Seminole Canyon State Park
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The next morning after arriving in Seminole Canyon State Park, we planned to backtrack to Del Rio to get the tire properly repaired, but not before squeezing in a guided hike at the park first. Priorities. Thankfully, Goodyear in Del Rio fixed the tire for twenty-six dollars, which felt like a minor miracle after the previous quote.
Fate Bell Shelter Hike
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The guided hike took us to Fate Bell Shelter, one of the park’s rock art sites, and offered a glimpse into the ancient civilizations that once lived in this region. A lot of people don’t realize that Texas is home to some of the most impressive rock art in the world, and Seminole Canyon is no exception.
Our guide explained that while Fate Bell Shelter may not be the largest or most famous site, it boasts the highest ASI factor, or Awesomeness per Square Inch. The Pecos River Style rock art here is remarkably well preserved, and the shelter itself has been inhabited for more than eight thousand years, though no one knows exactly when the paintings were created.
Adding to the sense of deep time, the roof of the shelter contains prehistoric marine fossils from when this area was completely underwater. Standing there, looking at ancient sea life embedded in stone above artwork left by early people, put the scale of time into sharp perspective. It was a quiet reminder that this landscape has been changing for far longer than we’ve been passing through it.
Our guide explained that while Fate Bell Shelter may not be the largest or most famous site, it boasts the highest ASI factor, or Awesomeness per Square Inch. The Pecos River Style rock art here is remarkably well preserved, and the shelter itself has been inhabited for more than eight thousand years, though no one knows exactly when the paintings were created.
Adding to the sense of deep time, the roof of the shelter contains prehistoric marine fossils from when this area was completely underwater. Standing there, looking at ancient sea life embedded in stone above artwork left by early people, put the scale of time into sharp perspective. It was a quiet reminder that this landscape has been changing for far longer than we’ve been passing through it.