Amistad National Recreation Area ⓘ

Nestled along the United States-Mexico border in southwestern Texas and northwestern Coahuila, the Lower Pecos River Archeological region encompasses an area of about 7,900 square miles. Though this cultural region is fairly small, more than 2,000 archeological sites have been recorded. These sites cover a time span from the 19th century to over 10,000 years ago. Over 325 pictograph sites have been documented containing some of North America’s oldest and largest pictographs (rock paintings). These pictographs range in size from isolated motifs just a few inches tall to huge panels stretching more than 100 feet along the back of rock shelter walls. For readers unfamiliar with the region or for those who want more in-depth information about archeological and historical sites throughout Texas, be sure to visit www.texasbeyondhistory.net . Unlike other remote regions in the western United States, the vast majority of pictograph sites in the Lower Pecos River region are situated on private property and are not open to public visitation. Over the years, many well-intentioned (and some not so well-intentioned) visitors have trespassed on private land to visit rock art sites that they had seen either on television or illustrated in books and articles. Many ranchers object to strangers wandering around on their property and may file charges against anyone caught doing so. However, read on for some legal ways to see the region's world-class prehistoric pictograph sites.

Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site , located nine miles west of Comstock, Texas, on Highway 90, offers rock art connoisseurs one of the most complete venues in the region featuring a bookstore, campground, and interpretive center. Guided tours are offered to the Fate Bell and Fate Bell Annex pictograph sites. Contact the park for current tour schedules and fees. In 2006, more than 4,500 visitors took this one-hour hiking tour. Additional guided tours to remote sites in the park are offered on an irregular basis for a nominal fee and require advance registration. Those willing to brave the eight hours of very strenuous hiking and climbing on the Presa Canyon Tour are rewarded with the rare opportunity to visit several of the park’s pictograph sites which are normally closed to the public. Another of the parks irregularly offered tours, known as the Upper Canyon tour, takes about two hours of moderate hiking and includes stops at two pictograph sites and several 19th century railroad sites. Those planning a trip to Seminole Canyon should call (432) 292-4464 for more information.

The National Park Service manages over 540 miles of shoreline on the U.S. side of the International Amistad Reservoir. Amistad National Recreation Area has two major pictograph sites open for public visitation; Panther Cave (which is jointly managed with Seminole Canyon State Park) and Parida Cave. Both sites were developed years ago and are intended to provide boaters with recreational opportunities that compliment Seminole Canyon’s land-based activities. A note to visitors: In recent years, regional droughts have resulted in lowered lake levels, sometimes by more than fifty vertical feet. As a result, there have been times when both Parida and Panther Caves have been closed to boaters because of dangerous river conditions on the upper part of the reservoir. Anyone wishing to visit either site should check lake conditions prior to making a trip by calling the Amistad National Recreation Area Visitor Center at (830) 775-7491.

Parida Cave , once known as "Painted Caves Station," was a welcome stop for travelers riding on the Southern Pacific’s transcontinental railroad in the 1880s and early 1890s. Though the station was only open for nine years, from 1883 to 1892, travelers had already painted graffiti over and adjacent to the prehistoric pictographs at the site. National Park Service excavations in 1967 revealed that, though horribly looted, the site still had deeply stratified and well-preserved archeological materials, portions of which date back more than 5,000 years. Today, Parida Cave’s expansive interior features more than 300 feet of designated trails, interpretive signage, and an unparalleled opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of a remote prehistoric rock shelter. A boat dock provides access to the site but may be removed at low water levels. Check conditions before making a trip by calling Amistad National Recreation Area Visitor Center at (830) 775-7491.

Panther Cave is the region’s most famous pictograph site. The rear wall of the shelter is covered floor to ceiling with hundreds of motifs which collectively form an uninterrupted panel more than 100 feet in length. The namesake of the site is a giant, red-painted panther (also called a mountain lion) that is over ten feet long from nose to the tip of the tail. Visitors should check lake conditions prior to making a trip by calling the Amistad Visitor Center at (830) 775-7491. Low lake levels can prevent access through the mouth of the Pecos from the Pecos boat ramp (14 miles round trip). The next closest boat ramp is Box Canyon (60 miles round trip). From the boat dock at Panther Cave, visitors climb a sixty-foot steel staircase up to the rock shelter. A steel fence and an elevated catwalk limit where visitors can walk to reduce potential damage to vegetation and buried archeological remains. The steel fence protecting the site is designed to maximize photographic vantage points while preventing damage to the pictographs. Unobtrusive interpretive panels provide visitors with information about the pictographs, the prehistoric cultures that once lived in the reservoir basin, and the need to protect and preserve Panther Cave and related sites in the region.

