Big Spring

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 State Park TexasStateParks.org/App TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia #TexasStateParks #BetterOutside LEGEND • Public consumption or display of an alcoholic beverage is prohibited. Headquarters der k boc Lu b N • Park closes at sunset. Sny PLEASE NOTE Restrooms e Abilen k Par e On y Wa Hiking Trail d dlan dar y • Drone use is prohibited. n Bou • Gathering of firewood is prohibited. • Please review complete Park Rules and Regulations posted at headquarters. Parking Mi Mountain Biking Trail Trailhead 700 TEXAS San Angelo On eW ay Group Picnic Area r Group Pavilion u Nat Picnic Area rail eT Playground ig To B Scenic Overlook Spr ing Residence Maintenance One Way Entrance ay eW Trailhead Parking On 700 Pa ry TEXAS e One W ay ilen One Way O nda ou rk B b To A ay ne W One Way ne O 100 Scenic Drive Big Spring, TX 79720 (432) 263-4931 ay W 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 P4506-003A (2/23) This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ 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 making

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- 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