Big SpringState Park - Texas |
Big Spring State Park is located in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas. Facilities at the park include a lighted group pavilion, which can accommodate up to 50 people; restrooms with no showers and a Texas State Park store. Native American artifacts and fossils from the area are on display at a seasonal interpretive center, which is also located in the park.
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Campground Map of Big Spring State Park (SP) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Birds at Big Spring State Park (SP) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Guide to Historic Rock Carvings on Scenic Mountain in Big Spring State Park (SP) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Rack Card of Big Spring State Park (SP) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Official Texas State Parks Guide. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Official Texas State Parks Guide (español). Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Big Spring SP
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/big-spring
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Spring_State_Park_(Texas)
Big Spring State Park is located in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas. Facilities at the park include a lighted group pavilion, which can accommodate up to 50 people; restrooms with no showers and a Texas State Park store. Native American artifacts and fossils from the area are on display at a seasonal interpretive center, which is also located in the park.
For assistance using this map, contact the park.
Big Spring
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LEGEND
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• Park closes at sunset.
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• Please review complete Park Rules
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• Gathering of firewood is prohibited.
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TEXAS
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100 Scenic Drive
Big Spring, TX 79720
(432) 263-4931
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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.
© 2020 TPWD PWD MP P4506-003A (2/20)
Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
PARK RESERVATIONS
TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org
(512) 389-8900
Proud Sponsor of
Texas State Parks
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE
BIRDS
OF
BIG SPRING
S T A T E
P A R K
A FIELD CHECKLIST
2009
Cover: Illustration of Rufous-crowned Sparrow
by Clemente Guzman III.
INTRODUCTION
B
ig Spring State Park is located just off I-20 within the
city limits of Big Spring in Howard County. Acquired
by the state in 1934, the park was constructed by the
Civilian Conservation Corps using limestone quarried on the
site. The three-mile driving and walking route that loops
around the mountain follows the ledge of limestone rimrock
that caps the 200-foot bluff. Vegetation in the 382-acre park
includes mesquite, shin oak, skunk-bush sumac and red-berry
juniper with prickly-pear cactus on the rocky slopes. There is
also a 2/3-mile rocky nature trail that cuts through the veg
etation and climbs more than halfway to the summit.
This checklist is based on observations made by members
of the Midland Naturalists group of Midland, Texas, during
monthly visits over a period of seven years. The list includes
only those birds which have been seen within or flying over
the park. Park visitors are urged to report sightings to the
Midland Naturalists’ Web site: www.midnats.org
Checklist nomenclature and organization follow the
A.O.U. Checklist of North American Birds (7th Edition) as
currently supplemented.
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 lead
to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation.
