Franklin Mountains State Park, State park in El Paso, Texas, United States
Franklin Mountains State Park sits in the Franklin Mountains above El Paso and covers roughly 11,000 hectares of dry upland terrain with jagged summits and cactuses along steep paths. The terrain ranges from low slopes to high ridges, with juniper bushes and agaves growing between boulders.
The area became a protected reserve in 1979 to preserve the landscape from development and secure access for hikers. Geologists classify the rock formations as Precambrian, formed over 500 million years ago.
The mountains take their name from nineteenth-century settlers, while hikers today still discover rock drawings and stone tools in different canyons. Many paths cross areas that served as hunting and gathering grounds before European arrivals reached the valley.
Visitors should come early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as midday heat in summer can become very strong. Main paths are marked, but some sections require sure footing on loose gravel and steep climbs.
Some peaks rise above 2,190 meters and stand as the highest points in the entire county. On clear days, you can see into Mexico from the upper ridges.
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