took the long way around
User: jimmy peace - 7/7/2019  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 8.60 Miles Duration: 4 hours

got a bit hot today, but, i did up and around 

Nice views from the top of Enchanted Rock
User: oliverd - 2/10/2018  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 4.50 Miles Duration: N/A

I did a circular walk around the eastern part of the park, including an"off track" descent down the back of the dome. A fun few hours here; after haf a day I felt I'd seen enough!
https://hikingtheworld.blog/2016/10/22/enchanted-rock/

Awesome Botanizing, Terrific Views, Lots of People, Hard to Get In
User: plectrudis - 12/29/2016  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 1.68 Miles Duration: N/A

I did this as a birthday hike over the Christmas holidays on a weekday.  We arrived around 10:30/11 and there was a line of cars out the park and a mile or more down the road.  We were told the park was full and no new guests were being accepted, try coming back after 1.

So we went and noodled around Frederickburg and returned a little before 1.  Again we waited in a huge line, but the cutoff for who got in was about 6 cars behind us.  Phew.  Moral of the story: visit E-Rock on a weekday when there are no holidays in sight, and get there early.

When we finally got in, we only had the mojo for the single hike up to the top, but it was beautiful, and we had a terrific time spotting weird plants and looking at the tiny fairy shrimp in the vernal pools.  There were tons of people, but it was worth it.  The last section of the hike looks steeper than it is--if heights give you the collywobbles, just focus on your feet and don't look around too much till you reach the summit and you'll be fine.

Such a fun and beautiful place!
User: heatharcadia - 1/16/2016  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 7.69 Miles Duration: 5 hours, 6 minutes

I love this place. I wandered around all day, first climbing Enchanted Rock itself and finding the cave on the backside, then I went and climbed Turkey Peak (I chose the harder but shorter route where I had to climb up rocks-- at the top I learned from others there that there is also a longer path that is easier), then I climbed all around and on Freshman Mountain. 

Summit Trail and Enchanted Rock proper is the busiest area by far, but there were other places I explored where I saw no other people.

This place is great because there are easy trails that still have nice views if you ust want to wander around leisurely but there are also tougher trials or you can try climbing on rocks if you wnat a challenge. It is a place I keep returning to (I go at least once a year).

Mini loop, plus the summit
User: Riff Raff - 11/8/2013  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 3.85 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 48 minutes

Yeah! We did it again
User: Eveline - 9/1/2013  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 6.20 Miles Duration: N/A

We made it back this time with a different group.  Enjoy sharing our favorite walk with other people.

User: texaskdog - 6/15/2013  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A

We hiked east on the loop trail, went about halfway around, then through the camping area and on the Echo trail, bouldering our way to the summit trail.  Very hot and dry with no water running through the creeks.  Not really that interesting during dry periods.

Three peaks on Columbus Day
User: terlanmat68 - 10/8/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 39 minutes
Took the kids to Enchanted Rock since they were out of school. Weather was perfect... arrived around 9:30am, temperature was around 50F and there weren't many folks around. We started our hike on the Loop Trail to the left of the parking lot. We turned off the main trail to the right and followed a "jeep" trail toward the unnamed westernmost peak simply labeled "1705" on the park map. After some water and a few pictures, we continued to the east, descending slightly and then climbed up Little Rock to that peak. More water and pictures and then we made our way down into and across Echo Canyon and hiked up Enchanted Rock from the west, finding our own path. It was a bit steep in places, but we made it easily. Found the USGS marker on the top of Enchanted Rock. We found a nice spot to sit along the northern edge and had lunch. After enjoying the view for a while, we explored the nearby cave entrance area but decided not to follow the arrow that pointed straight down. Maybe next time. We descended and circled to the north through Echo Canyon and then east behind Enchanted Rock. We were planning to head over to Buzzard's Roost, but the kids were starting to get tired and we decided to abort the mission before it stopped being fun. We back tracked slightly and followed Turkey Pass back to the parking lot. We'll be back another day to try to bag Buzzard's Roost, Freshman Mountain and maybe even Turkey Peak (if it can be reached without climbing skills).

Walking up a counter top.
User: craigalbritton - 3/15/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 0.75 Mile Duration: N/A
NOTE: For SPRING BREAK - To ensure entrance to the park, make sure you are there early. The park opens at 0800, by 1000 there is a line to get in, and by noon o'clock we heard the wait was up to an hour. Took the family to Enchanted Rock for Spring Break to do some hiking. First up, The Summit Trail, while it seems a bit odd to think of a big granite rock as having a "summit", once you finish walking up the side of the giant granite boulder you do appreciate the flat top. There are tons of more scientific and technical explanations of what is seen on this trail, so I will not go into that aspect. One thing to definitely note is the utter lack of formal bathrooms on the rock itself, i.e. be sure to take care of business before embarking. The hike is pretty simple, not easy per se as it involves hiking up a steep enough grade which does cause for some uneasiness if you slip. I imagine this trail is not real fun if there is any precipitation. Also, I have hiked at E-Rock in summer as well, and that pretty much sucked. The granite amplifies the heat quite nicely, so you do feel like the proverbial egg frying on the concrete. The view from the summit is great and a full 360 degrees. Remember: peeing or soaking your feet in the vernal pools is highly discouraged.

Echo Canyon and Little Rock
User: craigalbritton - 3/15/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles Duration: N/A
NOTE: For SPRING BREAK - To ensure entrance to the park, make sure you are there early. The park opens at 0800, by 1000 there is a line to get in, and by noon o'clock we heard the wait was up to an hour. After the Summit Trail, we scrambled down to the Echo Canyon Trail to hit the compost toilet. Though the rangers would frown on trying to pee off the top a giant granite boulder on the dome itself. Echo Canyon is aptly named and after a rousing "TEXAS,FIGHT" echo-fest with my daughter, we picked our way through the wash of rocks and intermittent water. Nothing too technical here, but you could easily turn an ankle or scrape a knee if you are not paying attention. Also, if it pouring down rain, I imagine Enchanted Rock and Little Rock act as the perfect funnel. We connected with the Loop Trail then headed to Little Rock which has two humps. Hiking Little Rock is very similar to Enchanted Rock but with a lot less people. I think most visitors think that one rock is as good as any other. I enjoyed Little Rock as there was more vegetation and since it actually rained in the Hill Country before our visit, there was this strange color called "green" almost painted on everything. Sorry, poor drought joke here in the Lone Star State :) Last thing, we took my near 70 year old mother-in-law who true to form was wearing woefully inappropriate footwear (those goofy arse Sketcher rocking shoes), but she hung in there all day. For Mother's Day, I am seeing some nice day hiking shoes in her future, but I hope I can find some in gold lame' (I think that's France speak for shiny tacky gold cloth.)!

We came back to do it again
User: Eveline - 7/23/2011  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 6.20 Miles Duration: N/A

One of our favorite places.  Wish we lived closer and could do it more often.

no shade but lots to look at.
User: bigtim1763 - 6/9/2011  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 4.90 Miles Duration: N/A