Monahans Sandhills

Monahans Sandhills SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/monahans-sandhills https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monahans_Sandhills_State_Park The Monahans Sandhills State Park is located in the southern Llano Estacado in Ward County and Winkler County, Texas. The closest major town is Monahans, Texas, and the closest limited-access highway ingress is Exit 86 on Interstate 20. The park is noted for the presence of sand dunes up to 70 feet (21 m) high. Although desert-like, the Monahans Sandhills are not a desert; they are a part of a semi-arid ecosystem (average annual rainfall 12.3 inches (310 mm)) characterized by the presence of both groundwater and relatively nutrient-poor windblown sand. The Shinoak (Quercus havardii) is a local climax shrub, an unusual type of oak tree which because of local conditions often achieves full growth of only 4 feet (1.2 m) in height. Most of a Shinoak's biomass exists in the form of a lengthy root system reaching down to groundwater. If a Monahans sand dune has become stabilized and has stopped blowing about in the wind, that is often because a small grove of Shinoaks have stabilized the dune with their extensive root systems.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Monahans Sandhills State Park TexasStateParks.org/App Pay Station sa State Parks Store rsta Inte Quiet time is from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. des • A maximum of eight people are allowed per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Headquarters nd/O • Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. idla N T-shirts, caps and one-of-a-kind gift items are available at the Texas State Parks Store located in our park headquarters building. • CHECK OUT time is 12 p.m. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). 20 0S • Pets must be kept on leash. Please pick up after them. ce R No Entry ONE No Entry 20 Park closes at 10 p.m. WA Y Y WA mil es 5 Area west of Park Road 41, north of the Nature Trail and south of Shin Oak Picnic Area road. 25 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 P4501-006A (2/23) ONE 23 24 3 2 13 1 Parking This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ les 21 22 1. Picnic Area Dump Station mi 20 4 14 Equestrian Sites Picnic Pavilion 6 .25 19 5 12 3 4 5 l rai eT Pump Jack Picnic Area 18 en twe tur Na 17 be ’s Equestrian Area 9 8 7 6 10 11 12 16 15 Water and Electric Sites Interpretive Trail MPH Shin Oak Picnic Area s 41 han ona PARK ROAD SPEED LIMIT Water Bottle Fill Station To M • All equine must remain in the equestrian area. • ALL VEHICLES MUST STAY ON PAVEMENT. OHV USE PROHIBITED. Showers oad • Equine must have proof of a negative EIA (Coggins) test within the past 12 months. The form VS 10-11 is proof of testing. Willow Draw Camping Area Restrooms ervi • Gathering firewood prohibited. Ground fires prohibited. Sandhills Picnic Pavilion Visitor Center te 2 • GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATION. #BetterOutside LEGEND To M Texas State Parks Store PLEASE NOTE #TexasStateParks TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia Residence Maintenance Dunagan Visitor Center and Headquarters Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 2500 I-20 E Exit #86 P.O. Box 1738 Monahans, TX 79756 (432) 557-3479 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE THE SANDHILLS OF MONAHANS ARE MADE UP OF BITS OF ANCIENT MOUNTAINS CHIPPED AWAY BY EROSION AND BLOWN HERE BY STRONG WINDS 5,000 TO 7,000 YEARS AGO. EVENTUALLY PLANTS AND ANIMALS MADE A HOME IN THESE DUNES. HUMANS DISCOVERED THE BOUNTY AND REFUGE OF THESE DUNES LONG AGO, RELYING ON NATURAL WATER SEEPS, PLANTS AND WILDLIFE. MANY STILL SEEK REFUGE IN MONAHANS SANDHILLS Monahans Sandhills State Park hosts thousands of visitors each year who enjoy camping, playing in the sand, picnicking and exploring nature. The park is full of history and unique plants and wildlife, some of which, like the Sand Dune Sagebrush Lizard are found in only a few places in the world. 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 and so that park staff can study them. • Be Safe – In case of emergency, know where you are if you need to call for help. • Protect Your Pets – They must be on a leash no more than six feet in length and cleaned up after. • Be Kind to Other Visitors – Yield to visitors on horse and observe quiet hours. Monahans Sandhills State Park Park Rd. 41, Monahans, TX 79756 (432) 557-3479 • www.tpwd.texas.gov/monahanssandhills/ Follow us on Facebook TO CAMP, ROAM, PLAY IN THE SAND AND EXPERIENCE NATURE. © 2021 TPWD. PWD BR P4501-0006G (7/21) 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. MONAHANS SANDHILLS STATE PARK M O N A H A N S S A N D H I L L S S T A T E P A R K PEOPLE IN THE DUNES SHIFTING SANDS, MOVING MOUNTAINS IT’S NOT JUST SAND! The shifting sands of Monahans tell the story of moving mountains, bit by bit. The dune field that Monahans Sandhills is in stretches 150 miles north to New Mexico and is 22 miles wide. The state park boundaries protect 3,840 acres of sand dunes for plants, wildlife