Address: 21715 Dolan Creek Rd, Del Rio, TX 78840. Stargazing at Enchanted Rock. You’ll want to return again and again. In Fredericksburg, Central Texas, is Enchanted Rock … People drive from all over the state to see the pink granite rock that rises 425 feet high and can be seen from miles away–and to complete an Enchanted Rock hike. This park is a great stargazing option for those in Austin or other central Texas cities. The Enchanted Rock Star Party is an annual event hosted by the Hill Country Astronomers. The government has instructed that you should minimise time spent outside your home, minimise the number of journeys you make and only travel a short distance within your local area to exercise. ACCOMMODATIONS: Tent camping. 5. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Elgin Texas 78621. Take Hwy 290 West to Fredericksburg. The skies at Enchanted Rock are dark enough to view the Milky Way, and it is one of only two International Dark Sky Association recognized parks in Texas. There are nearly 11 miles of hiking trails throughout the area and even a little playground at the bottom. No electricity. This meteor shower is a dazzling light show of hundreds of shooting stars, and NASA expects it to be exceptional in 2016. Discover (and save!) If you’re sharing a tent or hammocking, please note this in the comments when you register. Join Enchanted Rock staff and the Friends of Enchanted Rock for an evening of stargazing, star parties, Dark Sky talks, demonstrations, and hikes. Hike Enchanted Rock during the day and turn to the sky at night to view a massive amount of stars. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area: Best place to go stargazing - See 2,255 traveller reviews, 1,720 candid photos, and great deals for Fredericksburg, TX, at Tripadvisor. Set up camp and marvel at the views, lovely hikes, and stargazing at the vastness of the Texas night sky. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area: Best place to go stargazing - See 2,271 traveler reviews, 1,738 candid photos, and great deals for Fredericksburg, TX, at Tripadvisor. Stargazing. It was acquired in 1978 by the Nature Conservancy of Texas. Until this past weekend. Rebecca used to hike all over it asa kid and frequently slept on top of it during summers to see the Milky Way. The Enchanted Rock Star Party is also held here on an annual basis. Be aware that most hiking trails close 30 minutes after sunset. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. enchanted rock state natural area “The stars at night are big and bright, Deep in the heart of Texas.” This old song still holds true at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg, where a massive dome of pink granite is the perfect setting for Stargazing 101 programs and “Rock Star Parties.” Pick any place around the park to sit and soak in the spirituality of the stars. Visit the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to climb the ancient dome for amazing Texas Hill Country views. We want as many people to come as possible. The list is ever changing and evolving, but Enchanted Rock has been on there since the get go. Stargazing: Enchanted Rock’s rural dark sky makes it one of the best public places for stargazing in Central Texas, and in fact, it has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, meaning the skies there are still dark enough to view the Milky Way with minimal intrusion of artificial light. Aug 18, 2017 - This Pin was discovered by Justin Weaver. During the summer, they even have food trucks to feed the crowds. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area consists of 1643.5 acres on Big Sandy Creek, north of Fredericksburg, on the border between Gillespie and Llano Counties. 1/ Enchanted Rock Dinosaur Valley proudly hosts stargazing events and even meteor shower events when the time comes because of it’s awesome sky views. Travel 17 miles north to Enchanted Rock. But there’s more at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area than … We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Feb 12, 2020 - Magical, mystical, enchanted and loads of outdoor fun. On the 23rd of September all the planets aligned for the first time since 50-something BCE so we went to Enchanted rock to stargaze with friends in our Airstream :). Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is celebrating its dark side. The third annual Enchanted Rock Star Festival is 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. If you are looking for a place to stargaze in the Hill Country, look no further than Enchanted Rock. your own Pins on Pinterest With the mystery of Enchanted Rock as a backdrop, visitors can gaze into the night sky envisioning a time of long past. Deemed by the International Dark Skies Association as one of the three approved “dark-sky parks”, Enchanted Rock stays dark and provides stargazers with great watching conditions. Pets are not permitted on the Summit Trail leading to Enchanted Rock’s highest dome, or any of the seven peaks of the granite uplift. Known for its massive pink granite rock formation, this park is also great for stargazing since it’s considered an International