Stephen F. Austin State Park

This park's location is important not because of the landscape, but because of it's historic significance. Stephen F. Austin chose this area as home base for es­tab­lishing Anglo-American colonies in Texas. The historic plaque commemorating the site of Austin's colony explains the details. 

The place to start for a background on Texas's birth and fight for independence is the museum, known officially as San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site. This is the location, on the highway just outside the park entrance, is where Steven F. Austin first established his colony in 1823. The colony grew to become the social, economic, and political center of American immigration to Texas before independence. 

This life-size sculpture greeted us at the entrance to the museum

The museum includes a variety of period artifacts, murals and other artwork that provide an overview of life at the time. The gift shop has a variety of the usual items for sale, and the staff are readily available to answer questions. 

Outside the walls of the museum one enters into a small village of log buildings, all well maintained and often populated with volunteers dressed in period clothing and going about their daily chores. On the day we visited there was only one, a blacksmith. He happily explained his tools and the project he was working on. 

The campground here in the park is situated in a mixed forest of cedar elm, water hickory, Osage orange, sugar hackberry, pecan, Mexican plum and western soapberry.  We're visiting in early winter, so most of the branches are bare, and the only wildflowers are a few Turk's Cap blossoms still hanging on. The native holly, also common here in the campground, is still covered with red berries. The birds will do away with those soon as the weather turns colder. 

We planned only a short trip, as we're approaching Christmas and there's a lot to do to prepare for Santa's visit, so we only had time for one more site visit. The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is only a 30 minute drive (19 mi.) northeast of the campground. It's a great place to get an overview of the amazing natural history in this coastal plains environment. 

The center moved into a new facility not too long ago and they are still getting organized so they weren't officially "open" when we visited. There was an employee in the building however, and when she saw us watching the video of the Prairie Chicken Dance in the entrance area she happily opened the door so we could visit inside. The collections and displays are all focused on explaining the importance of protecting the species, their traits and the overall ecology of the area. 

The displays in the visitor center include an extensive taxidermy bird exhibit and some lovely artwork by students. The activities the staff plan for busy seasons are clever and entertaining for everyone, but especially suited for school age children. 

Browse the photos in our photo album for this visit to get  better idea of the scenery and the museum itself. The center's official grand opening is expected to be in the spring for their "Boom and Bloom" festival (The 2023 Attwater's Prairie-Chicken Festival, Booming and Blooming Festival will take place on the second weekend of April, unless it falls on Easter weekend, in which case it will be the previous weekend.) 

The "boom" is the male performance during mating season, and the video in the entrance lobby shows staff members and visitors demonstrating the steps to this "dance" ritual. It's a really entertaining way to introduce some rather interesting animal behavior! Here is a short but amusing video explaining the purpose for the "boom" dance, and a more scientific  8-minute video exploring the issues around the survival of this species as well as the steps being taken to assist in their survival. 

There are several bird blinds around the nearby pond and a short trail so it's easy to get good viewing angles, also a nice place to set up your easel or camera.

The town nearest the campground is Sealy. It's a small town, but necessary services like groceries are available, there's a Walmart so you can pick up whatever you forgot, and there are several choices for restaurants, auto parts, etc. We drove around in town on the first day in the park just to get our bearings. There are a few interesting shops in the old original downtown area too. . . including a quilt shop! If you're a quilter, look for the Wooden Spool.

The park gift shop has an extensive collection of T-shirts, hats, stuffed toys, games and collectables. Sites are all pull-thru, nicely spaced in the wooded area. Many have large grassy areas that are perfect for kids or campers with pets.  

Restrooms are nice, clean, well designed with shower accommodations for individuals using wheelchairs in all - men's, women's, two family and one "handicapped" restroom.

The campground is surrounded by multiple walking/biking trails that all seem well maintained. 

We really enjoyed wandering through the woods, especially since the weather was mild. The birds were fairly active, and we found a few stray wildflowers still blooming here and there. The low-lying portions of trails that get flooded frequently often have some sort of bridge or boardwalk over them. A local bicycle club has helped to put in and maintain many of the trails sections. 

