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Enchanted Rock State Park
Enchanted Rock has been on my “to do list” for several years!! Every time I would visit Fredericksburg I’d say to myself “I need to come back and hike Enchanted Rock”. Well I finally hiked Enchanted Rock and I’m here to share all of my tips with you!
Getting There
The drive out to Enchanted Rock is gorgeous! It’s through the Texas Hill Country and it’s just so relaxing. It’s about an hour and a half from Austin and San Antonio. So it’s an easy day trip or a great place to camp for the weekend. Enchanted Rock gets full quickly so even if you’re planning a quick day trip, be sure to book your day passes in advance!! They will not let you in if they’re full!!
Hiking at Enchanted Rock State Park
Obviously you have to hike Enchanted Rock (the massive pink granite dome the park is named after). It took us about 20 minutes to get to the top, but be prepared it’s steep! You’re basically just hiking straight up to the top; no switch backs…no steady incline…no marked trail….just go up! Two tips for hiking to the top of Enchanted Rock:
- Check the weather before you start your hike. Rain will make the rock super slippery, definitely not safe to hike when wet.
- Don’t hike this trail in the heat of summer, the rock heats up quickly and there isn’t any shade along the trail. If you do visit in the summer, then I suggest making it an early morning hike.
On your way down from Enchanted Rock, I recommend cutting over to Echo Canyon Trail. Hike Echo Canyon Trail to Moss Lake. When I first saw “Moss Lake” on the map I was expecting a nasty little pond but I was wrong…it was beautiful! Definitely glad we made the short hike to check it out! From Moss Lake, I’d recommend turning right onto the Loop Trail and hiking back to your car/campsite. Check out my suggested hiking route below, first you’ll hike the green route and then the orange route:
Rock Climbing at Enchanted Rock State Park
Did you know that some of the state parks provide a map for rock climbing?? I had no idea!! Apparently rock climbing is pretty popular at Enchanted Rock!! Rock climbing’s not really my thing but if you’re a rock climber then check out their map here. If you’ve never really rock climbed before and you’re interested in learning, check out Outpost Wilderness Adventure for lessons/tours.
Camping at Enchanted Rock State Park
There aren’t many campsites at Enchanted Rock State Park, so you’ll need to make your reservations early. I tried to make reservations at 9:30am on the day reservations opened (months in advance) and most of the sites were already booked. By 11am there weren’t any sites left, so set your calendar and plan ahead (reservations are available online 6 months in advance). If you’re lucky enough to reserve a campsite, then I’d recommend the following sites: 22, 25-28, and 30. All of these campsites will require a short walk from you car to the site but it’s not too far I promise. If you’re new to camping be sure to check out my tips for beginner campers, my recommended camping gear, and my camping checklist.
Be sure to check out some of my other favorite Texas State Parks and camping tips.
