Last Sunday Hike - Aztec Caves

Join a park ranger on a guided hike through the Western foothills of the Franklin Mountains.

This hike is an easy to moderately difficult hike of about 1.2 miles round trip. The trail is well maintained for most of the hike, with a steep incline with loose rubble just ahead of the entrance to the cave, so we will take this section slowly and carefully. There are benches at several scenic overlooks along the trail. Reservations required; to reserve your spot, call the office at (915) 444-9100.    Bring: water, snacks, hiking boots/shoes, and comfortable clothes.   Optional: binoculars, hiking stick, camera, and a map. Meeting location: The Aztec Caves parking area. After stopping by the visitor center to purchase your entrance permit, continue down the road until you pass the RV parking area. Take the first right hand turn after the RV parking area and continue to the end of the road. Fee: $8 for adults 13 years old and up; $3 for Texas State Park Pass holders; $1 for children 12 and under.   Directions: From Westside on I-10, take exit 6 & travel east towards mountains for 3.8 miles. Park entrance will be on the left. From Eastside on Hwy 54, take exit 29 towards Transmountain Rd, travel west 7-7.5 miles through the mountains. Park entrance will be on the right. If using a GPS be sure to search for "2900 Tom Mays Access Road," not "Franklin Mountains State Park."