Big Bend Ranch State Park, Crystal trail

Howdee all,

March 28

While at the RV campground Social and Pot-luck dinner a fellow Rver told us of a trail that led to a hill of sparkling crystals.

We were intrigued and decided to see if he was exaggerating or not..

Big Bend Ranch State Park

East Main trail to the Crystal trail

Round trip-approx, 8 miles

Difficulty- easy

…………………………………….

The trail follows a dirt road..

Past what used to be an old Candillia Wax processing plant.

The wax was used to waterproof canvas and ammunition.

A by product is also used in lip balm and chewing gum.

After the main wax making company closed in the 1920s displaced workers made temporary wax camps in this area.

Remember this plant from a past post..i was wondering what it was

Candelilla   The name candelilla (cahn-de-Lee-uh) meaning “little candle” in Spanish, comes from the slender was-covered stems. The waxy coating seals in the moisture that is  vital to the desert surivial.

Jeff and I didn't have much time to linger here, we had to be back to the RV at 5.

We continued on.

I was looking around for any sign of crystals..I do see a few here and there..

Finally we reach the cut-off to Crystal trail..

I find an embankment..with assorted crystals

but nothing like the Rver described

We continued on..I wanted to explore the areas around ..hoping not to miss the hill he had told us about..but Jeff felt it best to continue on.

I went off trail again,looking for the hill, Jeff continued on the path..

i found areas that had a few crystals scattered about..

Do you see the one below?

 

Still not in the right area..or this was just an exaggeration…

I start to see a few more..

  Still no hill of crystals…I was beginning to think this place didn't exist ..until…..

Jeff shouted for me …

and then..I saw it… 

I was on the opposite side of the hill…above the path..

The picture below is looking from below the hill…the grayish blue color is all crystal.

The photos don't do it justice. A path of crystals…    Crystals everywhere..   and as I look around its only this hill that is loaded with them..        I just walked around..and picked up a few to admire…I thought it was so amazing…        I imagine the crystals were imbedded in sandstone..  and when the sandstone was worn away..all that was left

were the crystals…

  We had at least four miles to hike out..

So we headed back…happy that we saw this very cool site.

Hope you enjoyed the Crystal Hill…

If you are ever in the area..it is well worth the eight mile RT to see it!