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Franklin Mountains State Park
The Franklin Mountains State
Park sits in the city of El Paso, Texas, and is the biggest urban
park in the United States that lies inside a city's limits; spanning
across 24,247.56 acres. The park was started by an Act of the Texas
State Legislature in 1979, and creates a magnificent backdrop to the
city, with a spectacular area of ecological and aesthetic importance
to the city and its many visitors. Creating this mountainous park so
that they could be protected and enjoyed, was a farsighted dream of
many local residents and conservationists around the state and
country. During the late 1970s, developers were encroaching into the
beautiful mountains with roads, forcing the legislature to act on
House Bill 867, which was passed in 1979, that allowed the state's
parks and wildlife to procure the mountains so that any future
infringement would not be possible. Their intent was to create a
lifetime of protection to the pristine, scenic, historical and
ecological treasures of the park so that future and present
generations could enjoy and use the marvelous features of this park.
The parks and wildlife department was able to gain control of the
region in 1981 and it opened as a park to the public in 1987;
becoming the biggest in the nation, almost 37 square miles, all
lying within the city of El Paso. The gorgeous mountain range looks
out over the Rio Grande River, part of the northern ramparts of the
Paso del Norte ( Pass of the North) that goes from Mexico into an
area that is now part of the United States. For millennia, Native
Americans and then for the past 400 years, explorers, soldiers,
priests, traders, adventurers, entrepreneurs and gold-seekers, as
well as ordinary people looking for a new home passed through the
gap going in both directions, raiding, settling, expanding and
conquering. Native Americans would make this area their home, using
the animal and plant resources found here for over 12,000 years,
leaving their marks in the form of exotic colored pictographs on
boulders, in the deep mortar pits and rock shelters and outcrops. In
the 1580s, the Spanish conquistadors and priests came below the
peaks of the Franklins on their way to conquer and then colonize the
Puebloan villages in the area that became New Mexico. There are two
hiking trails, with one under construction that will be part of a
100 mile system, and rock climbing is growing with great climbing
opportunities in McKelligon Canyon. A few primitive campsites are in
the Tom Mays unit, with traditional sites available for tents; and
five self-contained RV sites have been put in. You should be aware
of the fact that they don't allow camp fires in the park, and there
isn't any water or electricity; so be sure to contact the park
service. Nothing motorized is allowed in the park so that they can
keep it in this wonderful condition, and not affect anything growing
or running around. These mountains are the biggest sustained
mountain range in the state, and the summit of the North Franklin
peak reaches an elevation of 7192 feet, of which 3000 feet is above
the city that sits below it. On the east side of that mountain, you
can see the remains of the only tin mine, mill and smelting
operation that ever existed in this country that ran from 1910 until
1915. The park does have tours, which are ranger led and held on the
first and third weekends of the month, but try to make a reservation
since there are only room for ten people per tour. The park is more
than willing and happy to accommodate scout groups, school groups or
any clubs. Good sturdy shoes or hiking boots are recommended, with
weather appropriate clothing and you should always travel with a
partner; and remember to bring lots of water since there isn't any
in the park. You can mountain bike in the western area of the park
and it is an exciting adventure to be sure. There are numerous other
attractions in the area, so be sure to check before coming here.
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