Quick overnight trip to Enchanted Rock with some college friends in Texas. We camped and attempted star photos, then did a hike and went home. The yellow flowers were in bloom.
June 27, 2014
If you go
Enchanted Rock is a pink granite dome north of Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country. The summit hike is short but steep — bare rock the whole way — and a loop around the base adds easy mileage if you want it.
When to go: fall through spring. Summer afternoons on exposed granite are punishing. Spring brings the wildflowers; if you want the yellow stuff and the bluebonnets, aim for March or April.
Camping & entry: it’s a Texas state park, and it fills. Busy weekends require a day pass reserved in advance, and the walk-in tent sites book out early. Reserve before you drive.
Dark skies: it’s a certified International Dark Sky Park, which is why the star photos work even when you’re still learning the camera. Go on a new moon.