From fall to spring, the Witte Museum leads weekly tours to the White Shaman Preserve , which overlooks the Pecos River two miles west of Seminole Canyon State Park. The White Shaman mural, which was painted thousands of years ago, is thought to illustrate a complex story of the lifeways, beliefs, and spirituality of the first indigenous people of what we now call Texas. The Witte Museum also offers periodic trips to other significant sites in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands Archaeological District.

“ Know Before You Go ” is key for anyone wanting to see the pictographs of the Lower Pecos region of southwest Texas. While opportunities are plentiful, lake levels, tour availability and location, and weather may prevent you from visiting these sites at the time of your visit. So, research what is available and plan ahead. Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site is a sure bet if you have little time or are just passing through the area. For heartier folks, Presa Canyon and Upper Canyon tours offer the experience of a lifetime. If you have or are renting a boat, the Panther Cave and Parida Cave trip provides the best that the region has to offer--provided the reservoir water level is high enough to make the sites accessible. Or, you can join one of the regional rock art foundations and make annual treks to participate in sponsored activities for many years to come. No matter what you choose to do be sure to check local web sites first to ensure that “you know before you go.”

The Western Division was responsible for construction and track laying from El Paso to the mouth of the Pecos River, the point where railway officials decided the west and east sections of tracks would be joined with a silver spike. James H. Strobridge, a seasoned veteran of Southern Pacific Railroad construction in California and Arizona, supervised the work of the Western Division from Sierra Blanca, Texas to the Pecos River. Strobridge, while a construction superintendent for the Central Pacific in the 1870s, had supervised Chinese crews involved with shoveling, surfacing, grading, hauling fill, driving carts, and digging on softer excavations. At peak construction in January-February 1882, Strobridge's Western Division was pushing to complete the last 20 miles of track and employed upwards of 7,000 people, 6,000 of whom were reported to have been Chinese laborers. Once the line was completed in 1883, most of the Chinese laborers eventually went back to California after working in the Mojave Desert on a branch line to tap the Arizona and Pacific Lines. Only a handful of the Chinese workers remained in Texas. At this time, much of the construction work on the U.S. rail system was done by Chinese immigrants. But, most of what we know about their contributions is restricted to period literature about areas in California, Nevada, and Utah. Except for a few comments in regional newspaper articles in Texas from 1881-1883, very little first-hand information exists on the Chinese crews that worked for Strobridge's Western Division. What information we do have on such crews in the Lower Pecos area comes primarily from archeological investigations of railroad construction camps (Briggs 1974), which located Chinese artifacts. Strobridge's Western Division was modeled after the Central Pacific's operations in central California, Nevada, and Utah which had been part of the larger Central Pacific-Union Pacific Transcontinental network. Due to a reported inability to secure white laborers on the Central Pacific lines, Chinese laborers, by default, became an integral part of the first transcontinental railroad often outnumbering non-Chinese construction crews by more than a 3-to-1 ratio (Reed 1870). E. W. Reed, Superintendent of the Utah Division wrote, in 1870: "I have on my two divisions about 250 Chinamen. I never saw a better working gang of men than they are. They are a class of people that do not drink and you can depend on them every day unless they are sick. The only place that I see that they are not equal to white labor is in the loading and handling of iron on cars. But for shoveling, surfacing, track-spiking, loading ties or making embankments, they are equal to whites. We pay them $31.00 per month for 26 days work and they board themselves and pay freight that is shipped over the road to them" (Reed 1870).

