Nature
Geology
Enchanted Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet above ground, 1,825 feet above sea level, and covers 640 acres. It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States.
Plants & Animals
The four major plant communities of Enchanted Rock are open oak woodland, mesquite grassland, floodplain and granite rock community. Live oak, post oak and blackjack oak dominate the oak woodland, with black hickory in moister areas. Common shrubs are Texas persimmon, agarita, whitebrush and prickly pear. Bluestem, three-awn and grama grass often are found in the shade of the oaks, while American tripogon is more common on gravelly slopes which are seasonally wet. The mesquite grassland, once an area of bluestem, is now covered with three-awn, grama, Texas wintergrass, panicum and sand bur, along with invading mesquite. Elm, pecan, hackberry, black hickory, soapberry and oak characterize the floodplains. Common shrubs are white buckeye, agarita, Texas persimmon, Roosevelt weed and buttonbush. Grasses and sedges, as well as annual and perennial herbs, form the ground cover. Some of these are water bentgrass, late eupatorium, Indiangrass, bushybeard bluestem, frost weed and switchgrass. In the spring bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, yellow coreopsis, bladderpod and basin bellflower bloom.
Both rock and fox squirrels are common, as are armadillos, rabbits and other small animals. Lizards and turkey vultures are conspicuous on and above the rock year-round. White-tailed deer are frequently observed, and the park's bird life is varied and abundant. A bird checklist for the park is available upon request.
Read about the vernal pools at Enchanted Rock, and the wildlife mentioned here:
Vernal Pools at Enchanted Rock SNA (PDF 67.3)
