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trailhead or the visitor’s center which
corresponds to numbered posts along
the way, offering snippets of informa-
tion about the ecosystems, wildlife and
geology visible from the trail. There
are also a number of comfortable way-
points, designed to allow the casual
hiker to stop and rest, drink water,
grab a snack, and regale the children
with off-the-cuff ghost stories about the
lost mine and its unfortunate crew,
whom legend says were blindfolded on
their way to work each day, so they
could never reveal the location.
Though children (and less athletic
adults) will want to take their time
meeting the challenges of the trail, the
sense of accomplishment and the stun-
ning views they’ll earn upon complet-
ing it will make for lasting memories.
This is a perfect “first real hike” for
young people, and if time at the park is
limited, the Lost Mine Trail should
make the cut.
Moving north, the San Solomon
springs gush into the arid desert at
Balmorhea near Fort Davis, spilling 15
million gallons of crystal clear, ancient
water into the historic pool every day.
Built in the 1930s by the Civilian
Conservation Corps, Balmorhea is the
largest spring-fed swimming pool in
the world. The CCC hewed local lime-
stone and sun-baked adobe bricks, cre-
ating a park and a pool nearly two
acres in size and 25 feet deep in places.
Scuba and skin diving are popular
activities for visitors. The seven dollar
park entrance fee covers the cost of
swimming there for adults (children
Photo courtesy of Wendy Lynn Wright
under twelve enter for free), and camp-
ing is also available. The water stays
around 70 degrees Fahrenheit year
round.
First-time visitors are often a little
startled to feel local fishes nibbling gen-
tly at their toes as they lounge in the
pristine waters. The park is home to
many species of birds, fish and other
wildlife, which find sanctuary in the
restored wetlands. The Comanche
Springs Pupfish is only found in the
wetlands around the artesian springs of
Balmorhea. Young visitors can borrow
a Junior Ranger Explorer Pack from
the visitor’s center, which includes a
pair of binoculars and a magnifying
glass, an animal tracking key, guides to
plants, animals and insects, and pencil,
crayons and watercolors to use with a
journal and sketchbook. A hike
through the restored cienegas, or wet-
lands, exploring and documenting this
rare desert oasis, makes a long dip in
the springs even more rewarding for
the whole family.
Whether the Big Bend is your back-
yard (and I like to think of it as being
the backyard for all of Texas) or a
longer trek from home finding a few
activities to explore in depth with the
little ones will do more than make for a
nice vacation. The wheels of young
minds turn swiftly with a little grease,
and the Big Bend offers history, biolo-
gy, geology, archaeology (all the Oh
gee! stuff, actually), astronomy, peace
and quiet, hard work and good exer-
cise as mental lubrication. It’s the best
kind of playground in the world, the
kind that teaches a lot of everything all
at once, and some good old-fashioned
common sense thrown in with a strong
measure of fun. The backyards of the
world have grown smaller through the
years, but the Big Bend is still here to
accommodate all the endless wonder
contained in the minds of children.
A LPINE G UEST Q UARTERS
Spacious • Downtown Alpine
Walk to Amtrak
Reservations online at:
info@AlpineGuestLodging.rocks
or 432.386.2398
24
Cenizo
Third Quarter 2016