Hueco Tanks State Historic Site - El Paso, Texas - Pictographs, Rock Climbing, and Birding Tours



Located at 6900 Hueco Tanks Road in El Paso, Texas, the Hueco Tanks State Historic Site was added to the US National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 1971. Hueco Tanks originally opened to the public in 1970. The site consists of roughly 860 acres and is known for rock climbing opportunities. The word "hueco'' is Spanish for "hollow'' and refers to the rock hollows that have collected rainwater in a primarily arid land.

The Hueco Tanks area is spiritually and culturally significant to many Native Americans. Throughout the site, rock paintings can be found. Some of these rock paintings are thought to be thousands of years old and were painted by hunters and foragers. Other paintings are more recent and have been attributed to the Mescalero Apaches. The site is home to over 200 face designs from the prehistoric Jornada Mogollon culture. Kiowas, Apaches, and other Native American groups made their home on this site and left pictographs behind that told their stories. This area also serves as one of the watering holes for the Butterfield Overland Mail Route.

The entrance fee for the Hueco Tanks State Historic Site is $5 per day for ages 13 and older. Children ages 12 and under are free. The site is open 7 days a week and is also open year-round. From October 1 - April 30, the site observes winter hours and is open from 8:00am - 6:00pm. The summer season is May 1 - September 30. During the summer season, the hours are 7:00am - 7:00pm Friday through Sunday and 8:00am - 6:00pm Monday - Thursday.

Free tours are offered with a visitor's paid entry. There are pictograph tours, birding tours, bouldering tours, and hiking tours. Pictograph tours are led by guides that point out pictographs that represent three distinct cultures. In addition, the guides give information about the history of the area, its geology, and the flora and fauna present in the area. Pictograph tours are available at 9:00am and 11:00am during the summer season. During the winter season, pictograph tours are offered at 10:30am and 2:00pm. Pictograph tours are available Wednesdays through Sundays by advance request.

Bouldering and hiking tours are available at 9:00am and 11:00am during the summer season. In addition, bouldering and hiking tours are available at 9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am, and 2:00pm during the winter season. Bouldering and hiking tours are available Wednesdays through Sundays by advance request. Birding tours are only available on the third Sunday of every month. Summer birding tours begin at 7:00am, and winter birding tours begin at 8:00am.

The site features areas that can be self-guided and areas that are only able to be accessed with a guide. There are limits to the number of persons that can be in certain areas at any given point in time. This is why reservations are recommended. Persons interested in day-use reservations for the next day can call 915-849-6684 Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. For all other day-use reservations, interested parties can call 512-389-8900. Additional information about the site and entry restrictions can be obtained by calling 800-792-1112 and selecting option 3.

Campsites are available. The cost for a campsite with water is $12 per night. The fee for a campsite with electric and water ranges from $14 - $16 per night. There are restrooms available (with and without showers). In addition to the campsites, Hueco Tanks State Historic Site features hiking trails, an interpretive center, and an amphitheater. Visitors also have access to wireless internet services.

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