| |
| Alibates National Monument, TX | | -
-
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
| | Alibates National Monument, TX | | | |
|
|
Alibates National Monument, TX
| | |
|
| Hiking | 10.00 Miles |
577 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.00 Miles | 4 Hrs 37 Mns | | 2.27 mph |
| 577 ft AEG | 13 Mns Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | On our second day in the Amarillo area since Palo Duro was closed we headed north of Amarillo toward Lake Meredith to the Alibates Flint Quarry national monument. This park is located on the western edge of Lake Meredith. A few years back I hiked the trails along the lake but was unable to get to a section on the far western edge. The best access to these trails was from the Alibates Flint Quarries. Our luck on this trip was terrible, the park was closed due to road resurfacing but we could still hike in the park, just meant about 5 miles of road walking round trip. Hiked to the lake and returned the way we came. The trails I was hoping to get to was still about a mile further in. Will have to come again when the park is open and drive as far as I can to make access to the trails a little closer.
In spite of the road walk this hike was really interesting. You aren’t allowed into the flint quarries without a park guide but there was plenty of flint along the trail to get an idea of what it looks like. I’ve seen this rock in Arizona and it is basically chirt, not sure if all chirt is flint but they are both silicate rocks. After two miles of paved road we took Dolomite Point road toward the lake. This is a dirt road and appears it can be driven toward the lake and makes access to the trails I wanted to get to easier. This road as you get closer to the lake is not one you want to take when it is wet, from the amount of car floor mats in the mud it looks like it would be easy to get stuck. Not easy to cross country in this area because of the thick brush, Could be done but didn't look like fun to me, lets just say it is probably easier than pushing your way through Manzonita but the burs and sudden holes in the ground would be a challenge. Lots of bird sightings, Hawks, Canadian Geese, Herons and many more I don’t know the name of. I saw my first mole up close, funny looking things with odd shaped feet. Easy to get a close look at it because it was dead. From where this road ends there is a trail that leads to the trails in Turkey Creek I was interested in. We will have to come back here another time when the park road is open. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
