Monthly Archives: January 2017

Enchanted Rock – Echo Canyon Trail

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Echo Canyon Trail is the fun part where you get to do some work.  You scramble across boulders and enjoy the canyon views as you make your way to the summit of Enchanted Rock.  At almost any point on this trail, you can launch yourself on a granite hike directly up the sloping side of Enchanted Rock.

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Enchanted Rock – Base Trail

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Turning off of the easy Loop Trail for the more challenging, but still not difficult, Base Trail, turned me directly into the sun and started me on a climb.  This trail runs alongside the back of Enchanted Rock, for views that most visitors don’t see.  I think the majority of people are here for the hike up the summit, and may not realize how much fun the rest of the trails are at Enchanted Rock.

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Enchanted Rock – Loop Trail

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My plan this trip was to take the Loop Trail to the northeast side of the Park.  From there, I would meet up with the Base Trail, then to the Echo Canyon Trail and up to the Summit.  This section of the Loop Trail is just over a mile long, is mostly sandy, and crosses the Sandy Creek a few times.  It is a beautiful hike on sunny, cool days.

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Enchanted Rock – Trail Map

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Enchanted Rock is getting so popular, that they run out of parking spots and close the Park for hours at a time.  Make sure you check the website or Twitter account before making the drive out there.  I was lucky and the Park was reopened shortly after my afternoon arrival.  Here is a trail map to ponder along with some photos of the pink granite dome to give you an idea of the size of things.

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