habitat and people to enjoy. Thousands of years ago during an arid post-glacial period, tiny bits of eroded Southern Rocky Mountains that were deposited in streams dried up. Big winds blew the sand southeast where they were trapped against the Texas High Plains, known as the Llano Estacado. The sands built up large active dunes that the wind still shifts and moves around to this day. Other dunes are stabilized by unique plant species adapted to life in the sandhills. Beneath the dunes hides caliche, a mostly impermeable layer that traps water, forming a perched water table where seeps of water are available for plants, animals, and in the past, were used by humans. Many plants manage to eke out survival in this harsh dune environment. Grasses such as the sand bluestem and sand reeds help stabilize the soil. In the spring and summer, the park is a kaleidoscope of blooming flowers such as yellow sandhill sunflowers, pink penstemons, bright white heliotropes, sweetsmelling yucca flowers and so much more. A few types of trees can be found in the stable dunes including desert willow and honey mesquite which rely on deep taproots for water. The front of the park is covered with the amazing Havard shin oak that survives on a large network of interweaving root systems. While the shin oaks may be short, averaging 2-3 feet tall, they are mighty, covering an area comprising the largest oak forest in North America! The oaks also provide important acorns and habitat for wildlife. Unique wildlife has adapted to life in the dunes too. Some examples are Jerusalem crickets, javelina, mule deer, the sand dune sagebrush lizard, ground squirrels, mule deer, kangaroo rats and many species of birds. Ord’s Kangaroo Rat A rcheologists found evidence that people have been using the dunes for thousands of years. The sand dunes may not look very hospitable to some, but the natural water seeps and interdunal ponds gave Native Americans a good place to camp. Wildlife was also drawn to the water so people could hunt for mule deer, desert cottontails and other wildlife for food. Other things people found to eat in the dunes are acorns of the Havard shin oak from which they could make a flour, earth oven-baked yucca roots and honey-mesquite beanpods. Desert willow bark was also used as medicine. Low-lying areas in the dunes also made fo

MONAHANS SANDHILLS SP BIRD CHECKLIST This checklist is a list of common and specialty birds seen in the park. Staff and volunteers have used previous checklists as well as eBird data to compile these lists. This list should not be used as a comprehensive list of birds seen in this park. Please help us protect the natural avian communities by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Thank you for your cooperation. Grouse, Quail, and Allies Owls ___ Northern Bobwhite ___ Barn Owl ___ Scaled Quail ___ Great Horned Owl Pigeons and Doves Woodpeckers ___ Rock Pigeon ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove ___ Northern Flicker ___ Inca Dove ___ White-winged Dove ___ Mourning Dove Cuckoos ___ Greater Roadrunner Hummingbirds ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird Falcons and Caracaras ___ American Kestrel Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies ___ Eastern Phoebe ___ Say’s Phoebe ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher ___ Cassin’s Kingbird Rails, Gallinules, and Allies ___ American Coot Shorebirds ___ Killdeer Vultures, Hawks, and Allies ___ Turkey Vulture ___ Western Kingbird ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Shrikes ___ Loggerhead Shrike Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens ___ Chihuahuan Raven ___ Northern Harrier ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ___ Harris’s Hawk ___ Swainson’s Hawk ___ Red-tailed Hawk Martins and Swallows ___ Barn Swallow ___ Cliff Swallow ___ Cave Swallow Wrens ___ Dark-eyed Junco ___ Bewick’s Wren ___ White-crowned Sparrow ___ Cactus Wren ___ Vesper Sparrow ___ Savannah Sparrow Kinglets ___ Canyon Towhee ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers ___ Curve-billed Thrasher ___ Rufous-crowned Sparrow ___ Spotted Towhee Blackbirds ___ Sage Thrasher ___ Western Meadowlark ___ Northern Mockingbird ___ Western/Eastern Meadowlark ___ Bullock’s Oriole Old World Sparrows ___ House Sparrow Finches and Allies ___ House Finch ___ Pine Siskin ___ Lesser Goldfinch ___ American Goldfinch New World Sparrows ___ Cassin’s Sparrow ___ Chipping Sparrow ___ Field Sparrow ___ Brewer’s Sparrow ___ Spizella sp. ___ Black-throated Sparrow ___ Lark Sparrow ___ Red-winged Blackbird ___ Brown-headed Cowbird ___ Brewer’s Blackbird ___ Common Grackle ___ Great-tailed Grackle Wood-Warblers ___ Orange-crowned Warbler ___ Yellow Warbler ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler ___ Wilson’s Warbler Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies ___ Northern Cardinal ___ Pyrrhuloxia ___ Blue Grosbeak ___ Painted Bunting ___ Lark Bunting © 2019 TPWD PWD CD P4501-0006F (5/19) Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 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