4. 3. 2. 1. Climbing of the backcountry. the harmony and nature Help preserve traces. ... no perceptible of your visit leave no sign only if you, the user, complete be area will traveling through and camping in a primitive heritage. The satisfaction and achievement of protect and care for their only if today’s visitors area the primitive backcountry and experience able to enjoy be generations will Future well. more enjoyable but inspirational as not only be you will nature. In so doing, the trail before the sounds, smells and feel of experiencing this natural setting by closely examining and in to maximize their experience encouraged Visitors are kept to a minimum. be will the incursions of man to its natural condition; allowed to revert walk is being which you will through The country accustomed. become “civilized” life to which we havethe everyday far removed from camping area, an experience You and to enter a primitive hiking are about General Information (830) 685-3636 or 911.(830) 685-3636 arise, contact the headquarters: gency Should an emer­ only by foot. are accessible and most parts of the park Fredericksburg, Keep it safe. Nearestare in medical facilities shoes. rubber-soled or proper foot gear such as climbing boots and wear loose, protective clothing at least one light source insure safety, carry safety.climbing ability to experience To and If requires some skill vertical drops. numerous steep inclines and hazardous surfaces, tight passages, wet, slippery with over 20 entrances talus fissure contains should use CAUT Visitors exploring Fissure nature of the rock surface. the slippery on the rock due to for climbing and hiking shoes are not recommended Leather-soled for others to enjoy. the resource and preserve Climb “clean”The use of pitons is prohibited. ION. This 1, 000-foot-long Kerrvill e-Schreiner e-Schreiner 173 Enchanted Rock State Natural Area 290 TEXAS 16 Enchanted Rock TEXAS 27 I-10 87 Park Park State Natural Area State Natural 87 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Fredericksburg, FM 96 5 Fredericksburg 4200 Smith School Road Llano 16710 Ranch Road 965 TEXAS www.tpwd.state.tx.us Museum Nimitz Admiral 16 PWD BR P4507-119L Guadalupe River Austin, TX 78744 78744 TX Austin, (830) 685-3636 San Antonio 290 Boerne Lyndon B. Johnson I-10

Blanco FM 1623 1623 FM State Park Park State Johnson City State Park Park State State Historic Site State Historic TEXAS 71 Mountain TEXAS 46 Round Marble Falls 281 Blanco 281 (10/08) FM 2766

290

M 9 M F

TEXAS

46 FM

Wimberley

62 62 32 32 32 I-35 TEXAS 71 San Marcos Pedernales Falls

Dripping

Braunfels Springs

12 12 New FM

F 12 12 M FM

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8 State Park Austin I-35 TEXAS 71 290 TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Enchanted STATE NATURAL AREA Rock

Primitive Campsites (Backpacking) Vernal Pools A Threatened Natural Resource Overnight camping is permitted only in the designated primitive camping area. CAMP WITHIN CAMPING AREA BOUNDARIES. Do not rearrange the landscape. DO NOT CONSTRUCT YOUR CAMPSITE. Never cut The “islands” of vegetation on the bare branches, saplings or trees. As much as possible, please avoid disturbing the groundcover and topsoil. summit of Enchanted Rock are some of the Locate your camp in order to take advantage of natural drainage and topography. Bedsites or tents should most ecologically significant and severely be pitched on naturally flat ground. Do not dig or level an area for a bedsite. Please remove all traces of threatened features of this state natural area. your camp when you leave. Known as soil islands, weather pits, gammas or vernal pools, these patches of vegetation on Be advised that the river and low-lying areas are subject to flash flooding. bare rock develop in depressions formed by weathering over thousands of years. Campfires are not permitted in the primitive area due to the possibility of wildfires. COOKING SHALL BE DONE ONLY ON CONTAINERIZED FUEL STOVES. NO GROUNDFIRES. The depressions shelter an assemblage of plants and animals uniquely adapted to a All garbage and litter (including cigarette butts) shall be packed out of the area for disposal in trash harsh environment. In fact, by studying weather pits, ecologists learn: (1) how plants receptacles at the trailheads. Burying garbage is not permitted. and animals colonize a newly formed habitat; (2) how those organisms modify their environ­ Self-composting toilet facilities are located adjacent to the trail at the designated camping areas. DO NOT ment and help develop soils; and, (3) how THROW ANY NON-BIODEGRADABLE WASTE OR SMOKING MATERIALS INTO THE COMPOSTING TANK. plant and animal community structure and composition change over time.

At Enchanted Rock you can see the progres­ sive development from bare rock-bottom pits, to annual plant establishment, to miniature prairies with grasses like little bluestem and even trees like live oak. Vernal pools also sup­ port an interesting species of invertebrate, the fairy shrimp. These tiny animals survive total desiccation as fertilized eggs, and hatch into larvae and grow into adults each time water collects after sufficient rainfall.

Because of the fragile nature of weather pits, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants to make sure visitors are aware of their signifi­ cance. Too often they are perceived as nothing more than convenient rest areas or even “bathrooms” for people and pets, and are subject to trampling, littering and other forms of waste. PLEASE refrain from entering or allow­ ing pets in weather pits under any condition. Enjoy and observe these special features only from their granite margins – STAY ON THE ROCK. Thank you for protecting an important part of the Enchanted Rock experience.