1
LEGEND
C
U
R
^
—
—
—
—
Common – seen in numbers every year
Uncommon – present but may be difficult to see
Rare – few records, not seen every year
Flyover – seen flying over the park
SP — March – May
S — June – August
F — September – November
W — December – February
CHECKLIST
SP
S
___^ American White Pelican ..............................
F
W
R
___^ Double-crested Cormorant ..........................
R
___^ Great Blue Heron..........................................
R
R
R
___^ Snow Goose ...................................................
R
___^ Canada Goose ...............................................
R
___^ Blue-winged Teal .......................................... R
___^ Turkey Vulture .............................................. C
C
___^ Osprey.............................................................
___^ Mississippi Kite ............................................. U
C
R
C
U
___^ Northern Harrier .......................................... R
R
___^ Sharp-shinned Hawk ....................................
R
___^ Cooper’s Hawk .............................................. R
R
___^ Harris’s Hawk ................................................
R
___^ Swainson’s Hawk ..........................................
R
___^ Red-tailed Hawk ............................................ R
U
___^ Ferruginous Hawk ........................................
___ American Kestrel .......................................... U
2
R
R
R
R
U
R
SP
S
___^ Merlin .............................................................
F
W
R
R
C
___^ Peregrine Falcon ...........................................
R
___ Scaled Quail................................................... C
C
C
___ Northern Bobwhite ...................................... R
R
U
___^ Sandhill Crane .............................................. U
C
C
___^ Killdeer ........................................................... R
R
R
___^ Upland Sandpiper .........................................
R
___^ Ring-billed Gull .............................................
___^ Rock Pigeon ...................................................
R
U
U
___^ Eurasian Collared-Dove ............................... R
R
R
R
___ Mourning Dove ............................................. C
C
C
C
___^ White-winged Dove ...................................... C
C
C
C
___ Inca Dove .......................................................
R
___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo .................................... U
U
___ Greater Roadrunner ..................................... U
U
___ Burrowing Owl..............................................
___^ Common Nighthawk ....................................
U
U
___ Common Poorwill ........................................ R
R
___^ Chimney Swift............................................... U
C
U
___ Black-chinned Hummingbird ...................... U
C
R
___ Rufous Hummingbird...................................
___^ Belted Kingfisher ..........................................
R
R
R
R
R
U
U
R
U
R
___ Golden-fronted Woodpecker ....................... R
___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker ........................ R
___ Northern Flicker ........................................... R
___ Olive-sided Flycatcher .................................. R
___ Western Wood-Pewee ................................... R
Big Spring
State Park
Guide to Historic
Rock Carvings
on Scenic Mountain
Atop Scenic Mountain
A poem by Nancy Michaelie
January 9, 2017
On going to the top of Scenic
Mountain in Big Spring State Park
on the first warm day of the last
three – wanting the sun – strolling
and noticing the names chiseled
in the limestone – graffiti – taking
pictures and wondering:
Did they climb this small peak
To seek
A permanent spot
At the top
Or to feel closer to God
Than on the far stretching sod
Of surrounding plains?
Did they go to the park
On a lark
With chisel and nail
Their names to avail
To set into stone
And claim as their own
A small piece of rock?
Did they stop as their names they did sink
To take a moment to think
Of the heat, rain and wind
That nature would send
To slowly erase their work?
Civilian Conservation Corps members
work on the road in the state park.
TPWD Archives
Yet these many years later I ponder,
As the top of the hill I wander,
That these names carved in stone
Are never alone,
There’s critter scat – and me.
contents
1 JIMMIE GARZA’S SAILOR........................... 8
12 FROM A FAR-OFF LAND............................ 16
2 MAN IN HAT . . .................................................... 8
13 PAVED DESIGN...............................................17
3 WOOD WEAVER OF SAN ANGELO. . ....... 9
14 LOVELY LADY................................................. 18
4 QUARRY ROCK HOLES................................. 9
15 GEOLOGIC ROCK HAMMERS.. ................ 19
5 NEIGHBORS. . ................................................... 10
16 MR. ANDERSON.............................................20
6 BLANK SCROLL . . .............................................11
17 HORNED HEAD. . ............................................ 21
7 CARVED BENCH.............................................11
18 PAINT BRUSH................................................. 22
8 FANCY SCRIPT SIGNATURES.. ................ 12
19 CUP AND SPOON.......................................... 23
9 FLOYD COLLINS. . .......................................... 14
20 SCRIBBLE ROCK BASIN............................. 24
10 CUPULES........................................................... 15
21 GEOMETRIC PATTERN............................... 25
11 CURSIVE SIGNATURES.............................. 16
22 EAGLE................................................................. 26
special thanks
Katie Grimes
James Johnston
Nancy Michaelie
Tammy Burrow Schrecengost – Director and Curator of Big Spring Heritage Museum
Ronald Alton – Big Spring State Park Superintendent
Matt Warren – Big Spring State Park Maintenance Specialist
Cassie Cox – West Texas State Parks Regional Interpretive Specialist
Mark Lockwood – West Texas State Parks Regional Director
Tim Roberts – West Texas State Parks Regional Cultural Resource Coordinator
Price Rumbelow – West Texas State Parks Regional Habitat Conservation Specialist
Robert Mark, Jannie Loubser and Evelyn Billo – Rupestrian CyberServices
for completing the Rock Imagery Inventory
Cover photo by Matt Warren
1
introduction
Scratched deep in Scenic Mountain’s Edwards limestone, 210 feet above
the city of Big Spring, over 300 carvings in Big Spring State Park tell the
stories of past visitors. Scenic Mountain is the center point of Big Spring
State Park with sweeping views of the surrounding area and town of
Big Spring. It’s easy to see why people have been visiting this spot for
hundreds and maybe thousands of years. Some of those visitors left
their mark in the form of rock carvings visible throughout the park.
An oasis in the middle of a semi-arid region, Big Spring is in an ecologically diverse area at
the crossroads of the Edwards Plateau, Llano Estacado and Osage Plains. A mix of grasslands
with juniper, scrub oak and mesquite makes this area unique; bison were spotted here
through the 1880s.
As the limestone cliffs of Scenic Mountain can be seen for miles, many people were drawn to
the area. Most visitation to the area recorded before 1881 is tied to the “big spring” located a
half-mile southeast of the state park and now in the Comanche Trail Park. Many Native
American artifacts and carvings have been found near the spring’s life-giving waters.
One rock carving on Scenic Mountain is thought to be Native American (see page 21).
A prominent branch of the Comanche War Trail followed Sulphur Springs Draw to Big
Spring, but Apache and Jumano peoples also roamed the area.
