Moss Lake

–When visitors go to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, it appears they have one thing in their minds: climb to the top of the huge pink granite dome that dominates the park. The main dome, seen in the photo above is a major attraction. That exfoliating dome was formed over a billion years ago, according to the park’s website. As such, it continues to change through erosion and other natural phenomena.

If you make the hike to the top of the dome and walk around there, you will spot this small lake, as seen in the photo below. You just need to look northwest to see it. Thanks to recent rains, the lake had a good amount of water. You can reach the lake by taking the Loop Trail. Because we were running short on time, we took that loop in a clockwise direction to get to the lake faster. The entire loop is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km). Instead of doing the entire loop, we went to the lake and back, saving us a mile (1.6 km). In addition to that, another advantage of going clockwise is that you also pass by the scenic overlook just before you get to the lake. This trail is normally very busy, as is the entire park on weekends. However, since we were there on a Monday, we nearly had the trail all to ourselves.

When you reach the lake, you have great views of the Enchanted Rock dome, and on a calm wind day, the reflection can be quite impressive. We enjoyed some quiet minutes appreciating the beauty before our eyes.