Time to head for home. This was a nice respite in a busy season. 

photo album for this trip

Fort Richardson State Park and Historic Site

 THE TWO LIVES OF FORT RICHARDSON

In the 1850's the Texas Emigration and Land Office was offering land grants, drawing large numbers of settlers. This land, of course, already had residents... namely the Native Americans who had lived here for generations. At first, with smaller numbers of settlers the tribes accepted the newcomers, but as the numbers increased, understandably, they began to object to the changes they were seeing in their land. The conflicts that followed are the theme and purpose for this fort, which is now a state park.

Between 1867 and 1875 southern plains tribes, largely Kiowa and Comanche, saw their way of life under attack,  leading to violent battles with the U.S. Army.  The park interpretive center has some wonderful informative displays offering insights into the Native American cultures as well as the settlers and the military at that time. 

The nearby town of Jacksboro was already settled (in the 1850's) when the northernmost outpost Fort Richardson was established in 1868. The post hospital was completed in 1870.

The fort's tasks in this "first life" were protection of the settlement of Jacksboro, as well as the northern Texas border. Cavalry and infantry troops were assigned to duty on the northern Texas frontier, and Fort Richardson was a key post during these times of unrest. The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon (see previous post) took place in 1874 and is considered the final big battle of the Red River War 1874-1875. This fort was established before that battle took place.

Life at the fort was not luxurious. Long and difficult patrols, sometimes all the way to Palo Duro Canyon 300 miles away, often in treacherous weather, illness, spoiled food, in addition to wounds acquired in battle or from the routine of daily life in this harsh environment. These patrols, along with guarding the military road connecting Fort Richards to other forts in the southwest. Of the original 60+ buildings only a few remain, and some are modern replicas. The hospital, picture below, is one of the most complete buildings at the fort. 

Foundations remain for some that have been lost to time and the elements, and those remaining are now nicely supplied with furnishings and mannequins dressed for the period so one can understand how life must have been in those early years of the fort. The infirmary, shown below, must have been miserably cold in the winter with only one small wood stove to heat the high-ceiling room. 

After the Battle of Palo Duro, the north Texas frontier was relatively secure and soldiers were no longer needed at Fort Richardson. Orders to abandon Fort Richardson were issued March 29, 1878.

THE SECOND LIFE OF FORT RICHARDSON

During World War II, Fort Richardson was reactivated and became an active Texas National Guard installation as the mobilization site for Battery F, 2ndBattalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. This "second life" is an important contribution to the survival of some of the existing/original structures. 

In early 1942, the battalion fought alongside the Dutch on the island of Java to repel a Japanese invasion. The unit and 368 sailors from the USS Houston were captured when the Dutch surrendered the island in March. The fate of the men who were fighting there remained a mystery until the end of the war. They became known as the “Lost Battalion.”

Imprisoned for 42 months the men suffered harsh working conditions and tropical diseases and injuries with no medical treatment. The 738 members of the Lost Battalion who managed to survive were liberated on August 15, 1945. There is a state historical marker near the visitor center for the fort commemorating these men. 

THE TOWN OF JACKSBORO

The nearby town of Jacksboro was originally named "Mesquiteville" when it was established in the 1850's, due to the dominance of mesquite trees in the area, the name was changed in 1858 when it became the county seat for Jack County, named in honor of brothers William and Patrick Jack. 

The population of Jacksboro was a little over 4,000 in the 2020 census, but seems much larger. Several of the historic buildings on Main Street survive, though considerable restoration is needed for some of them. Most have been repurposed from their original use as banks and hotels to now housing smaller retail businesses, restaurants, and B & B's.  It is a pleasant little town and has all the services one might need. We enjoyed driving a few of the side streets and looking at the historic homes. 

This mural on Main street depicts the various industries in the area. 

We arrived at the state park late in the afternoon on May 3. It was a long drive from Palo Duro Canyon!  With gray skies overhead we scurried to set up camp, and by 7 p.m. we were deep into thunder and lightening and really high wind. Then came the rain and hail. Not really much total precipitation but it surely came down with a flourish! 

The camping and hiking facilities in the park are some of the best we've seen. There are trails everywhere, and huge fields of mown grass where that is appropriate and natural fields of wildflowers and blooming cactus in the plentiful wide open spaces. We enjoyed our site's open space and sat outside listening to the birds. My Merlin app identified several species by their songs, but most of them remained hidden in the dense shrubbery. Little furrows in the leaf duff along the walking paths indicated the armadillos were busy overnight, and the butterflies were out if full force, sampling the nectar in the wildflowers.

