A HUGE reason to consider living in El Paso, Texas! EPIPHANY: Christmas spirit, perhaps, every day of the year, if you need the lights; except about 2020 years ago, at night, if clear enough, people had probably MOSTLY THE SHINING CELESTIAL OBJECTS, didnt they? How are YOU SHINING, brother, sister, and xyz (I loose track, no offense!)? Remember the Aliens, and the prisoners who found God in space? God, do we need more love in this world!!!

Visiting family in El Paso, I found myself without plans for a day. Lets go hiking! The nearest place was the Franklin Mountains State Park and after researching some of the available hikes, I decided on South Franklin. Oh wait, that ones closed. I got my day pass anyway and asked the friendly park ranger about comparable hikes. She suggested North Franklin via Mundys Gap (via Agave Loop + West Cottonwood Spring scenic route). Perfect!It took me about 2 hours to summit, and the trip down was about an hour and forty minutes. Theres an ammo box by the antenna if you want to record proof of your summit! I took time at the top for a snack break and to chat with a local about the area. The little house you can see past the unexploded ammunition sign used to be a light to warn military aircraft on target practice runs about the mountains.If you are looking for a solid climb with desert scenery and very few people, this is the place. There are plenty of trails to accommodate various skill/fitness levels, and there are also spots for climbing. Definitely bring plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen/hat, camera, and sturdy footwear. Maybe next time the south side will be open, I would definitely come back!

Planning to hike around El paso? Than this is the perfect place to go! Amazing mountains and enchanting views. Such an amusing trail! Totally loved it ️

We camped at Franklin Mountains SP in mid October during the 2020 Covid pandemic. We were amazed with such natural beauty being so close to the big city of El Paso. We originally had reservations for site 2 but we were unable to get our Ford Escape up the rocky drive to that site. We ended up tent camping in site 28. The scenery was inspiring. The nights were quiet and the starry night sky was incredible. Be sure to check out the sunset lookout point.

What a beautiful park. Whether you just go and relax and take some sun in. If youre a hiker you have great trails. They even have a shop that sold souvenirs and my two favorite items caps and walking sticks.

We hiked up to Aztec Caves, the trail is pretty steep when you get closer to the caves, but an incredible view once you get up there!! We also did the Agave Loop which was fairly easy except for the area with the rockslide, alot of loose rocks. No shade on either trail so bring relief from the sun! Great park!

I am so excited to get my year pass so I can go explore these beautiful mountains. Maybe camp a couple nights. Its super affordable $10a nights for up to 8 people to camp. Discount if you have a annual pass. The pass is only $70. If youre like me and love to check out new places often its perfect. If not a day pass is 5 bucks!!

It was really beautiful drive but the intermediate level was literally a 5 minute walk. 10 minutes if you took your time lol there is a part where it gets steep but it’s really easy. There is also a “cave” but you can’t get closer. It literally looks like a speck. But I’m giving a 4 star because it’s still a beautiful drive. And it was pretty difficult finding the little road that is the office. We just got some souvenirs and a map

Really beautiful. We went hiking there a few weeks ago. The cave is kinda far but beautiful.

Great day trip! 5 dollars per person to get in. We started off with the upper sunset trail then we went and hiked the Aztec Cave trail. The cave was very cool, a steep climb up. Watch out it was a bit icy up there. After that trail we did a quick walk on the nature trail and went inside the bird watching house. it was so cool and worth it. We saw tarantulas on this trail which was creepy yet cool. Very nice state park overall and not too big.

I love this place. I understand that the bathrooms are outside, but there could be a little higher maintenance in there. Regardless, awesome place to camp.

The new entry building is a very great addition that gives the park a very official feel to it. The new park ranger entry system works very well and efficient

Easy access to camp grounds. Beautiful views. Wildlife.

Very helpful staff, made a great effort to accommodate us and provided us with a scenic site. Had a beautiful view of the plains below the mountains.