There is every reason to believe that the 1881-1883 Chinese labor crews that worked in today's Amistad Reservoir basin were nearly identical in work composition, eating habits, camp organization, and daily administration to the Chinese crews that worked on the first transcontinental railroad in California, Nevada, and Utah during the 1870s. Briggs' research (1974) at the Langtry Construction site (41VV585) clearly indicates that Chinese crews were among the residents of this temporary construction camp. His research identified the presence of four separate double-hearth features, something he attributes to traditional Chinese food preparation. Briggs believes the double-hearth was used strictly by ethnic Chinese, one side for steaming rice and the other for frying meats and vegetables. From analysis of the historic artifacts in association with the four double-hearth features, Briggs makes a conjectural population estimate of 17 Chinese to one Anglo at this site where perhaps 550-665 construction workers lived for a brief period in 1882. Chinese laborers usually lived and worked in isolation from other railroad employees. Railroad policy restricted them from jobs associated with surveying, supervision, and machinery operations. These jobs were traditionally given to white workmen. A typical Chinese crew might contain 12 to 30 members. Each crew usually had an individual assigned whose sole job was to maintain the 30-40 gallon whiskey barrels full of luke warm tea used by thirsty crew members. A mess attendant replenished the barrels several times a day with fresh tea carried in old powder kegs suspended from each end of a bamboo pole balanced on the shoulders (Kraus 1969:114). The railway company supplied Chinese work crews, at a cost, with most of the basic necessities needed to live and work in remote or wilderness areas. During the early 1870s, the Central Pacific Railway Company provided Chinese workmen daily rations of 1 lb. of rice, 1 lb. of fish, pork, or beef, 1/3 lb. of vegetables, 1/2 oz. of tea, and a small amount of lard or cooking oil. Water-proof lodging and all tools and equipment for work were supplied by the railway company or contractor; each worker provided his own bedding. Chinese crews began work at sunrise and quit at sunset, working 6 days per week, with monthly wages ranging between $30.00-$35.00. Days lost to sickness or injury were deducted from wages, with contractors providing free medicines and medical care (when available). Anglo construction foremen would meet with the Chinese "head man" for each work gang on a daily basis to settle up payroll. The head man, who bought and paid for all provisions used by his crew, would divide the payroll evenly among them after deducting the cost of individual purchases he had made on their behalf. Kraus (1969:211) describes one of the few first-hand accounts of wage payments to Chinese laborers working in Nevada in the 1870:

"Sisson and Crocker Company had an interpreter named Sam Thayer and also a Chinese interpreter. When they came up to these gangs of Chinese, the money due to them would be already counted out and they would dump the money in one of the Chinese' hats for that gang with a statement written in Chinese. There would be no time for explanations. They had to take it whether they liked it or not" (Kraus 1969:211).

In October, 1882, San Antonio Daily Express newspaper correspondent Fred Locker visited Strobridge's construction camp near Langtry (site 41VV585 noted above) and reported that "the Chinese are treated more like slaves than anything else, they are [sic] drove around and sometimes used severely if they don't work to suit the bosses." Following Strobridge's Chinese grading crews were Black Jack Higgins' track layers who numbered about 1,000 strong. The majority of Higgins' track crews were recent immigrants to the United States and included Irish, Italians, and Germans. As long as the track laying crews kept up with the graders, daily supply or work trains from El Paso were able to provision the entire operations of the Western Division (Dolman 1979:6-10).

The Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio (GH&SA) Railway selected Major James Converse to oversee construction operations for the Eastern Division. Converse was a veteran of the first transcontinental railroad construction through the High Sierras and would later become General Superintendent and Chief Engineer of the line in Texas. The overall operation of Converse's Eastern Division sharply contrasts with the Western Division in terms of the make up of the work force and the organization of construction activities. The Eastern Division contracted out all construction activities, except tracklaying, with the contractors providing the labor force and the railway company the materials. Contracts were made for rock work, tunnel construction, and grading between San Antonio and the Pecos River. Each contractor established his own temporary construction camp and worked independently of other contractors. This meant that construction and grading was taking place simultaneously at non-contiguous points along the route, which sharply contrasts with the orderly grading and tracklaying of the Western Division. The work force Western Division was far more ethnically diverse than the Eastern Division. Among the work force could be counted immigrant Italians, Irish, and Germans alongside Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and African Americans. A number of the contractors came from the San Antonio area, although much of the labor force was brought in from other areas. Several contractors recruited a large group of workers from Illinois who even brought their wives and children with them and lived in several different camps in the vicinity of the construction work at the Devils River crossing. Three wagon loads of African Americans and supplies joined the Devils River camps in January, 1882. By February, 1882 the San Antonio Daily Express newspaper was reporting there were between 2,700 and 3,000 workers constructing the line between the Pecos and Devils River and that 45 to 60 new workers were arriving daily.

Property raids and territory disputes were a fact of everyday life in the borderlands of post-Civil War Texas, but the federal government was determined to put a stop to. Five years of upheaval had resulted in a loss of land along the southern border and frequent attacks on settlers. To combat these problems, military forts sprang up throughout Texas in the decade following the Civil War and armed U.S troops made regular patrols. One of the most well-known of the patrolling groups was the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts out of Fort Clark, Brackettville, Texas. Remembered for their toughness and skill as trackers, it is their courage that has brought them the most recognition. And nowhere would those traits be more in evidence than during the Pecos River skirmish of April 25, 1875.

