After a rough final night of wind and rain pounding the camper at Hueco Tanks, we weren’t as excited as we could have been for the scheduled 2 nights of boondock camping in Franklin Mountains near El Paso. Thankfully, the close proximity and early departure from Hueco Tanks gave us ample time to just get there, scope it out and adjust as necessary. We arrived a little after 10 am and were quite surprised by the massive mountain range randomly jutting out of not only the middle of the desert, but a sprawling city as well. The park is situated pretty well at the top of the range and the road there was more like a commuter highway running at high speed with quick elevation gains and very little switchbacks.

We agreed that we would at least check in and see what conditions were like at the campsite. The forecast was dismal again for that night, but optimism got us this far. I knew ahead of time that we would not have connections to electricity or running water (only latrines available in certain areas) as the park operates as more of a day use facility, but we were already equipped with the gear from boondocking at Guadalupe Mountains. However, once we got the camper backed into our gravel pad on the side of the mountain, the wind was already pounding at 20+MPH and rain was on the way. AND we had been at this for 7 nights already. We left the camper, drove 20 minutes down the mountain to a Whataburger (which is still bewildering to me how close the city is) and had a meeting on how to proceed over some much deserved burgers and fries.

The decision was made that we would return to the park and explore for the day, enjoying a hotel that night before starting our journey back East cutting the trip a night short. Our last night was already scheduled to be a hotel after a visit to Balmorrhea and Dad was able to change that reservation. Once back at the park and perusing the trails map, we settled on taking the hike up to view the “Aztec Caves” to be the most worthwhile. Even though it was only a little over a mile roundtrip, it was quite a direct hike maintaining almost a 45degree angle all the way, haha! Our legs were still mad at us from 6 days before!

Nevertheless, we made it to the caves and enjoyed the views within and looking out.

After our hike, we hooked back up to Wanda and headed back down the mountain for the final time. We hit another state park in El Paso (more on that in the next post), and checked into the hotel to get cleaned up for that night’s dinner plan – the haunted Monteleone’s Italian Restaurant. And while no-one in our party had a solid encounter, we thoroughly enjoyed the food and unique ambiance.

Franklin Mountains is a one of a kind park. Surrounded by city and all of the noise, lights and amenities that comes with it, yet still very rugged and off grid. The camping would have been a unique experience that I kind of regret not having, but did I mention it ended up raining again that night? Yea. We were over that. However, all that ruggedness makes for a superb “city park” for folks looking to get into some nature for the day and El Paso is lucky to have it.

-Lindsay