Rumbling Springs the feeds a lovely gurgling stream in the middle of the park, and the nearby twin lakes area offers fishing and swimming. The campsites here are larger and more widely spaced than usual, offering privacy as well as better views of the surrounding landscape than one usually has. This is really a beautiful and well maintained park!

Check the album for more photos and information about the park and the history of the town. 

Palo Duro State Park

Monday, April 29

"Nothing to make a shadow", that was the first thing to pop into my mind as we left the rolling green of northern Texas Hill Country and entered the plains area of the Texas panhandle. Flat....as far as the eye can see, the sky becomes so large it dwarfs even the modern day wind generators slowly rotating above the dwarfed farm houses and outbuildings. 

Sometimes it's a lone windmill, other times the entire farm seems to have been given over to "wind farming".  The book title I mention above was written by a woman recalling her very early days as a settler on the plains of South Dakota. I wonder what she would think of the Texas plains. Not much in the way of shadows here, even now.  

I can't begin to imagine the surprise of those who arrive from the eastern states so many years ago, traveling across the miles and miles of flat-flat-flat land known as the Great Plains, only to come upon this, an 800 foot deep canyon laced with layers of red and white with glistening rivers and creeks flowing through a small forest of trees and shrubs.

We're staying in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The Spanish name "Palo Duro", which translates to "hard wood" refers to the Rocky Mountain junipers that grow here. The canyon also contains mesquite (also a very hard wood), cottonwood, willow, western soapberry and hackberry. A variety of shrubs and other greenery fill the canyon floor, especially this time of year when many things are in full bloom.

The early development of Palo Duro Canyon as a park relied largely on the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp. First came the road, a fascinating and very steep involving many switchbacks. Then came the El Coronado Lodge. The building serves as the visitor center and gift shop today, but a photo tells of the rustic luxury of the Mission era when it was first completed.

The many retaining walls and stone bridges found throughout the park are also the work of the CCC. 

Palo Duro Canyon was formed over millions of years. of water erosion by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River with a bit of help from the famous the West Texas wind. The cliffs, gullies, layers of color and ever changing shadows are a joy to watch as the lighting changes during the day. Some of the formations have been given fanciful names, like the Lighthouse, taken as the symbol of the canyon. We also learned about the Sad Monkey, which can be viewed from the area behind the Old West Stables. 

Many years ago there was a small railroad that ran in that area, providing visitors with ongoing narrative about the canyon and it's history during the ride. The name "Sad Monkey was inspired by a rock formation, and the sprit is kept alive in the name of a mercantile just outside the park. The historical Sad Monkey Railroad is no longer running, a victim of regulations and insurance costs, it has been restored and sits on display in Neblett Park in the nearby town of Canyon. In 2019 a state historic marker was placed near the train display in the park. The tracks have been removed and bits of them are available on Ebay as souvenirs. 

The nearby town of Canyon (20 miles away) is worth visiting, if not for the train, then for a visit to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the beautiful collection of artifacts, art, and cultural presentations. This is truly a beautiful museum, with the most artistic, informative and professional presentations of historic artifacts, art objects, and the range of cultures in the area over time. I couldn't help taking a few photos, though it's difficult to truly present the experience without being there. 

The Native Americans knew about Palo Duro canyon long before the settlers arrived of course, they had been living in the canyon and hunting the abundant wildlife for generations. That fact and the desire for the settlers of the westward movement led to the Red River War. (more here Red River War) It was not just one simple battle, but part of a process over several years that led to the complete destruction of the Native American culture in the plains area. The Panhandle-Plains Museum does an excellent job of illustrating the complexities of the cultural changes of those times. 

The park is a network of trails and offers surprising things to discover along the way. We heard the turkeys long before we saw them, and it took some serious hunting to find the dugout style cabin. Wildflowers and shrubs we've never seen before decorate the slopes, and there are several small creeks crossing the trails. Horses, bicycles, dogs and humans are all welcome here. 

Our site is #90 in the Mesquite Camp area. It's a great site, with  couple of drawbacks. The first is, there is a giant dumpster placed exactly where a vehicle needs access to in order to make the swing when backing a trailer into the space. The second is that the shelter and picnic table assigned to this site are actually closer to the adjacent site than to this one. This is probably the result of changes in site design over the years, and we have a table of our own as well as the shade of the awning so all is well. We have lots of space and a great view to the canyon out the back window. 