On that spring morning Lieutenant John L. Bullis, along with Seminole Scouts Sergeant John Ward, Private Pompey Factor, and Trumpeter Isaac Payne had been in hot pursuit of a band of Comanche or Apache raiders for just over a week. Though originally riding with Company A of the 25th Infantry the four men had separated from the larger group a few days earlier and headed west alone. On horseback, armed only with Spencer carbines and dwindling supplies, Bullis and his men would track the raiders for the next three days and cover more than 170 miles before finally picking up fresh trail markings about three miles east of present-day Seminole Springs. They followed the trail northwest towards Eagle Nest Crossing until they came to the Pecos River. Crouched high in the canyon above the raiding party, Bullis and the Scouts took stock of the situation. The raiders had already begun herding the horses across to the west bank by the time the group arrived and Bullis must have known that his window of opportunity was closing. If he didn’t act soon, the horses would be lost. The Scouts counted seventy-five horses and between twenty-five to thirty raiders; there were just four of them. The events of the next hour would not only bring commendation to the Seminole Scouts and Bullis, it would cement their reputations in the lore of the west.

Lieutenant John Lapham Bullis, a Quaker from New York State, was granted command of the Seminole Scouts in 1873. A career military man, he had first enlisted with the 126th New York Voluntary Infantry in 1862 just as the Civil War was ramping up. Captured first during the battle of Harpers Ferry and then at Gettysburg, he was briefly held at Libby Prison before serving out the remaining years of the war fighting around Richmond, Virginia. Mustered out of the army in 1866, the one time Captain spent a year working on the Mississippi before accepting a commission as Lieutenant with the 41st Infantry, now stationed in coastal Texas. When the army began downsizing in 1869 Bullis accepted a transfer to the newly established 24th U.S Infantry, one of two African-American infantry units.

The U.S. Government had first authorized the official formation of black cavalry and infantry troops in 1866, though black soldiers had fought during the Civil War in the years prior. By 1870 the military, aware of the growing necessity to protect the western frontier, began recruiting Seminole Maroons to act as scouts. The new recruits would be used primarily as reconnaissance and patrol forces and would not engage in any major skirmishes. But by 1873, with the U.S./Mexico border situation worsening and the Seminole Scouts proving themselves as excellent trackers and guides, a call went out for a commanding officer for the troop. Thirty-two year old John L. Bullis accepted the offer.

Survey work for the proposed railroad route in the vicinity of the Pecos River was well under way by the summer of 1880. Captain Hood was in charge of the Southern Pacific survey and of engineering crews working between the mouth of the Devils River and the mouth of the Pecos at the Rio Grande. Hood and his survey crews were equipped with five boats and several dozen horses. Their job was to select, survey, and prepare construction estimates for each foot of the route between the two rivers (San Antonio Weekly Express , August 26, 1880). M. J. Ripps was a member of one of the 1880-1881 survey crews and wrote (Hunter 1925:125) of his experience:

In 1881, Huntington's Southern Pacific, the Western Division, began work eastward from El Paso while Pierce's GH&SA, known as the Sunset or Eastern Division, started westward from San Antonio with plans to meet Southern Pacific crews somewhere near the Pecos River (Elliot 1922:21-22). The route was surveyed about two years before actual construction began. From San Antonio to Del Rio, the survey crew generally followed the San Antonio-El Paso road which had been in use by military and commercial freight haulers since the early 1850s. From Del Rio to Fort Davis, the route roughly paralleled Bullis' 1875 military road which crossed the Pecos River near its junction with the Rio Grande. Construction of the line from San Antonio to El Paso was conducted under the administrative auspices of the GH&SA and the Southern Development Company (a company set up by Huntington's Southern Pacific). Each of these divisions had its own management, utilized different construction procedures, and relied on different sources of supply.

Amistad National Recreation Area is home to dramatic 4,000 year-old pictographs. These mysterious paintings adorn rock shelter walls in the upper reaches of Lake Amistad. Boaters can usually access Panther and Parida caves (depending on lake level), and hikers can go on a guided tour at nearby Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site.

