Looking back at 2009--Summer Sky

Taken near Marfa in early summer

Yesterday's Snow at Historic Hotel El Capitan

The newest lodging addition to Van Horn's hotel options is also the oldest!  Travelers visiting the "Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail" can now stay in the historic Hotel El Capitan, which first opened in 1930 and reopened this year!

The Hotel El Capitan is one of our cycle-friendly and historic hotels in the Texas Mountain Trail region.  See the list of historic hotels here, and cycle-friendly hotels here!

Hiking in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

One of the least visited National Parks offers some terrific hiking.  Click here to learn about hiking trails in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  Overnight accommodations include camping in the park, or staying at a hotel, motel, campground or RV park in Van Horn.

Snowy Sierra Diablos on Hwy 54

A rare snowfall graces the upper elevations on the Sierra Diablos on Hwy 54 north of Van Horn.  This is a great cycling, motorcycling and car ride up to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

West Texas December Sunset

Taken in Marathon by the Gage Hotel's Wilma Schindeler, and a great iPhone shot!

From the Texas Mountain Trail website listing of regional historic hotels:

"Made with adobe bricks fashioned on site, Alfred Gage opened this Trost and Trost-designed hotel in 1927, and The Gage quickly became a gathering place for many ranchers and miners of the area. The renovated hotel is a frequent stop for visitors on their way to Big Bend National Park. www.gagehotel.com"

The Gage is also cycle-friendly! 

Cycling this week on Hwy 54

A rare rainy day doesn't deter cyclists on one of the best, undiscovered cycling routes in Texas.  This was taken less than 10 miles from Van Horn, on Hwy 54, the road to Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Cyclists visiting the area may choose to stay at the historic Hotel El Capitan, one of our Texas Mountain Trail cycle-friendly hotels...check out the entire list on www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike and regional cycling information! 

An Enterprising Decorator Sends Holiday Greetings

Looking back at 2009--Van Horn's Cinco de Mayo

Aerostat

The aerostat patrolling the border region docks for the night near Marfa.

Along the same drive, muledeer!

Taken along Hwy 90 just north of Marfa!

Davis Mountains from Hwy 90

The drive from Van Horn to Marfa takes you through wide-reaching ranchland, surrounded by lovely mountains in every direction.  Here's a view of the Davis Mountains from Hwy 90, with the highest peak, Mount Livermore in the center.

Scenic Ross Maxwell Drive in Big Bend National Park

Texas Monthly magazine calls this drive the best bike ride in Texas...and they're right, but it is also a great motorcycling ride and car ride, too.  In the heart of Big Bend National Park, the drive gives you terrific views of the mountains and the desert floor to the Rio Grande.  You are treated to the sights of Mule Ears and Santa Elena Canyon, and you can stop at Castolon Historic District and La Harmonia store.

For information on cycling in the area, visit our Texas Mountain Trail cycling page: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike.  Ditto, our motorcycle page, www.texasmountaintrail.com/motorcycle

Beautiful Cactus

Looking towards Hwy 54 from Guadalupe Mountains National Park

One of the undiscovered jewels of the region is the drive (or bicycle or motorcycle ride) between Van Horn and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  Hwy 54 is extremely scenic and is rarely traveled, making it a satisfying ride for the traveler.

For information on cycling in the region, visit our biking page:  www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike
For information on traveling by motorcycle, visit www.texasmountaintrail.com/motorcycle

Flowering beauty at Hueco Tanks

Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site in El Paso County appeals to the birder, hiker, rock art enthusiast, camper and rock climber.  In fact, it offers so much to so many that visitation is limited to protect the resources of the park, particularly the ancient rock art.

That shouldn't dissuade you from visiting Hueco Tanks...just make arrangements well ahead of time.  For more information, click here.

What does Hueco mean?  And what are tanks? The 860.3-acre park is named for the large natural rock basins or "huecos" that have furnished a supply of trapped rain water to dwellers and travelers in this arid region of west Texas for millennia.

Thanks to TPWD for this great photo!

A respite from the city

El Paso is FULL of surprises, not the least of which being the home of the largest urban state park in Texas, the Franklin Mountains State Park!  Hike rugged terrain in 37 square miles of desert wilderness, scrub vegetation and open space with 125 miles of multi-use trails that are especially popular with mountain bikers, hikers and mountain climbers.  North Franklin Peak rises 3,000 feet above the city, and the park offers spectacular views from many locations.  Here's a link to the park's website.

Preservation of the park's resources are a key issue.  To read more, visit the website of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition and the elpasonaturally blog.

Thanks to TPWD for this great photo of the Franklin Mountains State Park!

One More from Dell City

We have had such a great response from Rob Hann's photos of Six Man Football in Texas, we've decided to post a bonus photo!  Here's another image of Dell City's team.

Deserted States of America

We have been most fortunate to feature the photography of Rob Hann all week.  His love for West Texas comes through his work, and we were delighted he granted us permission to show it to you.  This is our last image from Hann's series, "Desert States of America."   Writes Hann:  "The deserts of the American West hold a particular fascination for me. Born and raised in England's green and pleasant land, I've lived in busy, crowded cities since my late teens. The vast open spaces of the West are a place of silence, wonder and mystery. I like to get lost there whenever I can."

Please visit his website to read more about this talented photographer.

Prada Marfa

From his "Deserted States of America" series, here is Rob Hann's image of Prada Marfa.  An art installation just north of the tiny town of Valentine, on Hwy 90, this replica of a Prada store in the middle of the vast Chihuahuan Desert delights visitors on their drive between Van Horn and Marfa.'

Rob Hann's website shows several series of work, including Deserted States of America.  His bio is here.

Deserted States of America

This week we're honored to be featuring the work of Rob Hann, a British photographer with a love for West Texas.  Here's his image of Van Horn's famous "Diesel Fried Chicken" sign, at the intersection of I-10 and Hwy 90, in his "Deserted States of America" series.  The sign was mentioned in one of Cormac McCarthy's books.

Hann speaks about this series: 
"The deserts of the American West hold a particular fascination for me. Born and raised in England's green and pleasant land, I've lived in busy, crowded cities since my late teens. The vast open spaces of the West are a place of silence, wonder and mystery. I like to get lost there whenever I can."

We'll feature two more of Hann's work from "Deserted States of America" Sunday and Monday.