Franklin Mountains State Park is a state park in El Paso, Texas, United States. The park is named after the Franklin Mountains, a mountainous range that extends 23 mi (37 km) from El Paso to New Mexico. Its headquarters are located at an elevation of 5,426 feet (1,654 m) with the highest peak, North Franklin Mountain, reaching 7,192 feet (2,192 m).[2] Covering 24,247.56 acres (9,813 ha), it is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. lying completely within city limits.[3] The park is open year-round for recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, and scenic driving.
| Franklin Mountains State Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Franklin Mountains  Franklin Mountains | |
| Nearest city | El Paso |
| Coordinates | 31°53′01″N 106°30′08″W / 31.88361°N 106.50222°W |
| Length | 23 mi (37 km) |
| Width | 3 mi (4.8 km) |
| Area | 24,247 acres (98.12 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,426 ft (1,654 m) |
| Designated | 1987 |
| Named for | Benjamin Franklin Coons |
| Visitors | 78,043 (in 2022)[1] |
| Administrator | Texas Parks and Wildlife |
| Website | TPWD website |
History
editNative Americans and other travelers have used the natural resources in the Franklin Mountains when crossing the gap between the Franklin Mountains and the Juarez Mountains that is now Ciudad Juárez across the Rio Grande in Mexico and El Paso. Pictograms and mortar pits confirm a human presence in the mountains dating back more than 12,000 years.[3]
The Franklin Mountains are most likely named after Benjamin Franklin Coons, who in 1849 purchased a ranch in what is now El Paso. At first known as Coons Ranch, by 1851 the settlement took on Coons' middle name and was called Franklin.[4] Despite the town being officially named El Paso in 1852, the locals continued to call it Franklin throughout the 1850s.[5]
The El Paso Tin Mining and Smelting Company operated a tin mine on the northeast slope of North Franklin Mountain from 1909 to 1915. While the mine had the distinction of being the only tin mine ever located in the U.S., it was an economic failure.[3][6]
Efforts to grant protected status to the Franklin Mountains began as early as 1925. A real estate developer sought to build housing on the mountains and in 1979 he built a road up into them. A local organization known as the Wilderness Park Coalition was able to convince the Texas Legislature to protect the mountains in 1979. Despite this success the legislature, in the same bill, prohibited funding for the development, operation and maintenance of the park.[7] The property was formally acquired in 1981.[3] Changes to the legislation were made in 1985 when a plan for park development was established[7] and the park was opened to the public in 1987.[3]
The 1979 establishment allowed for the incorporation of the Castner Range on the east side of the park, though this did not happen due to the presence of unexploded ordnance. After decades pushing for its conservation, the Castner Range National Monument was established in 2023.[8][9]
Geology
editThe Franklin Mountains are 23 miles (37 km) long and 3 miles (4.8 km) wide and stretch from El Paso into New Mexico.[10] The Franklins were formed due to crustal extension related to the Cenozoic Rio Grande rift. Although the present topography of the range and adjoining basins is controlled by extension during rifting in the last 10 million years, faults within the range also record deformation during the Laramide orogeny, between 85 and 45 million years ago.[10]
The Precambrian rocks atop North Franklin Mountain are "the highest geological structure in the state of Texas."[11] The highest peak is North Franklin Mountain at 7,192 feet (2,192 m). North Franklin Peak can be accessed via a trail located east of Mundy's Gap. The mountains are composed primarily of sedimentary rock with some igneous intrusions. Geologists refer to them as tilted-block fault mountains and in them can be found billion-year-old Precambrian rocks, the oldest in Texas.[10]
Ecology
editFranklin Mountains State Park is part of the Chihuahuan Desert. The plants and wildlife found in the park, despite it being within a city, are typical of those found throughout the rest of the desert. Barrel cactus, yucca, Mexican and California poppies are common plants.[3] Trees like cottonwood, hackberry, juniper and oak grow along the springs on the mountain slopes.[6] Mammals in the park include mule deer, mountain lions, ring-tailed cat and a variety of rodents.[3][6] Birds observed at the park included golden eagles, owls, hawks, and a wide variety of smaller birds.[3]
Recreation
editFranklin Mountains State Park is open for year-round recreation. Development of the park is limited and much of the land is far from paved access roads and parking areas. Two hiking trails can be accessed from Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive. Plans for a network of 100 miles (160 km) of hiking trails are under consideration.[3] Rock climbing is permitted in the park and well established climbing areas are located in McKelligon Canyon The park headquarters is also located in McKelligon Canyon. Five camping areas are found in the Tom Mays Unit of the park with picnic facilities.[3]
The Wyler Aerial Tramway is an aerial tramway operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is located in the Franklin Mountains State Park. The tram is closed to public as of Sept. 2018. The tramway complex covers 196 acres (0.79 km2) on the east side of the Franklin Mountains. The gondolas travel along two 2600 foot 1 3/8" diameter steel cables to Ranger Peak, 5,632 feet (1,717 m) above sea level. The trip takes about four minutes and lifts riders up 940 vertical feet above the boarding area.