After 1881 Anglo-Americans began to move into the
area, and with the laid tracks of the railroad, the city
of Big Spring began to flourish. Most of the carvings
on Scenic Mountain were made after that time.
Another generation of carvings appeared between
1934 and 1936 with the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC). CCC Company 1857 developed many of the
roads, rock buildings and structures in the park
using locally quarried limestone and hand tools.
You can see their handiwork all over the park.
Check out the rocks mak
Big Spring
S TAT E PA R K
PA N H A N D L E P L A I N S
Big Spring
STATE PARK
At Big Spring State Park, visitors love to hike, bike
and bird-watch on this 382-acre parcel of rural land.
Visitors should be on the lookout for horned lizards and
roadrunners along a three-mile scenic drive looping
around the park, which sprawls across a high mesa
called Scenic Mountain—so named because of the
beautiful sunsets and scenic views that it affords.
Below the limestone bluff lies the town of Big Spring,
named for a large spring that once flowed nearby.
Group Facility: Picnic pavilion (capacity 50).
An ideal site for weddings, or church/company/
graduation picnics.
Picnicking: Picnic sites with shade shelters and grills.
Playground nearby.
Interpretive Center: Indian and natural history exhibits.
Trails and Nature Watching: Hiking, biking and nature
trails. Great diversity of plant and animal life.
Scenic Overlook Drive: CCC-built loop road constructed
with huge limestone blocks.
Weddings and Group Picnics: By arrangement.
To Lubbock
To Midland
87
350
To Snyder
Big Spring
20
Big Spring
State Park
700
87
To Abilene
To San Angelo
Located in Howard County,
within the city limits of Big Spring,
off FM 700.
Big Spring State Park
#1 Scenic Drive, Big Spring, TX 79720 • (432) 263-4931
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.
© 2020 TPWD PWD CD P4506-003D (4/20)
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.
-Official-
FA C I L I T I E S
MAPS
Get the Mobile App:
ACTIVITIES
texasstateparks.org/app
2022 Toyota Tundra
Official Vehicle of
the Texas Parks &
Wildlife Foundation
Introducing a truck that needs no introduction. The new
Tundra was born from a legacy of invincibility. And designed
to take on everything the great state of Texas has to offer.
toyota.com/Tundra
Built Here Lives Here: Assembled in
Texas with U.S. and globally sourced parts.
Contents
4
6
8
10
Activities and Programs
Parks Near You
Places to Stay
Recreational
Vehicles
12 Tips for Time
in Nature
Eisenhower
14 Visitor Fees
and Passes
Directory
18 Big Bend Country
Fort Davis
28 Gulf Coast
34 Hill Country
48 Panhandle Plains
56 Pineywoods
64 Prairies and Lakes
80 South Texas Plains
86 Facilities and Activities
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
Carter P. Smith 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
Index
44 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 photo: Tyler State Park, Chase Fountain
Texas State Parks Official Guide, Eighteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/22)
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.
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
It’s an exciting time in Texas State Parks. The challenges
of the last few years have led many people to explore
the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Many Texans
discovered their state parks for the first time, while longtime users have discovered new parks to visit. 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. You might say that the 630,000-plus acres that make up the state park
system is nearly as diverse as the people of Texas.
Since 1923 our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. Every
day we look for new and better ways to live that mission and make sure state parks
are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience with
being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while
bringing your friends and family along. I’m glad you’re
here and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100year anniversary of state parks with you very soon.
What’s new in state parks?
>> New facilities to welcome visitors at Ray Roberts Lake – Johnson Branch,
Franklin Mountains, and Galveston Island State Parks
>> R
epairs completed at Stephen F. Austin’s group facilities, McKinney Falls’ visitor
center, Goose Island’s fishing pier and bayfront campsites and Lake Livingston’s
fishing pier and marina
>> Improvements and major repairs are planned
for Tyler, South Llano River, Cedar Hill and several
other state parks
>> B
almorhea State Park reopened their
pool and day use area following repair and
reconstruction. Over 600 acres of land was also
added to the park.
>> Construction has begun at Palo Pinto
Mountains State Park.
texasstateparks.org/whatsnew
ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS
What is there to do
in state parks?
Enjoy a family picnic, tour a hallowed historic site or choose
from some of these visitor favorites:
Bike
Pedal across parks at
any speed, in any style,
with any group. Choose
the routes, surfaces and
distances that fit your
comfort zone.
Walk
Start with a shorter loop,
tackle tougher terrain or join
a guided tour.
Fish
Fish without a license in as
many as 70 state parks.
Many offer tackle loaner
programs and special learnto-fish events.
Boat or Paddle
Rent canoes and kayaks,
explore a Texas Paddling
Trail or launch a boat.
View Wildlife
Discover the birds, mammals
and p
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