Went up cottonwood, mindys gap then all the way to the top of north Franklin mountain. Its a rough hike with it being so rocky, however it is so worth it. Beautiful view once you get to the top. It took me just over 3.5 hours and thats with stopping for pictures and short breaks. I will be going again, jts a beautiful sight.

This was a convenient stop for our camping trip. A mountain range splitting El Paso. 5 RV camp spots tucked in the canyon with views of the mountains and a peek a boo of the city lights below. We hiked to the Aztec caves and rode our bikes on the pavement, there are biking trails too.

$5 enter the park per person definitely worth a trip if youre in the area. bring plenty of waters that does not supplied at the park. Good for day trips or camping/RV.

Last time I was here over 30 years Ill be back sooner this time new additions are awesome. Park Ranger very helpful!

Theres such a variety of things to do here. You can take a walk or small hike to appreciate the beautiful scenery, or if youre feeling in need of adrenaline you can climb huge rocks or ride MTB downhill from many spots like Monks trail (pictured below). The mountains are so big and long that every corner looks completely different in a way. You can stare at the horizon and wait for a fiery sunset or sunrise at altitude, or maybe take a quiet ride across Scenic Drive at night... Your choice!!

Beautiful views and a large series of trails. The trails themselves are full of large loose rocks that require caution to avoid rolling ankles.

An amazing hike to the caves. But be careful it is a little dangerous

Amazing place to hike around. Great spot that overlooks the city!

One of the best places to start hiking with a host of trails ranging from easy (Nature Trail) to strenuous (North Franklin Peak)

I hiked here a few months ago and loved it! Very very pretty

Was a short adventure however enjoyed the hike and scenery!

Really nice place! Had a great time! Totally recommend ot! Just take plenty of water, and other supplies needed. God bless yall!

The trails here are very fun to hike, plus the view from the top overlooks all of El Paso. Must try!

Please bring water if plan to hike! It is easy to forget that this treasure of a mountain trail is in the middle of the desert and dehydration will get to you quickly. Proper footwear is also a big deal, especially if you want to go into the expert hiking area which goes further up and over the mountain.If you prepare correctly a beautiful view awaits you.

Amazing place to get an outdoor cardiovascular workout and observe the beauty of Mother nature.

Awesome park, all levels of ability and training will find something to. Just finished the Aztec cave trail, it was a lot of fun!

Great desert terrain and hills. Good to spend the day with family if you want to do a lot of walking and staring at the desert environment. Bring water and food if you plan on spending more than an hour here. The cost of entry is $10 per vehicle, or perhaps $5 per person.

Beautiful park to visit with much to see.

Great place to mountain hike and relax.

The hike is amazing! Such beautiful views that pictures cannot show. I would rate the trail(s) at a high difficulty level because there is some climbing involved and some loose rocks. There are a couple of caves that are a great sanctuary from the heat for a quick break. Bring good hiking shoes, pants and water!

Franklin Mountains State Park is a Texas state park in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. Park headquarters are located at an elevation of 5,426 feet (1,654 m) with the highest peak reaching 7,192 feet (2,192 m). It is the largest urban park in the nation lying completely within city limits, covering 24,247.56 acres (9,813 ha). Franklin Mountains State Park is open year-round for recreational hiking, mountain biking, picnicking and scenic driving and vistas.

Great hiking trails all around the park but be sure to bring lots of water with you! There are great opportunities for photography throughout the trails. Ive also seen group hikes and other activities advertised so do some research! Highly recommended!

Aztec cave trail. Easy, family friendly. Closed toe shoes, very rocky path. A bit challenging coming down. Probably like 45min back and forth. 5dlls to get in, definitely worth. Theres other trails, so if you are planning on hiking more than one, best to arrive early. Opens at 8am, closed at 5pm.

A fun day of exploring the cave, wildlife, and trails. Park Rangers were friendly and helpful and even recommended a very good Mexican Resturant. Being plenty of water and good walking shoes and cameras.