Climate
editThe climate type of Franklin Mountains State Park belongs to the hot-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa), which is close to cold semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk). Unlike the desert climate of downtown El Paso, the state park is located at a higher altitude in the mountains, which can intercept a large amount of moisture from the air, thereby forming precipitation.
| Climate data for North Franklin Mountain, 1991–2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 52.8 (11.6) |
54.8 (12.7) |
61.1 (16.2) |
68.9 (20.5) |
77.4 (25.2) |
86.9 (30.5) |
85.9 (29.9) |
83.6 (28.7) |
78.7 (25.9) |
70.6 (21.4) |
60.3 (15.7) |
53.2 (11.8) |
69.5 (20.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.0 (5.6) |
43.5 (6.4) |
49.2 (9.6) |
56.0 (13.3) |
64.6 (18.1) |
73.9 (23.3) |
73.8 (23.2) |
72.2 (22.3) |
67.3 (19.6) |
58.7 (14.8) |
49.1 (9.5) |
42.5 (5.8) |
57.7 (14.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31.2 (−0.4) |
32.3 (0.2) |
37.2 (2.9) |
43.1 (6.2) |
51.9 (11.1) |
60.8 (16.0) |
61.8 (16.6) |
60.9 (16.1) |
55.9 (13.3) |
46.8 (8.2) |
37.9 (3.3) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
46.0 (7.8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.61 (15) |
0.53 (13) |
0.39 (9.9) |
0.42 (11) |
0.46 (12) |
0.72 (18) |
4.25 (108) |
2.27 (58) |
2.17 (55) |
0.86 (22) |
0.71 (18) |
1.32 (34) |
14.71 (373.9) |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 18.2 (−7.7) |
17.0 (−8.3) |
17.8 (−7.9) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
24.9 (−3.9) |
35.0 (1.7) |
48.2 (9.0) |
50.1 (10.1) |
44.8 (7.1) |
32.9 (0.5) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
20.0 (−6.7) |
29.2 (−1.5) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group[12] | |||||||||||||
Gallery
edit-
Franklin Mountain Snow
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Eastern side of the Franklin Mountains by Ranger Peak
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Looking north from Ranger Peak
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Ranger Peak
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Franklin Mountains with Northwest El Paso in the background
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Entrance to Tom Mays unit
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Prickly pear cactus in the Tom Mays unit
References
edit- ^ Christopher Adams. "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown". KXAN.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Franklin Mountains State Park Trail Network". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. February 18, 2004. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Franklin Mountain State Park". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
- ^ Thomas, W. H. (1990). El Paso: A Borderlands History. El Paso, Texas: Texas Western Press/UTEP. p. 111. ISBN 0-87404-246-1.
- ^ Thomas, W. H. (1990). El Paso: A Borderlands History. El Paso, Texas: Texas Western Press/UTEP. p. 112. ISBN 0-87404-246-1.
- ^ a b c Robert Miles. "Franklin Mountains". The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
- ^ a b Robert Miles. "Franklin Mountains State Park". The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
- ^ Matters, Special to El Paso (November 21, 2022). "Opinion: Everyone wins with a Castner Range National Monument". El Paso Matters. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Moore, Robert (March 21, 2023). "Biden declares Castner Range a national monument". El Paso Matters. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c Van Hise, C.R.; Leith, C.K. (1909). Pre-Cambrian Geology of North America. United States Geological Survey.
- ^ Lemone, D. V. "The Franklin Mountains of El Paso, Texas". University of Texas-El Paso Department of Geology. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". prism.oregonstate.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
External links
edit- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Franklin Mountains
- Franklin Mountains State Park from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Public domain photos of West Texas and Llano Estacado Archived 2017-08-09 at the Wayback Machine
- Home movie of the Franklin Mountains State Park from the Sandoval Family on the Texas Archive of the Moving Image