Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around El Paso
About 32 miles east of El Paso is
Hueco Tanks State Historical Park
( park 915-857-1135, reservations
512-389-8900;
www.tpwd.state.tx.us
; 6900 Hueco Tanks Rd/FM 2775; adult/child $7/free; 8am-6pm)
. The
860-acre park contains three small granite mountains pocked with depressions that capture
rainwater -
hueco
is Spanish for 'hollow' - creating an oasis in the barren desert. The area
has attracted humans for as long as 10,000 years, as evidenced by more than 2000 picto-
graphs found within the park, some dating back as much as 5000 years.
To minimize human impact, a daily visitor quota is enforced; make reservations 24
hours in advance to gain entry. At park headquarters you'll find a small gift shop, an inter-
pretive center and 20 campsites ($12 to $16). You can explore the North Mountain area by
yourself, but to hike deeper into the park - where the more interesting pictographs are -
you have to reserve and join one of the
pictograph, birding
or
bouldering-hiking tours
(
915-857-1135; per person $2; call for schedule)
.
If you're a rock climber, chances are you already know about the park. Hueco Tanks
ranks among the world's top rock-climbing destinations during the winter months (Octo-
ber through early April), when other prime climbs become inaccessible. During the sum-
mer, however, the desert sun generally makes the rocks too hot to handle.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Van Horn
POP 2064
Van Horn is notable mainly as a travelers' overnight spot on the long desert that is I-10 in
west Texas, sitting at the crossroads of the interstate, Hwy 54 (which runs north to Guada-
lupe Mountains National Park) and Hwy 90 (a major route to Big Bend country).
Most people on the interstate truck on through to El Paso, which is just two more hours
away, but if you're ready to bunk down for the night, there are a few motels right off the
interstate. Better yet, try the historic
Hotel El Capitan
( 877-283-1220;
www.hotelinvanhorn.com
; 100
E Broadway; d $99-119, ste $139-175; )
, a richly decorated Spanish hacienda-style lodging
which has considerably more charm than the chains.
Hungry? Stop off for a little Tex-Mex at
Chuy's Spanish Inn
( 915-283-2066;
www.chuys1959.com
;
1200 W Broadway St; Mexican plates $7-12; 10am-10pm)
. It's right on the high-
way, so you can't miss it. Chuy's has earned a place in 'Madden's Haul of Fame,' so
