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Poorman's Spring Break Dive Trip by Tim Kennedy September 2003 |
This is an itinerary for a week-long West Texas road trip that includes diving at San Solomon Springs in Balmorhea State Park, Lake Amistad and Chalk Bluff. Also included are visits to McDonald's Observatory, Big Bend National Park, and other state parks. I've done this trip over Spring Break, but it could be done over any semester break.
Here's some info on a West Texas Spring Break trip that features some diving:
Friday Austin to Junction 141 miles 2:46 hours/minutes
Camp South Llano State Park
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/slano/slano.htm
Saturday Junction to Toyahvale 255 miles 4:18 hours/minutes
Camp Balmorhea State Park
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/balmorhe/balmorhe.htm
Saturday night Star Party at McDonald Observatory 35 miles away
http://www.mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors/programs/#StarParty
Sunday Camp and dive Balmorhea (day & night dive)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/balmorhe/balmorhe.htm#scuba
http://www.toyahvale.com/Toyahvale%20Desert%20Oasis.htm
Monday Toyahvale to Fort Davis 32 miles :37 hours/minutes
Camp and explore Davis Mountains State Park
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/davis/davis.htm
Explore Fort Davis Historical Site
Visit UT's McDonald's Observatory for tour? http://www.mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors/
Tuesday Ft. Davis to Big Bend 122 miles 2:30 hours/minutes
Camp Study Butte, Terlingua or Big Bend
http://www.visitbigbend.com/wheretostay_camping.html
http://www.texbesthotels.com/bigbend_motorinn.htm
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/outside.htm
Wednesday
Thursday
Explore and hike Big Bend/try to camp Basin Campground
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/basin.htm
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/home.htm
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/bigbend/
Friday Big Bend to Lake Amistad 241 miles 4:41 hours/minutes
Dive and camp Amistad Nat'l Recreation Area
http://www.nps.gov/amis/pphtml/camping.html
http://www.nps.gov/amis/dive_1.htm
http://www.amistadscubadivers.com/
Saturday Del Rio to Uvalde 70 miles 1:27 hours/minutes
Dive/snorkel Chalk Bluff
Uvalde to Concan 23 miles :29 hours/minutes
Camp Garner State Park
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/garner/garner.htm
Sunday Concan to Austin 161 miles 2:49 hours/minutes
Take scenic drive through Hill Country and visit
Lost Maples State Park
Kerrville-Schreiner State Park
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Total drive time 1045 miles 19:00 hours/minutes
You'll want to make reservations at the state parks. Check for campsite availability at http://maps1.reserveamerica.com/static/tx4.html but make reservations by phone at 389-8900. That's a toll-free number when calling from Austin and reserving on-line requires a fee. That website also has info about state park campsites and camping fees.
You'll want to purchase a Conservation Passport at the first state park for $50. It's good for one year and gets everyone in your vehicle into any state park for free. Some parks require a $4 entry fee per person, so 4 people could end up paying $16 just for one day's entry.
Big Bend is crazy and crowded at Spring Break, so you might want to make a reservation at a commercial campground in Study Butte or Terlingua for your first night. There are no reservations for the campsites in the park (first-come, first served.) Get up early the next day and cruise the Basin Campground or Rio Grande Village Campground or Cottonwood Campground http://www.nps.gov/bibe/camping.htm and look for people breaking camp. Ask if you can claim their spot when they leave (don't rush them.)
If you're in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, there are primitive campsites (no facilities) in remote areas of the park that are free. But you must reserve those campsites at the Panther Junction Headquarters. http://www.nps.gov/bibe/bccamps/roadsides/roadsidecamps.htm
The cost of this trip will entail camping fees, a $10 per vehicle entry fee to Big Bend, $3 entry to Ft Davis Historical Site and food and gas. Guided Tour and Star Party at McDonald’s Observatory is $8. You'll be able to dive San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea, plus Lake Amistad and the Nueces River at Chalk Bluff. I've made this trip several times. The West Texas and Hill Country scenery are spectacular and every Texan needs to see these sights.
I can give you suggestions on hikes to do in Big Bend.
Too wimpy to camp every night? There are courts at Balmorhea http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/balmorhe/balmcourtspics.htm and the historic Indian Lodge at Davis Mountains State Park http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/indian/. There is the Chisos Mountain Lodge in Big Bend http://www.chisosmountainslodge.com/ although that fills very early for Spring Break. There are reasonable motels in Del Rio.
On the drive from Big Bend to Amistad, you might want to stop in Lajitas to see the Judge Roy Bean saloon http://www.dot.state.tx.us/trv/trvtics.htm?pg=lytic or visit Seminole Canyon State Park's Indian cave art near Comstock. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/seminole/seminole.htm
. When leaving Garner State Park, take 83 north to Leakey, then head west on 337 to Vanderpool, my favorite drive in Texas. Then take 187 north to Lost Maples State Park for a picnic http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/lostmap/, then go back to Vanderpool and continue east on 337 to Medina where you take 16 north to Kerrville. Visit Kerrville-Schreiner State Park http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/kerrvill/. Continue on 16 to Fredericksburg where you'll take Hwy 290 east to Austin. Heck, stop at Pedernales Falls State Park if you're not "parked-out." http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/pedernal/
© COPYRIGHT - 2003 - TIM KENNEDY