The dogs are loving all the room for sniffing, and the many trails for our frequent walks. Though all the spaces seem to be occupied by evening this doesn't seem to be an especially busy time of year for the park.   

The book mentioned is  Nothing to Make a Shadow. Faye Cashatt Lewis. 1940

 More photos in the album, along with some explanatory notes. 

    

Lake Brownwood State Park

Our travels in the past have generally been to sites and activities in other states, but there is so much fascinating history in Texas, not to mention beautiful scenery, that we've decided we'll try for shorter trips closer to home for awhile. Our final destination on this short excursion is Palo Duro Canyon State Park, in the panhandle area of Texas.

Sunday

Our first travel day was windy, overcast, and a bit wet. Not so great for driving or photography, but it did provide an opportunity to test out the new hitch stabilizer. 

After several hours of driving in pretty stiff wind the Trail Master reports. . .  The Way-Safe allows adjustment based on an internal weight scale which allows for real time adjustments depending on the load at the time.  Theoretically this leads to better sway control. So far so good, but still evaluating. 

(click on any photo for a larger view)

Our reservation for the evening was in Lake Brownwood State Park, about a 3 hour drive from San Marcos. 

This is a bass lake, and other campers mentioned they were here for a fishing tournament, but it had been delayed a day because of the nigh winds. Fortunately, Sunday dawned bright and sunny, so I'm sure the contestants all had a good time. 

 We arrived late in the afternoon and settled in to space #1 in Willow Point loop. What a great site! Plenty long, no obstructions to make backing in difficult, and a beautiful wildflower meadow for our front door. 

We enjoyed driving around the park and exploring the many structures left by the CCC corps.

Many of the projects the CCC completed have succumbed to the effects of weather and erosion, but many remain.

A stone picnic table the the foundations for benches, along with a fireplace for warming are tucked up in the trees only a few campsites away from ours. 

There's also a beautiful lodge with stone walls and smaller out buildings that are still in use, though they need a lot of TLC.  

 A monument in front of the lodge  honors the men of the Civilian Conservation Core and the 36th Army Infantry Division which worked alongside and supervised the CCC in the building of the park. 

Access to the lake for fishing and boating include several boat ramps and fishing docks. The water level is quite low due to the past several years of drought, but the docks and bridges all seem constructed to adapt to the changes. 

One path and fishing pier caught my eye, they are designed to float as one piece, while just past them is a sturdy bridge over the water that seems arched high enough to accommodate any possible rise in water level. 

Though we only spent two nights in the park we enjoyed it very much. The wildflower meadows and multiple places to hike walk the pups are hard to beat!

By Monday the sun was shining and all the wildflowers perked up. Our meadow from the campground entrance had quite a variety of flowers, and this seems an especially good year for the cactus blooms.

Departure day, wouldn't you know it? Fog rolled in.... 

 

Now, northward to Palo Duro Canyon!

Davis Mountains State Park

Feb. 20, Tuesday

We've wanted to visit the Davis Mountains area for quite some time. It's one of the few places in Texas with enough elevation to be a bit cooler than the rest of the state when those heat waves hit, and it's also home to a large observatory operated by the University of Texas. This is our first visit to the area, and there's a lot to check out!

During our visit we stayed in the Davis Mountains State Park. The park offers a unique opportunity to experience the natural surroundings and wildlife of this mountainous area both on the trails and on driving tours, enjoy the artistic and rustic handiwork of the CCC's picnic shelters and other structures,  and learn the historic role the area played in the settlement of the area with a tour of nearby Ft. Davis. 

The Davis Mountains campground has a range of campsites to fit different "styles". Some are small, suitable for tents and really short units, others accommodate longer RV's and coaches. Some have only water, others are full service. Maps available on the park's website help sort all that out when making reservations.  There are several sections which makes the camping area feel less crowded than one might think, providing privacy as well as open views of the surrounding landscape.  

The park includes a lodge with restaurant which unfortunately was closed for remodeling and plumbing repairs when we visited. The lodge has an interesting history, having been constructed by the CCC over several years. This article describes the construction phases that resulted in today's very impressive structure. 

The park's other facilities include a small office at the entrance and a small interpretive center located in the campground. Programs are scheduled for some mornings and afternoons but there doesn't seem to be an established schedule so check with office or online. I attended one the program on geology which was very informative, including samples of local stone varieties, geologic history of the development of the landscape we see today, and some photos of examples throughout the park and surrounding area. 

