I Heard it Through the Grapevine Hills
It was difficult leaving Big Bend National Park; Katie and I we were finding any excuse to extend our stay. We took a quick peak at the map and opted for an early hike on the Grapevine Hills trailhead, which to our surprise led us to the well-known Balance Rock. Once again, we were welcomed by whispering winds, allowing time to pass by a little slower—passing hikers were satisfied with just a grin and nod. The fast-crawling wildlife represented the desert well with rigged scales and sometimes vibrant colors. Also stunning were the surrounding plants thriving in their harsh environment.
The Feather Dalea flowers struggled to fill this small shrub, but the few that managed to survive the Texas heat bloomed bright against the desert’s golden dust.
For those traveling with little ones:
The Grapevine Hills Trail is a 2.2 mile roundtrip hike with only 80 feet in elevation. Dogs are not allowed on this trail nor on any trails throughout the park. The last quarter mile of the trail requires a steep climb up stacking boulders—a fun adventure for kids and their parents. While it is tempting to climb atop surrounding boulder, there are snakes seeking refuge within the rocky shade and it’s best not to disrupt them.
One last important note: the road leading to the trailhead is very rough that requires a sturdy vehicle that can withstand this terrain.
The beautiful Ocotillo.
Unfortunately, I only managed to focus on the foreground of the sand. I couldn’t resist the urge to share what I could of this unique desert bush.
What I found to be most intriguing on our hike were the pierce-like boulders sprouting from beneath the earth. These are clearly formations that date back much further than our existence.
Our final ascent to the end of the trailhead was nothing short of spectacular. In front of us was what appeared to be one large boulder balancing within the wedge of two established pedestals. It wasn’t until after our return home I learned there was much more to this rock.
For this shot, I opted to use my ultra wide 10-22mm lens from Canon with my Canon 90D. Originally, I purchased this lens when I was hired as a marketing assistant and photographer for a custom home builder four months before the 2020 pandemic. Halfway through lockdown, I was let go but decided to keep my lens. I’m glad I did. This lens has offered me a new perspective on landscapes, and it’s allowed me to approach hard to reach places while still able to “get the shot” I’m looking for—sometimes better than expected. I crouched low to the weathered rocky terrain and snapped a few shots. I wanted to play around a bit more, but the area was getting crowded and the blazing Texas sun was pushing us to move along.
Balanced Rock, Big Bend National Park. June 2021
Throughout millions of years of weathering and erosion, what looks like a balancing rock atop the other two formations, is actually firmly cementing between them. Give or take 38 millions years ago, the combination of magma and erosion gave shape to this granite formation. Over time the earth developed through the carving of wind and weather.
Reaching Balanced Rock makes for a safe and picturesque moment for adults and kids. We were not aware of just how safe it was—it is possible the sign at the beginning of the hike provided this information— so we opted to only stand beneath Balanced Rock. Hopefully, on the next visit I’ll be able to climb to the top. Can you imagine that vantage point?! Just on the other side are the Chisos Mountains where we were the couple days before.
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