Dark Sky Park. Enchanted Rock is a great place for day trips, rock climbing, camping, bird watching stargazing and more. While in residence, join us on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at Enchantment Circle where our expert astronomers share their in-depth knowledge of Sedona’s renowned night sky using an array of powerful telescopes and binoculars. The park is listed as an International Dark Sky Park, which means it is considered to be exceptional for stargazing. The short, stunning summit trail in Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is one of the most popular hikes in Texas. This big hunk of granite and the surrounding areas are without a doubt some of the best places to stargaze in Central Texas. Where to stay: Within the confines of the park, there are only camping options available. Turn right on Milam St. (RR 965). ), we wanted to take a look at some of the best stargazing spots in and around the Austin area. The sky was completely clear and we could see the milky way across the entire sky; it was pretty incredible! There’s also room for 2 hammocks on the shade shelters. On top of this beautiful piece of granite, you can soak up the most unrestricted views of the night sky above. Enchanted Rock requires all tents to stay on their very small tent pads. Just like the name, the Enchanted Rock Area allows you to climb the ancient and historical pink granite area for amazing Hill Country views. With this event on the horizon (or rather above it! 16710 Ranch Rd. The event begins as the sun sets, and visitors will see the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter line up. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area The area is located at 1670 Ranch Rd. To protect the ecosystem of this Natural Area, pets are only allowed in the designated picnic areas, the campgrounds, and on the Loop Trail. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is widely regarded as one of the best places to go stargazing in Texas. Please bring a smallish tent. The park is located at 16710 RR 965 near Fredericksburg. You can even attend one of their “rock star” parties, to learn more about constellations and shooting stars. Enchanted Rock Whether you like to hike in the morning or would like stargazing, Enchanted Rock is one of Fredericksburg’s treasures. Travel 17 miles North to Enchanted Rock. It is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park and is a great place to see the Milky Way. The formation’s estimated age is one billion years, and it is the focal point of many Native American legends. The scattered population in the area reduces the lighting and allows you to enjoy the shooting stars. Due to the lack of light pollution, Enchanted Rock is a great spot to go stargazing. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is widely regarded as one of the best places to go stargazing in Texas. 965 Fredericksburg, TX. Actually, the park is hosting a dark skies event with a “spotlight” on the stars and planets.. If you’re a fan of camping, backpacking, rock climbing, geocache, stargazing, photography and birdwatching, you’ll love this area as … The Enchanted Rock Star Party is also held here on an annual basis. There are more than 10 miles of hiking trails, including the 4-mile Summit Trail to the top of Enchanted Rock. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. It is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park and is a great place to see the Milky Way. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. In addition to completing the hiking trails, Enchanted Rock is the focal point for other activities. Continue to Fredericksburg, and turn right on Milam St. (RR 965). Posted by hazeldespain on September 30, 2017. From San Antonio: Take Hwy 281 North to Johnson City. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. In fact, the Texas Parks Association uses light measurement instruments to provide optimal stargazing conditions. Turn West on Hwy 290. Enchanted Rock ranks a 3 on the Bortles Dark-Sky Scale (where 1 is the darkest), according to Texas Parks & Wildlife. As the sun goes down, enjoy solar viewing through special solar scopes and stick around for the night's activities. After gawking at 360-degree views, hop on the Loop Trail—the only trail that welcomes four-legged hikers. The massive pink granite dome rising above Central Texas has drawn people for thousands of years. Enchanted Rock is a huge, pink granite dome rising 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level, and covering 640 acres. Some aficionados of rock climbing and bouldering like to come out to Enchanted Rock to climb while others stick around until night time to enjoy the excellent Stargazing. We go to Fredericksburg a few times a year, but besides a moonlit hike we did on Thanksgiving a couple years ago (it’s great for stargazing), we just hadn’t made it there. Located near Fredericksburg, Texas, down in the heart of hill country, this area is classified as an International Dark Sky Park. The city is home for stargazing activities with numerous spots to enjoy the amazing stars. Camping options at Enchanted Rock are pretty rustic.