A trail map is available on the park's website, but be aware, it's orientation is completely opposite of the campground map! North is at the top on the trail map and at the bottom on the campground map.)

Wednesday, time to tour the fort!

Nearby Fort Davis National Historic Site is probably the first site outside of the park to visit here as it's such an important part of western history and one of the most completely restored. First established in  1854 " By Lt. Col. Washington Seawell with six companies of the 8th U.S. Infantry, in Oct 1854 for protecting travelers on the San Antonio-El Paso Road". The fort was named for the then secretary of war, Jefferson Davis.  Abandoned by federal troops in 1861, it was then activated again in 1867. The fort was retired again in 1891, and in following years had some private usage which helped to maintain some of the structures.  This is a large facility, spread out over 523 acres. A nicely done visitor center (and gift shop) explains the primary purpose and history of the fort and includes information on the Buffalo Soldiers. 

Some of the buildings are completely restored (or almost so) and furnished with period items, such as the infirmary, others are in various states of repair. Many original structures have largely disappeared (adobe brick will do that over time!) and now only the foundation is visible. 

This applies particularly to the stables and other livestock related features that cover a large part of the fort nearest to the main road through town. The full array of the fort structures can be seen from that road (hwy. 17) when on a slight rise. . . or by hiking up one of the hillsides of the box canyon where the fort is located. That's the position from which the panorama above was taken. 

Thursday

The town of Fort Davis, which is immediately adjacent to the actual fort, provides access to groceries and other amenities such as hotels and restaurants. Several businesses are now vacant, or have scaled back services, due in part to the slowdown in traffic during the Covid 19 era. There is a move to renovate several of the hotel properties however, by a group looking to encourage more tourism in the area. 

We did a bit of grocery shopping and then stopped by the county courthouse to admire the grounds and the construction. Texas counties are all rather proud of their historic courthouses, and take steps to keep them well preserved. 

This courthouse was built in 1910 using poured concrete and local stone insets of red rhyolite, a completely different look from other Texas courthouses. It replaced the earlier adobe structure that had fallen into disrepair. 

Thursday

Only a few miles away the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens is another day trip worth taking. 

A small but interesting Chihuahuan Desert Mining Heritage Museum display is on one side of the parking area. The display features types of ore, all labeled, mining equipment, and some history of mining in the area. The information signs all feature a little burro named Dynamito, the mascot for the association that sponsors the display. It's a nice recognition of the history of mining in the area and harkens back to the days of individuals trekking across the desert with their burrows laden with tools and grub. 

Inside the visitor center is a gift and book shop, and while we were there they also had a good stock of large potted cactus plants waiting for the upcoming cactus sale to be held in March. The host explained the center's features and provided a trail map, so we set out to explore the gardens and the cactus greenhouse. 

I have to say, seeing what they have inside that greenhouse I'm envious, we won't be here for the plant sale and the greenhouse holds an amazing array of the smaller cacti! Many of the plant specimens along the trail are labeled, but as spring hasn't really arrived here yet they are still dormant. The gardens are a good place to observe wildlife too, and there are benches here and there to sit an watch for birds and other small animals.  

Friday

What an amazing day! Today was McDonald Observatory day on our agenda. Other than seeing a few photos of (one of) the large telescope domes we didn't really have any idea or expectation of what to expect. We had as a goal checking the area out for a future trip with our grandsons and daughter. It's definitely on our list now! 

The visitor center opens at noon and we were a little early,  so spent a little time taking the dogs for a walk. We parked at the far corner of the parking lot as we didn't want them to disturb the official greeting party.... the cute little javelina herd that greeted us when we arrive. There were about 10 of them, including one very small young one. Quite tame, they weren't too upset about vehicles, but in fact trotted over to a couple of cars probably looking for a snack. 

At noon we walked up to the visitor's center, we knew we were on time as the giant sundial that covers most of the entry patio indicated we were 8 minutes early. On the dot of noon the doors were opened and we entered to view the displays about the various telescopes and the observatory, and to buy the very low priced tickets for our selected programs. We selected this time to see the solar telescope viewing program. It was very well done and by the conclusion our heads were filled with some unbelievable information regarding the sun, sunspots, galaxies (our own and others) and other fascinating bits of information. We watched current views of the sun, via the telescope, on a huge screen in almost real time. Due to transmission time there's an 8 minute delay. It was a great program!  