There are several trails here. The nature trails are for beginners. The Aztec trail is moderate but does have some steep climbing just before the caves. The views are gorgeous. The caves stay cool but there is no shade outside of the caves. Its $5.00 per person if you dont have an annual pass. Well worth the price. You can see for miles. Make sure you bring plenty of Water and a snack. There is no water available. We did a family hiking event with TKFit on the Aztec Trail. There were several children and even a few babies. Great time was had by all.

Its Nov 15 and were having a covid shutdown. But you cant tell from up here!

This place never lets me down, nice moderate hike. Pretty easy for experienced hikers.

Safe trails even for older people like me 50+

Plenty of tracks to pick from. Use the park map to choose one that suits you. The wind around the range can be strong. Restrooms and BBQs on site. Some of the tracks are loose stones (as opposed to gravel or sand) so take good outdoor shoes. The view from the top of the range is worth the effort.

This hike was unlike any hike I have been on before. Definitely need a good set of hiking boots and lots of water. We took the Ron Coleman Trail and was pretty rugged. I enjoyed going up this trail and would love to do it again!

Just a great place. Easily accessible, park at the entrance at sunrise, walk or run in to McKelligon Canyon, its a must-do.

Great for a hike the view is awsome, the only problem i have is that the trail is not clear and is easy to get lost!

Its so awesome to be able to get away from the city, in the middle of the city. The Nature trail is perfect for little kids. My kids love the bird blind. Apache cave trail is more intense. My 7 year old had no problem going up, but going down was much harder.

Words fail. Cannot put the beauty of this superb piece of real estate in meaningful words. Wowee

Aztec caves will give you a run for your money!!

We only hiked the cave today, very nice hike! Going back for the other trails! Been in el paso for a week now and this is the best park yet!

This is a beautiful state park. There are multiple hiking trails of various degrees of difficulty. Even though the park is near a busy highway, you cannot hear the sound of traffic. One of the best features here is a bird hide they have set up. I could sit in there for hours to watch the birds at the watering hole. I have not used their camping services yet, but I suspect they are adequate.

The best you should go

Hooked to the peak of North Franklin. Beautiful day to hike. This is a real gem in El Paso. It is a long someone tuff way up but very much well worth it. The views are amazing.

New welcome center, with great bathrooms, nice staff, and great parking.

This designated area is a huge cultural aspect of the city, providing wide open areas of the Chihuahuan Desert which include hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, or quick visits to roadside stops to enjoy the mountainous scenery which overlooks the city skyline.

Go ahead take the hike to the caves. Stunning!

Love this place! A lot of dogs

An absolutely wonderful park for hikers and families!

So far have hiked the Aztec caves and B36 crash. Beautiful mountains, easy access, and its open hiking and scrambling. You dont have to stay on the trails, feel like climbing the mountain? Want to take a harder way up? Do it!

Great hikes!Franklin Peak is a must!

Great place for hiking, it has a cost of 5 dollars per person

Definetly challenging for a non climber such as myself but getting past the first cave is where the troubles really begin. By going around the main one is a steep climb up but the real challenge is not sliding when you head back down. Lovely hidden gem right by my house! Who knew!

Took a day in the park to hit north and south Franklin mountains and tin mines. It was inspiring and adventurous. There are small trails you can take off the main trails if you seek a little more adventure.

It was to get out of the city and climb around in the cooler air. Family time, fresh air, and quiet. We will go back better prepared for hiking and maybe even picnicking.

I love driving through here every time Im in El Paso. It takes me back to my childhood.

Nice local hiking. Very easy to access from El Paso in any vehicle. Well market trails. Dog friendly. Beautiful views from top of North Mount Franklin.

Beautiful El Paso Mountains, better to go on a cloudy day, take a lot of water

I am very lucky to live just a few minutes from the Northeast section of the Franklins. Access to the trails is found via Chuck Heinrich park. Park volunteers have kept the trails well maintained and you have a nice variety of easy to difficult, so its great exercise for all levels, not to mention beautiful views! I love my mountains!