Taking a closer look at the modern landscape of Lake Amistad can tell a person much more about the history of the area than they might at first expect. Surprisingly, the history of the Lower Pecos River region begins far before the U.S. Military’s early camps and outposts and goes far beyond the beginning days of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The first visitors to the canyons that now form Amistad NRA arrived some 12,000 years ago following herds of large ice-age animals that grazed the grassy upland plateaus and ventured deep into the canyons for water. Although the people might be gone, they’ve left a legacy of their lifeways in the artifacts and pictographs (rock paintings) that grace the canyon walls. You can view some of these artifacts and learn more about them on the NPS Museum Collections page .

Amistad National Recreation Area supports flora and fauna in a combination not found in any other National Park Service site. This biodiversity is a result of the park's location in a transition zone between major life and climate zones. The park lies 1) between three major plant communities: Tamaulipan Shrubland, Chihuahuan Desert, and Edwards Plateau; 2) between two major climate zones at the transition between temperate and tropics; and 3) in the transition zone from dry, arid zones in the western half of the U.S. to the more humid and wet eastern half of the U.S. This mix of habitats is combined with a huge expanse of the clear, clean waters of Amistad Reservoir.

People use Lake Amistad year-round. In contrast, some animals utilize the area only during seasonal migrations. In the fall, thousands of Monarch butterflies ( Danaus plexippus ) roost on park lands before continuing their journey south to wintering sites in Mexico. Many waterfowl species spend the winter on the lake before returning north in the spring. Even threatened and endangered species, such as the Interior Least Tern ( Sterna antillarum athalassos ), use the lake to nest and raise young. The river canyons provide oases of warmth and moisture, and they harbor unique communities found in few other places.

The National Park Service and State agencies have implemented several projects in order to monitor the natural resources of the lake and surrounding areas. Research of threatened and endangered species, cave and karst resources, yearly Monarch butterfly monitoring, a prevention program to avoid the accidental introduction of invasive zebra ( Dreissena polymorpha ) and quagga mussels ( D. bugensis ), and water quality testing provide invaluable data. By monitoring changes, park staff can quickly take measures to conserve the natural resources and beauty of Amistad National Recreation Area.

Amistad National Recreation Area has documented over 200 different species of birds, both native and migratory. The Natural Resources Division has been participating in yearly banding projects spanning five years in order to document bird species, breeding patterns, and migration routes. The information obtained by these banding sessions allows the park staff to monitor birds and offers insight to the average birder. Educational opportunities for birders are provided with Bird Walks among the riparian zones. Many different species utilize the resources at Amistad Lake during migration and breeding seasons, which makes this program interesting to young and old alike. Interior Least Terns use Amistad Lake as a breeding ground during late spring. The Interior Least Tern has been listed on the Endangered and Threatened list for several years. The Natural Resources Division monitors the Least Terns to help ensure that the species has a future. To learn more about birds at Amistad National Recreation Area, see the articles below and our Bird Field Guide. For places to view specific types of birds, please visit our birding page .

Amistad National Recreation Area's flora contains elements from three major plant communities. This is due to our location in a transition zone between a more humid Gulf of America-influenced climate, the drier Chihuahuan Desert, and the hills of the Edwards Plateau.

This multi-faceted environment with accompanyong transition zones results in a rich diversity of wildlife and vegetation, so various scientists monitor Amistad. A report on the plant species of Amistad National Recreation Area was compiled by botanists from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, with funding from the National Park Service. (Access granted by the author and the publisher.) As new plant species are documented in the park, staff keep the species list updated , and the National Park Service also maintains a Vegetation Inventory and Map .

The park's region is at the western limits of a Gulf of America-influenced climate. Plants common to the southeast, from the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, are at their northern and western limits. These plants have adapted to a very irregular precipitation pattern with frequent high humidity. The Tamaulipan Shrubland is characterized by the many species of acacia; including huisache, blackbrush, and guajillo (scientific names can be found in our Field Guide section). Cenizo, mesquite, and retama are other species typical of this more tropical flora.

Many plants from the Chihuahuan Desert have their eastern limits in the Amistad area. Creosote bush, lechuguilla, and a variety of cactus species are good examples. By the time you reach the Big Bend region, the vegetation consists of true desert species.

Some species, like oaks and junipers (cedars), are occasionally found around the reservoir, especially in the upper reaches of the Devils River. They represent Edwards Plateau flora from the north. The Edwards Plateau is also known as the Texas Hill Country.

The plants of Amistad National Recreation Area help define the landscape of the park. Over 700 plant species have been identified here!