At the conclusion we headed out for the self-guided tour of the telescope domes (the option we had selected) and drove up the hill to first one mountain peak and then the other to see the displays and videos offered there. 

The second of the two telescope we visited was the Hobby Eberly. From the website:" It's made up of 91 hexagonal mirrors that form a reflecting surface measuring 11 by 10 meters. The segments must be aligned exactly to form a perfect reflecting surface for good observations. HET is classified as a 10-meter telescope, making it the third largest optical telescope in the world."

Walking around the areas containing the telescope buildings can be a challenge for some as the elevation is well over 6,000 ft. and some of the roadways and walkways are quite steep. There are some terrific views of the surrounding area due to the elevation, great photo opportunities!

The facility is much larger than we expected, and so are the program offerings. There are guided tours, star watch parties, etc. that require scheduling and tickets purchased ahead of time on their website. 

More photos in the album

TRIP SUMMARY:

33 DAYS

3583 MILES

304 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL, AVG: $4.65 GALLON.  AVG. 11.8 mpg

CAMPING TOTAL: $765    FUEL TOTAL: $1415  AVG. COST PER DAY $67.

We stayed primarily in State and County Parks.  Two nights in private campgrounds and two nights in BLM.  The cost of this trip was very similar to last years which was too the same area's.

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and a couple of one night stands

 Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground is part of the Bureau of Land Management system. As a BLM campground is had been free in the past, but as with most of their campgrounds they had started charging a nominal fee several years ago. Now they've gone to a new system, which requires the camping registration and fee be handled online. (You can't even go camping these days without needing the Internet for something!) 

We had registered and paid for our site online the day before our arrival, but just our luck, when we arrived it was occupied! The folks who had decided to settle there had no idea they had to pay to stay there! (note to campers..... read the notices as you enter a campground). They graciously left the site and sought one elsewhere. 

We settled in for the evening and enjoyed the uninterrupted view of the desert. Wide open space and no traffic are rare these days, even in the desert. 

Right after breakfast the next day we walked over to the relatively small rocky outcrop that was situated right in the middle of camp! I'm accustomed to having to trek up fairly challenging trails in some cases to see petroglyphs. These are right in our front yard!  

If you are a fan of petroglyphs, all you can say is WOW! In an article about this site Wikipedia states there are approximately 800 figures in this collection. Even if you aren't, the sheer number and variety of glyphs carved here, over several hundred years, is amazing to think about. Some of the older ones are quite faded due to the continued erosion of the rock, and the ongoing patina forming on the stone. (Patina is the dark brown/black layer that forms on stone that is exposed to the elements for long periods of time. Petroglyphs like these are formed by pecking through that layer, usually with a stone tool. In the photo below the glyphs are layered, with the newer ones on top and much more clearly defined than the older, dim carvings underneath

The importance of this area to several cultures can only be understood if you look at a map and understand that the Gila river, which supports wildlife (aka food for native people), the map on the website linked to above shows the early explorer and pioneer trails, and now highways, cuts right through here. So the proliferation of glyphs may be attributed to the number of travelers passing by, or ????  Interpreting petroglyphs is very subjective, and it's fun to imagine why they are here, but no one can be certain they have the correct interpretation. 

In the afternoon I took the dogs for an off-leash walk out to the riverbed, dry at the time but easy navigating. They enjoyed the opportunity to explore at their leisure with no leashes required as we don't get an opportunity for that kind of exploration very often. 

The following morning we departed for a one night stay in Picacho State Park. This is a regular stop for us when traveling to and from AZ or CA.  The photo below is taken from our site looking toward I-10, a very busy highway, with Newman peak in the distance. The highway is far away, and though we can see the steady stream of traffic we never hear it. At night the lights shine so brightly it looks like a diamond bracelet stretching across the valley.

The park has beautiful scenery, an interesting history, and if you visit a bit later in the year, lots of wildflowers. We were two weeks later last year, so there were more flowers in bloom. Check out that post for details.

For the following day, a short drive, a quick trip to the grocery store, and then one night in Kartchner Caverns State Park. This is another favorite as well as convenient stop on the way home. Good trails for walking, the visitor center is really well done, and the cave tours are too. We spent quite a bit of time here last year. That adventure is here.

Next, a long drive ahead of us, to Rockhound State Park, New Mexico. 

More photos in the album!