Get your Geo Betty map at any bike shop and enjoy! Lots of good hiking trails and a few good MTB trails too. I highly suggest hiking up to the B-36 crash site.

The total hike is a little over 3 miles. Its short bit strenuous. Good for a quick hike. There are 2 shallow caves. Take plenty of water and good shoes. Great view! This is the Ron Coleman Trail in McKelligon Canyon.

The views were incredible, the hike was arduous. At some points it felt like I might slip on loose rocks and tumble all the way down. Not for the faint of heart, or legs.

Has fun for everyone. Take plenty of water and snacks. Enjoy the trails and nature. Better if you start early. .

Ron Coleman Park. Hiked up to 2 of the caves and then on to the bluff. Beautiful view. Tough climb. Tricky to find the path down. I pretty much made my own.

Its a beautiful state park! Well marked trails and reasonable price.

Good hiking trails. Wish I could get out here more to hike. If you do go out hiking here please dont be a jerk and litter or graffiti. Need to preserve this place. Plus its illegal and dumb.

Nice views and amazing scenery

The El Paso Tin Mining and Smelting Company operated a tin mine on the northeast slope of North Franklin Mountain from 1909–1915. While the mine had the distinction of being the only tin mine ever located in the U.S., it was an economic failure.[2][5]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.[6] The property was formally acquired in 1981.[2] Changes to the legislation were made in 1985 when a plan for park development was established[6] and the park was opened to the public in 1987.[2]

Great trails. My favorite is probably the Ron Coleman Trail simply because of the window and the great views you get

A very well hidden jewel in EPT

Awesome sunday we did the smuggler s pass to the peak, totaññy recommended, you climb in some parts on the top.

If you enjoy the desert and hiking in town this is it.

Loop 1 and 2 Hike. Always a pleasure to meet new people and catch up with others.

Its beutiful

Absolutely beautiful. Hit 3 of the trails and all were gorgeous. Well worth the cost.

Great hike! Pay fee online to reserve spot.

Took the Aztec trail today. Great hike but nikes won’t cut it up here just FYI. Come early and beat the heat, the views are awesome

It was a very good hike. Its challenging but accessible for all levels of hikers

Beautiful place I hope they dont build here, it would be a shame. The mountain is the one thing I love about el paso and all the mountain bike trails are so fun.

The most outstanding place in the whole city and county of El paso.

Awesome place to go hiking. Theres plenty of trails to explore. I suggest using the All Trails app to find one thats best for you.

Lived in El Paso for 33 years and not once did I ever visit this state park. Well that changed this year. Hubby and I brought my little ones while we visited my hometown during thanksgiving holiday and it was a blast. The weather was perfect! Will make sure every time we visit we go on the trails.

Awsome place to hike, view and meet new people

There are some nice hikes here, I think, but not particularly well marked. The one trail we took was rated moderate but I would call it hard. We found ourselves in an uncomfortable situation on the side of a steep hill with rocks rolling under our feet so we backtracked. There wasnt a lot to see here, at least not in late October. They do seem to be trying to make some improvements judging by the visitors center under construction (maybe).

Good walk in a sunny day!

Nice views good place to hike and bike.

I hiked almost to the top of the mountain, but while its exhilarating, sometimes the trail is gone and you have to wander off trail to find it. I have no problem with this, but some people might want to keep this in mind after the first 1 mile of the hike. Do be sure to bring lots of water and electrolytes, or you may be lightheaded. Warm clothing is a must during most times of the year, due to the fact that higher altitudes tend to be colder.

Fun, Fast, and easy if your taking most trails here.

Great well kept park. Trails could be a bit more better marked but you get what you get in the desert.

Its a bike paradise, the hiking is amazing, the overview of El Paso is breathtaking, its a great place to take your family and connect with them.

Go place to run, walk, and hike up the paced road or up the Ron Coleman trails. Highly recommend doing all here.