4 Adventures within 5 hours from Midland While It's Still Cool

Mar 7

Whether the heat of summer has set in and you’re dreaming of Fall vacations, or if Spring Break is coming up and you have some time off to go explore all the outdoor spaces that the Lone Star State has to offer, Midland is in a prime location for folks to hop in the car for a quick getaway to numerous such locations and be there in 5 hours or less.

Here are 4 outdoor adventure destinations to add to your list for the spring or fall:

Did we miss one of your favorites? Email us and we’ll consider them for a future post.

St. Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park

1. Big Bend National Park

Named for the bend of the Rio Grande that borders it with Mexico, Big Bend stretches along the border with our southern neighbor for 118 miles. Big Bend affords rugged mountains, wild deserts, and river landscapes, making it one of the most biologically diverse arid regions in the country with a variety of wildlife.

Big Bend is one of the least visited National Parks in the United States. This low density of visitors makes it easy to drive around the park and explore various trails without running into big crowds.

Depending on where you are driving to in the park, it will take around 4 – 5 hours to get there from Tall City. Whether you go for a day or camp in Big Bend for a few days, hiking is a top activity that visitors should absolutely take part in.

Families and those just looking to quickly stretch their legs can wander along the Rio Grande Nature Trail, which is just about .75 miles. Those looking for a longer trek should try the South Rim Trail, which spans 12.6 miles.

Pro tip: Temperatures can go from the 80s during the day to below freezing at night, so plan to layer up, especially so you can catch some spectacular late-night stargazing.

2. Palo Duro Canyon State Park

About three hours directly north of Midland is Palo Duro Canyon, State Park. Known as the Grand Canyon of Texas, Palo Duro is actually the second-largest canyon in the country. The canyon is about 120 miles long and 20 miles wide and is up to 800 feet deep. It extends from Canyon to Silverton.

While the temperature in the summer can burn above 100, the winter months are much more enjoyable. Even with shorter days, you will feel like you have much more time to explore the area without scorching midday temperatures.

While Palo Duro can be a little blistering in the summer Texas heat, it is an ideal place for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, and more in the cooler months.

If you want to stay overnight, consider staying at the new Palo Duro Glamping, which is located at the floor of the canyon and offers a unique and luxurious camping experience complete with a massive canvas-covered tent with features like custom cedar posts, covered porches, and rustic furnishings. The glampsites also feature a dining area, a mix of rustic-modern furniture, a refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, a gas grill, king beds, a gas fire pit, a porch swing, and more. Before you settle into your luxurious campsite, take time to explore the more than 30 miles of trails in the park.

Pro tip: You’re in Texas so you should take time to see the animals commonly associated with it: the Texas longhorns! Visit Longhorn Pasture to see these cattle that are part of the official State of Texas Longhorn Herd.

3. Monahans Sandhills State Park

Just down the road from Midland is a mystical place where massive sand dunes have been sculpted by the West Texas winds.

The sandhills are located less than an hour from Midland, which makes them a great location for a day trip. Visitors can bring sand disks, which are also available to rent, and slip, slide and surf on the dunes.

While there are no marked trails at Monahans Sandhills State Park, visitors may explore the dunes at their leisure. While the dunes might seem inhospitable for life, there are a number of West Texas critters that call the Sandhills home.

With water trickling just underneath the top layer of sand, life does exist there, and if you look hard enough at dawn or dusk, you could see hogs, javelinas, badgers, kangaroo rats, and other creatures. Fall is especially beautiful as the sandhills explode with sunflowers.

For those who want to make a longer trip out of Monahans Sandhills, campsites are available with picnic tables, electricity, a fire ring, a shade shelter, a grill, and restrooms nearby for just $15 per night.

Pro tip: With sweeping West Texas winds and wide-open spaces, Sandhills State Park is an ideal location to fly a kite as a family.

4. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Located about 4 hours from Midland, Enchanted Rock is a beautiful natural area in the heart of Texas Wine Country.

Enchanted Rock is a huge dome made of pink granite that rises above the Central Texas landscape. This natural feature has attracted visitors for thousands of years, but there is more to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area than the massive dome.

Other attractions include interesting rock formations, breathtaking scenery, and numerous activities. There are a plethora of activities available for outdoor enthusiasts at Enchanted Rock. There are approximately 11 miles of hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty ranging from about .1 mile to just under 5 miles.

On such an incredible rock formation, rock climbers can anticipate exciting routes to try their hand at, but all climbers must check in at the park’s headquarters to sign the climbing release form and get an area route map.

Additional activities include backpacking, stargazing, camping, bird watching, geocaching, and natural studies.

Pro tip: Since this Texas wonder is just down the road from some of the best wine in the state, we would be remiss to send you all the way to Enchanted Rock without recommending a few nearby wineries to try. Head to Becker Vineyards for an extensive selection of red wines, including the Ranger Hayes, which comes with an interesting story about Enchanted Rock. Visit Heath Sparking to toast to a hike well done with some of the only sparkling wine made in Texas.