Seminole Canyon State Park
Ozona, Texas
Terrain // Pavement | Cost // $18/night
Beautiful Sunsets + World-Class Pictographs
This was our last stop on our way to Big Bend. We booked a spot in the primitive campground area with spacious pull-through spots and a perfect sunset view. The park has a 12,000-year-old cultural heritage where early canyon dwellers left clues to their lives on the stone walls of Seminole Canyon. This campground has a very lovely bathhouse included with your camping fees.
As we drove here, we realized it was only 30 minutes from the Governor’s Landing Campground, where we stayed for a few days last year.
Points of Interest
We would have loved to hike and explore here, but unfortunately, we didn’t spend much time here before heading to Big Bend. Check out some of the highlights featured on the park map.
Bridge to the Past – This wooden bridge passes beside the remnants of two rock rings that mark the locale of “wikiup” structures inhabited by Native Americans 1,000-1,500 years ago.
Hiking – Six designated travels range from a leisurely 15-minute stroll to a challenging 3.5-hour loop.
Panther Cave Overlook – An immense pictograph panel spans the back wall of the rock shelter that’s visible across the canyon and includes a panther image nine feet long.
Presa Canyon Overlook – Sceneic Presa Canyon shoots off to the east as a branch of Seminole Canyon, almost entirely within park boundaries.
Railroad Bed Crossing – The nation’s second transcontinental railroad came here in 1883, uniting the east and west coasts.
Spring – While here at this mini-oasis, think about the importance of water in a semi-arid place like Seminole Canyon.
Food & Drink
Usually, I wouldn’t mention a quick sandwich stop, but the food we got from J & P Bar and Grill was exceptional. Plus, it’s only a 10 minute drive from the park.
Devil’s Chicken Sandwich – So, so, so spicy but absolutely delicious! The house-made jalapeno mayo is to die for.
Avocado Burger – Ciabatta buns should be used on all sandwiches; they’re so tasty. This burger had excellent flavor and paired well with a salad.
Sangria – It was not much of a cocktail as it was just a chilled wine, but it was alright. 5/10
Texas State Park Pass
The Texas State Parks Pass is good for one year from the date of purchase and includes the following:
Unlimited free entry to 89 state parks for you and your guests (pass holders must be present to get free entry).
Discounts on camping (restrictions apply), park store purchases, and equipment rentals
Other special offers.
A Texas State Parks Pass costs $70 and is issued to one person (the cardholder). We purchased one last year, which saved us a ton of money while staying at different parks in Texas. It was also a great resource to use for dumping our camper when we needed to. If you plan on staying in Texas for a few months, this pass is absolutely worth looking into.
