. This is also a great place for birding thanks to migratory patterns and some wetlands.
**This park doesn’t offer trash disposal, so you MUST take all trash with you**
If you’ve got curious kids or are looking for a great family destination, you’ll love Kickapoo Cavern State Park. It offers picnic sites, camping, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, cave tours, and evening bat flight viewing during the season. You can view bats at Stuart Cave from April-October. This is the primary stop over for Mexican Free Tail Bats and a natural wonder that makes for a great moment for your children to appreciate the beauty of nature.
Which Texas State Parks do you enjoy? Share with us on Facebook or Google+.
Photo Credit: By Leaflet (talk) 01:24, 12 September 2008 (UTC)Leaflet at en.wikipedia (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
