Road Trip - Seminole Canyon State Park

[BigBendHiker]

My family and I are looking at making a weekend trip trip to Seminole Canyon State Park.  We have driven by it many times during our trips to Big Bend and finally have decided to make a visit.  Any thoughts, suggestions or recommendations as to hikes, things to see, etc will be much appreciated.

Homero...we have talked about heading over to Crosby's in Acuna this time...but if not, what is the name of the Mexican food restaurant in Del Rio that you spoke of (had great food as I recall).


Regards,
BBH

[TheWildWestGuy]

The guided tour of the fate-bell rockshelter (sp?) is good but only given at certain times so check when you get there and see when they are scheduled - maybe call ahead of time because the trail is locked-out otherwise.   Visitors center has a few exhibits, good for maybe an hour at most.
There is a decent campground - kind of crowded for my taste but OK, free hot showers and a dryland trail that goes down to the Rio Grande overlook that's only a few miles but flat and easy/fast hiking.   I don't think there is a route down the bluff to the river/lake but maybe there is and I just don't know about it.
Overall good for an overnighter, maybe a bit boring for 2 nights but you can always go up to the Devils River or Judge Roy Bean's which aren't too far away.  Lots of police speeding enforcement in this area and lots of DPS, BP, etc.... TWWG

[oldfatman]

There are also at least two side trails from the trail TWWG mentioned.  I also really enjoyed the little tourist nature trail that starts at the visitor center.  Be midful of the Bell shelter tour times. I have never in several trips been able to get there at the right time to see the shelter. Two nights will be plenty, including seeing Langtry.

[homerboy2u2]

Homero...we have talked about heading over to Crosby's in Acuna this time...but if not, what is the name of the Mexican food restaurant in Del Rio that you spoke of (had great food as I recall).


Regards,
BBH

 Yes sir.....Looks as though any Del Rioans will say Mexico Tipico is the most unannounced best Mexican Restaurant in Del Rio.... .

 Although Avanti's is also getting great reviews for Italian Cuisine. I have been there and it is mouth watering.

 You have got to give us a review from both of them, BBH

 When you get to the visitor's center at Seminole Canyon Park, ask about the recently held Primitive Olympics ...there is so much to report back to us.

 Enjoy your trip.

[BigBendHiker]

Thanks, TWWG and Homero, for the information!
I checked the TPWD website and the Fate Bell rockshelter tours are in March (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/calendar/?calpage=s0148), so we have that on our plans.

Will definitely check out Mexico Tipico and provide full report as well.



BBH

[homerboy2u2]

Sure, did you check their Video Presentation, it is also nice and pretty much sure you have read back and forth their webpage. So you are good to go.

  Don't pay much attention to me BBH, but i heard from some folks that over in Amistad lake , there are also a good source of information tours, they call them Coffee with a Ranger , they have a Calendar of events   you might want to check out.

[JimNewOrleans]

My last visit at Seminole was many years ago, but agree with earlier posts that one day more than sufficient - but, it's a really nice place to visit, and I think a kid would really dig it.  And ditto, very nice free showers and tent area, although small.

I want to relate a very short story....  my last visit, we were lucky and happened to get there right at the pictograph tour time.  It was about 105 degrees, so not surprisingly; it was just us and the ranger.  I have forgotten his name, but he was a very cool guy - he lived up near the station, and he was extraordinarily passionate about the park and the pictographs.  We talked about a lot of things, for hours -  showed us an ancient pinion pine, and a huge raven that ‘guarded’ the shelter.
He said that college kids used to like to sneak into the park and party in the shelter - he wasn't so much concerned about them falling as he was about the damage to the drawings, since there had been vandalism before.  He showed us a little trip wire he had recently  rigged , hidden in the scrub bushes, that set off an alarm in his cottage if anyone tried to go into the shelter at night.   He said he watched tv every night, drank tequila, and waited for it to *beep*.   At that time, he had only had deer false alarms , but was seemingly hopeful at a real alarm soon.   He already seemed slightly crazed when normal, so the very thought of him running down the trail at night in his underwear, full of tequila and peyote, waving a baseball bat, was a sight that I simultaneously did not want to imagine, but at the same time, would have loved to have seen...

Anyway, he made for  a great visit, and on our way back to Louisiana, we stopped back in and ceremoniously handed him a fifth of tequila in admiration.

[jr ranger]

There's a neat little spring oasis SE of the VC that's neat to explore around. You can walk up the wash for a while too. There's no trail that leads there, though. I'd say about a 1/2 mile? It's been a few years since I've camped at Seminole, but I was lucky enough to take the tour and have the park to myself and the critters. 

[West Egg]

Homero's right.  Mexico Tipico is hands down the best Mexican food in Del Rio, and not just by comparison.  Mighty fine cheese enchiladas.  Don Marcelino's is good for breakfast tacos, although not much else.