公园
附魔国家自然区域
弗雷德里克斯堡（Fredericksburg）以北的草原上方425英尺的粉红色花岗岩圆顶上升了425英尺，魔法岩石造成了惊人但温和的特征。乍一看，这只是一块巨大的，主要是贫瘠的岩石，可以登顶并从您的德克萨斯州的存储桶清单中检查。但是不要被其稳定的外墙所迷惑。这家花岗岩巨头是前寒武纪的震撼人心，是数百万年的野生地质行动的最终结果。而且巨人并不总是温柔的。在大风天，走上斜坡是一个握住，失去的帽子的情况。最强烈的阵风会让您感到自己好像要从岩石上扔掉并抛向地平线一样。另一个惊喜？从徒步旅行和攀岩到观鸟和观星，可提供大量的娱乐活动。地质学家和生物学家还可以研究登顶区域的消耗生命的春季池。 Hikers can tackle more than 10 miles of trails that climb the dome and explore its perimeter. For small-town charm, drive twenty minutes south to downtown Fredericksburg. This 19th-century German settlement is a Hill Country hotspot today, and it’s well-stocked with inns, shops and restaurants. Wineries are scattered across the rolling hills just outside town. Geology of Enchanted Rock The 640-acre rock is a foliation dome, meaning sheets of weathered granite have cracked and dropped from its surface over the years, peeling off like the curved layers of an onion. The exposed surface is part of a larger batholith – one of the largest in the US – formed when underground molten magma solidified into granite. Sections of the batholith pushed toward the earth’s surface. The rock and soil that covered these protruding sections eventually eroded away, leaving the domes exposed. Much of the batholith is still deep underground. Enchanted Rock itself is just one hill in a chain of granite hills within the state natural area. Near the summit of the dome, which crests at 1825ft above sea level, depressions in the granite trap water after rainstorms. Some of the larger depressions, known as vernal pools or weathering pits, shelter the hardy Translucent Fairy Shrimp and the endangered rock quillwort plant. Do not touch or interfere with the pools – their ecosystems are extremely fragile. The pools are also examples of geologic forces in action – well, very slow geologic action – because the presence of water and soil in the pools promotes further erosion. Campers may be spooked by eerie crackling sounds that emanate from the rock as its granite layers cool and contract at night. After a rainstorm, the rock sometimes appears to glitter under clear night skies, a phenomenon dubbed “ghost fires” by the Tonkowa people. Hiking The Summit Trail climbs .08 miles over the smooth granite slope of the dome. As you climb, take in views of two neighboring granite hills: Turkey Peak to the east and Little Mountain to the southwest. Depressions and vernal pools appear close to the summit. Other trails loop around the perimeter of the dome. Download the Interpretive Trail Guide from the park website to learn more about prickly pear cactus, lonestar grass and canyon wrens along the Interpretive Trail near the parking lot. Trails are open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Stargazing Located in a remote pocket of the Hill Country, the park is little affected by urban light pollution at night. This means the park – which earned a gold-tier International Dark Sky designation in 2014 – is a fantastic place for examining the cosmos in all of its bright and brilliant glory. Check the calendar on the park website for ranger-led evening events, which can include full moon hikes and star parties. For the latter, bring a chair and settle in for lessons about the importance of dark skies and details about the constellations overhead. Rock climbing The soaring granite domes here are packed with established bolted and traditional routes. Add in the fact that they provide high-level views of the surrounding Hill Country, and it’s easy to see why Enchanted Rock is one of the premier climbing areas in Texas. Routes range from easy to challenging, and bouldering is good on rock fragments surrounding the larger domes. Climbers must check in at headquarters and sign a climbing release waiver. Check the park website for a list of rock climbing outfitters and guides. Camping There are 35 tent-only campsites near the parking lot at the base of the dome. RVs, pop-ups and vehicle camping are not permitted. Water and showers are available. There are 20 additional primitive sites that can be reached by one-to-three-mile hikes. You can make reservations for all campsites on the Texas state parks website. Plan your visit The park is open daily from 6.30am to 10pm. The entrance fee is $8 per adult. Children 12 years and under are free. The park is 100 miles from Austin and 250 miles from Dallas. What’s nearby in the Hill Country An easy day trip from Austin and San Antonio, the Hill Country welcomes visitors with roadside wildflowers, hilltop wineries, convivial dance halls and breweries, and plenty of Texas-style BBQ. Within an hour’s drive of Enchanted Rock, you’ll find the National Museum of the Pacific War, which chronicles events during the Pacific Campaign in WWII, and the Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park, home to the Texas White House during Johnson’s presidency. Good restaurants line Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg.