Balmorhea

Balmorhea SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/balmorhea/map https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balmorhea_State_Park Balmorhea State Park is located on the San Solomon Springs in Reeves County, Texas. The park is open year-round, and visitation is capped at 900 people per day. The main feature of the park is the 1.3-acre (0.53 ha), 3.5-million-US-gallon (13,000 m3) freshwater pool built around the springs. It is the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. The spring has a constant flow of 22 to 28 million US gallons (110,000 m3) a day so no chlorination is required. The water temperature ranges from 72 to 76 °F (22 to 24 °C) and up to 30 feet (9.1 m) deep. The pool bottom is flat in the more shallow areas and has a more natural rock bottom in the deeper areas. The pool is used for both swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Balmorhea State Park TexasStateParks.org/App TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia #TexasStateParks #BetterOutside LEGEND Gathering firewood, swimming in canals or wetlands, fishing, and disturbing wildlife are prohibited. Headquarters av is State Parks Store tD Restrooms Fo r N Showers To East Residence Water and Electric Sites West Residence 2& 21-34 Sites with 50 Amp Service Dump Station 9 22 24 34 25 27 32 29 Sites 2 & 21-34 50 Amp Service on m urts o 3 l o 4 So s C 5 n 6 g Sa rin p S 31 33 Ice Machine 7 Group Campsite (maximum 16 people) 26 30 Group Camp Hubbs Ciénega 17 0 TEXAS To Ba lm or he a & I-1 Texas State Parks Store T-shirts, caps and one-of-a-kind gift items are available at the Texas State Parks Store located in our park headquarters building. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. © 2023 TPWD PWD MP P4501-002H (2/23) Picnic Area 21 8 20 28 23 2 131415161718 9 19 21 4 6 8 11 Group Hall 1 1011 12 10 R De econ se st rt W ruc etl ted an ds 18 17 16 12 15 14 13 Motel 3 5 7 This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ Swimming Pool Ciénega Observation Deck PLEASE NOTE Playground • CHECK OUT time is 12 noon for campsites (11 a.m. for motel) or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending availability). • Park closes at 7:30 p.m. or sunset, whichever comes first. • Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. • Gathering of firewood is prohibited. • Campfires are permitted only in fire rings provided at each site. No ground fires are permitted. • Numbered sites are for overnight camping only. NO PICNICKING. • Pets must be kept on leash. Pets are NOT permitted in the pool area, motel rooms, group facility or canals and must not be left unattended. • Ice machine for motel guests only. Basketball Court PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 Wheelchair Accessible Parking Historical Marker Residence Maintenance 9207 Hwy. 17 South P.O. Box 15 Toyahvale, TX 79786 (432) 375-2370 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE BALMORHEA STATE PARK The only remaining population of Comanche Springs Pupfish lives at Balmorhea State Park. A canal flows past the San Solomon Courts. ARTESIAN SPRING WATER COLLECTED STARTING SOME 40 MILES WEST IN THE APACHE MOUNTAINS THROUGH SPRINGS. BUBBLES SAN UP SOLOMON BEGINNING IN 1935 AND LASTING A FEW YEARS, THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS ENCLOSED THE SPRINGS — CREATING THE 1.3-ACRE POOL — AND DEVELOPED SURROUNDING THE FACILITIES. WHILE A BEAUTIFUL AND RELAXING PLACE FOR A SWIM AND OVERNIGHT STAY, MUCH WILDLIFE CALLS THE PARK THEIR Balmorhea State Park hosts thousands of visitors each year who enjoy swimming, camping and overnight stays in the historic Motor Court. The human history of San Solomon Springs spans several centuries. The park also sustains unique wildlife, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. We encourage you to tread lightly and help protect this unique and sensitive environment. • Keep Wildlife Wild – Please don’t feed or harass wildlife • Trash Your Trash – It’s ugly and can make wildlife sick • Take Only Memories and Pictures – Leave all plants, wildlife, rocks and artifacts for future visitors to enjoy • Don’t Swim Alone – Accidents happen even for experienced swimmers. • Protect Your Pets – They must be on a leash no more than six feet in length and cleaned up after. Pets not permitted in pool area. • Be Kind to Other Visitors – Please respect others and watch for scuba divers and their equipment. • Protect Our Dark Skies – With McDonald Observatory nearby and some of the darkest skies in Texas overhead, we recommend using the least light needed for safety in your campsite. Balmorhea State Park 9207 TX-17, Toyahvale, TX 79786 (432) 375-2370 • www.tpwd.texas.gov/balmorhea PERMANENT HOME, INCLUDING SEVERAL ENDANGERED SPECIES. © 2019 TPWD. PWD BR P4501-0002K (7/19) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. B A L M O R H E A S T A T E P A R K HISTORIC LEGACY LOVED BY HUMANS The ever-flowing, life-sustaining waters of San Solomon Springs continue to fulfill human needs just as they have for thousands of years. Big game hunters probably gathered around this system of springs 11,000 years ago. Notes from the 1583 entrada, led by Spanish explorer Antonio de Espejo, described encounters with Jumanos, Native Americans who used water from the springs to irrigate crops such as maize and beans. In the 1850s, Mexican farmers continued this practice for their crops of corn, wheat, beans and potatoes. By 1854, soldiers stationed at Fort Davis – now a National Historic Site – forced the Mescalero Apaches to abandon the area, which encouraged more Mexican and Anglo settlements. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1880s led to the rise of cattle ranching. The 533-acre Balmorhea Lake was constructed in 1914 to capture the spring water to irrigate crops. The heritage and lifeblood of this community are closely tied to the continual flow of clean water. COURTESY OF ELSA SOCORRO ARROYO Artist Feather Radha’s depiction of a Jumano couple Scientists continually monitor water quality, water quantity, and the species that depend on the spring water. B Restored ciénega at Balmorhea State Park NICOLAS HAVLIK, TPWD OURS TO PROTECT Fifteen-to-twenty million gallons of crystalline water flows from San Solomon Springs each day – enough to provide 10-minute showers for over 500,000 people! In a desert, this invaluable resource sustains unique wildlife and human habitation. Originally a sensitive desert marshland known as a ciénega, human intervention and development have forever changed this landscape. Today it is important to protect the five endangered species, including the last remaining population of Comanche Springs Pupfish. In 1995 and 2009, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and partners built two ciénegas in the park which offer great birdwatching and wildlife viewing opportunities. Please help us keep this park clean and beautiful for both humans and wildlife. etween 1935 and 1938, Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1856 constructed the 1.3-acre spring-fed swimming po

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS OF BALMORHEA S T A T E P A R K A FIELD CHECKLIST 2015 Cover: Illustration of Snowy Plover by Patrick Stark. INTRODUCTION B almorhea State Park is situated in the heart of the Trans-Pecos Region. The Davis Mountains form a scenic backdrop to this extensive agricultural areas. Balmorhea is best known for the 24 million gallon per day spring located within the park. San Solomon Springs flow into a swimming pool constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is the home of two endangered fish, the Comanche Springs pupfish and the Pecos mosquito fish. Two man-made refugia, the Hubbs and San Solomon Ciénegas, within the park are designed to provide long-term, safe habitat for these fish. The native vegetation of the region is dominated by creosote bush, mesquite, and mimosa as well as saltbush and yucca. The park contains a few acres of Chihuahuan Desert scrub as well as old cottonwoods that line the channels radiating from the spring. The Hubbs and San Solomon Ciénegas offers marsh habitat and have a few scattered cottonwoods around them as well. This concentration of habitat offers excellent birding opportunities year-round. Four miles northeast of the state park is the town of Balmorhea, which offers birding opportunities in the winter and during migration. The small town has many mature trees to which birds are attracted. Balmorhea Lake is located about 2 miles east of town. This springfed lake is one of the largest bodies of water in the Trans-Pecos. As a result, large numbers of birds congregate here. The lake functions as a storage facility for irrigation and as a result, the water level fluctuates greatly. In dry years the lake can be very low by mid-summer, while in wet years the lake may overflow in to several areas. One of those areas is located on the west side of the lake at the base an earthen 1 dike. This pond is part of an extensive marsh and offers good birding opportunities. The southern edge of the lake is excellent for shorebirds in dry years when water levels are low. The east end of the lake is where the dam is located. This end of the lake is favored by loons, diving ducks and Clark’s and Western Grebes in fall and winter. Below the dam is an area of sedges, reeds and salt cedar. Overall, the lake attracts large numbers of waterbirds, especially in winter. This checklist is compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by Mark Lockwood of Alpine, Texas. Nomenclature and organization for this checklist are based upon the A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds (7th edition) as currently supplemented. You may contribute to our knowledge of the park’s birdlife by reporting sightings of unusual records or changes in status to the park’s office. Please request Bird Sighting Report Forms available at the park headquarters. Return the completed form or lists of sightings to the Natural Resources Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744 or leave them at the park headquarters for forwarding. Please help us protect the natural avian communities in our parks by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Frequent use of these tapes disrupts normal avian activity patterns, disrupts essential territorial behavior and may mead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation. 2 LEGEND A – Abundant – should be seen on 75% or more of trips in proper habitat and season C – Common – should be seen on 50% or more of trips in proper habitat and season FC – Fairly Common – should be seen on 25% or more of trips in proper habitat and season U – Uncommon – should be seen on about 10% or more of trips in proper habitat and season R – Rare – not seen annually but expected to occur again Ca – Casual – three to five records in past ten years X – Accidental – only one or two records in past ten years I – Irregular – absent or in low numbers some years, but may be numerous in others / – (in summer column before status designation) indicates that the bird’s presence in summer is due to early southbound migrants * – (in summer column) breeds Sp – S – F – W – Spring (March-May) Summer (June-August) Fall (September-November) Winter (December-February) 3 CHECKLIST Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ S F W Black-bellied Whistling-Duck.................... X Fulvous Whistling-Duck............................. X X X Greater White-fronted Goose..................... Ca Ca R Snow Goose............................................... R R U Ross’s Goose.............................................. R R R Canada Goose............................................ U R FC Wood Duck................................................ R Gadwall..................................................... C C A American Wigeon...................................... C C A Mallard...................................................... C FC*

Balmorhea S TAT E PA R K B I G B E N D C O U N T RY Balmorhea STATE PARK In the desert flatlands of West Texas near the Davis Mountains lies Balmorhea State Park and its popular centerpiece, San Solomon Springs. For thousands of years, this spring provided water for Native Americans and, later, for Spanish explorers and soldiers. Today, the park’s deep pool over the spring attracts swimmers and divers. The historic San Solomon Springs Courts motel, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1940s, offers a comfortable alternative to camping. The irrigation canals within the park are home to unique aquatic life, including two species of endangered fish. Camping: Campsites with water only or water and electricity and cable TV. Motel: Historic San Solomon Springs Courts offers 18 units, A/C, heat, cable TV, no phone. Reservations recommended. Group Facilities: Dining hall (capacity 25–50). Picnicking: Day-use area with playground. Swimming: Pool open year-round. Bathhouse. Special Attraction: A replicated desert wetland (ciénega) with a viewing deck. Texas State Parks Store: One-of-a-kind gifts, souvenirs, convenience items, etc. 20 17 Kent 10 Saragosa Balmorhea 118 Toyahvale 17 10 Balmorhea State Park Located in Reeves County, four miles west of Balmorhea off Texas Highway 17. Balmorhea State Park Box 15, Toyahvale, TX 79786 • (432) 375-2370 www.texasstateparks.org Rates and reservations: (512) 389-8900. For info only: (800) 792-1112. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. © 2018 TPWD PWD CD P4501-002G (8/18) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TDD) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. 

-Official- FACILITIES Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app T O Y O T A T U N D R A The Toyota Tundra is built to explore the great outdoors. No matter what the weekend throws at you, your Tundra takes it on with ease. | toyota.com/tundra Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation CONTENTS 4 100 Years of Texas Parks 6 Parks Near You 8 90 Checklist DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 68 David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman Lake Jackson Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 52 Panhandle Plains 48 State Parks Map Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23) TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas. gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place. The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all. There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary of state parks with you! WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Galveston Island State Park reopened the beachside of the park with a new headquarters, campsites, restrooms, and more. Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of which are ADA-accessible. Improvements and major repairs are planned for Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14. More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew 100 Years of Texas Parks The crown jewels of Texas road trips started as an unfunded wish list before the Depression. Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized rising numbers of new car travelers needed places to camp overnight on multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state legislature to create a six-member State Parks Board, half men, half women. Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her family donated acreage on the Leon

Guía de Parques INSTALACIONES Descarga la Aplicacíon Móvil MAPAS ACTIVIDADES texasstateparks.org/app ¡Los niños entran gratis! La entrada es gratis para los niños de 12 años y menores. Encuentra un parque: parquesdetexas.org Contenido Estero Llano Grande SP 2 Actividades y Programas 4 Parques Cercanos 6 Lugares para Quedarse 8 Tarifas y Pases 9 Directorio 10 Mapa de Parques 18 Instalaciones y Actividades BIENVENIDO Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes, los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias! Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a nuestra manera. Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales, explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos. ¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre! Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain © 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21) TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión, nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS ¿Qué puedo hacer en los parques estatales? ¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico o elige entre muchas otras opciones! Bicicletas Pedalea a lo largo de los parques a cualquier velocidad, en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona de confort. Caminatas Empieza con un circuito más corto, avanza a terrenos más difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada. Pescar Puedes pescar sin licencia en tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen equipo para pescar a manera de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar. Barcos Renta canoas y kayacs y explora uno de los senderos acuáticos en Texas. Nadar Animales Silvestres Acampar Descubre aves, mamíferos y plantas que tienen su hogar en Texas. Muchos parques tienen señalamientos y listados que te ayudan a aprender más. Encuentra un lugar que cumpla con lo que quieres. Prueba nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de las estrellas. 2 Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org Escape del calor en arroyos, ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas y playas del mar. Tu seguridad en el agua es muy importante. Lleva el chaleco salvavidas. Aprende a nadar. Guarda a los niños. (512) 389-8900 ¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles están disponibles! Los niños de 12 años y menores entran GRATIS Cielos Estrellados Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada. Familias en la Naturaleza Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario tener experiencia. participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque. Mochilas para Exploradores Soldados Búfalo de Texas Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más. Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas. ! Seguridad en el Parque Ten cuidado con el agua Pre