Park personnel and other researchers often collect plants during scientific field work. The plant specimens are prepared for permanent storage in a herbarium by drying them and attaching them to special paper with glue. The prepared herbarium collections are stored in sealed cabinets in the park’s museum building. The collections of dried plants and the information about each specimen provide park scientists and managers with information useful in making decisions for protecting the park’s resources.

A sprig of a stem, a flower, or a leaf is usually not enough for a botanist to include in a herbarium collection. The best herbarium specimen will have flowers or fruits along with stems, leaves, and sometimes, depending on the kind of plant, roots as well. But without the flowers or fruits, a plant collection is not complete. To be most useful, the information about the plant must include where and when the plant was collected, the name of the person who made the collection, and a brief description of the plant itself.

Mammals are common, but since most animals are secretive, visitors often only see White-tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ), cottontail rabbits ( Sylvilagus spp. ), Black-tailed Jackrabbits ( Lepus californicus ) , and perhaps an occasional skunk or Porcupine ( Erethizon dorsatum ).

Like the flora, Amistad’s migratory fauna also reflects that it is in an area of transition. Many tropical species, especially birds , are at or near their northern limits. Great Kiskadees (a flycatcher, Pitangus sulphuratus ), Olive Sparrows ( Arremonops rufivirgatus ), and two tropical kingfishers--the ringed ( Megaceryle torquata ) and green ( Chloroceryle americana )--can be seen over the park. Tropical butterflies, like the White Peacock ( Anartia jatrophae ), Ruddy Daggerwing ( Marpesia petreus ), Common Mestra ( Mestra amymone ), and the Polydamas Swallowtail ( Battas polydamas ) are also vistors to Amistad.

Perhaps Amistad National Recreation Area’s most notable wildlife phenomenon is the fall migration of Monarch Butterflies ( Danaus plexippus ) from the Great Lakes to the mountains of central Mexico. Around October, just after the first major autumn cold front, thousands of Monarchs pass through this part of Texas. They roost in trees by the hundreds, waiting for favorable winds from the north to help them on their journey south.

Amistad National Recreation Area was created to provide visitors excellent recreational opportunities while preserving the area's natural and cultural resources. This goal can be difficult because of the special environmental factors encountered at Amistad. The natural resources of the area are subject to a range of threats including exotic species, pollution, and changing lake levels.

The problem of biological invasion is not new. Non-native species have been intentionally or accidentally introduced by man for centuries. Many exotics are able to adapt to a new environment; a few become invasive and destructive. Good examples are land invasions by tamarisk and water invasions by hydrilla in Amistad Reservoir.

Tamarisk ( Tamarix spp), or salt cedar, is a Mediterranean shrub that has invaded thousands of square miles of riverine habitat. Not only does it crowd out and replace native species, it also wastes vast quantities of water by sucking up and transpiring any available moisture.

Hydrilla is a genus that includes a variety of common aquarium plants that have been intentionally or accidentally introduced into many lakes and reservoirs. While it can create good fish habitat in limited amounts, it has been known to choke aquatic environments and deplete oxygen supplies when its population explodes.

Aquatic invasive species are also frequently transported lake to lake when they are attached to or are in water held in various parts of boats and trailers. This allows populations to spread to new areas where natural predators are not present to reduce populations. Zebra ( Dreissena polymorpha ) and quagga ( D. rostriformis bugensis ) mussels are known to have spread in this fashion. These mussels are particularly problematic for reservoirs and the infrastructure the reservoirs support.

The primary sources for water in Lake Amistad are from pollution-free springs and rivers. However, one possible threat to the lake’s water quality is the burgeoning development around the lake. The State of Texas closely monitors the water quality on a regular basis to ensure this precious resource is protected.

Another challenge to managing the recreation area is the constantly fluctuating water levels. This constant shift between lake and dry land makes the preservation of natural and cultural resources difficult, so the climate and water level is frequently monitored . Since the reservoir is located in a desert, the lake level varies depending on inflow from rain and outflow from the dam. The elevation of the surface of Amistad Reservoir is measured from mean sea level. An elevation of 1117’ above mean sea level (amsl) is considered “conservation pool;” park boundaries are generally set at 1144’ amsl. However, in drought years, water levels have gone as low as 1056’ amsl. Low lake levels leave boat docks and ramps high and dry and also expose a great deal of previously inundated land. Non-native vegetation, especially tamarisk, quickly invades fertile lake mud.

A good example of how changing lake levels threaten archeological resources is the problem of a non-native clam, Corbicula fluminea . These mollusks thrive in the shoreline zone. As lake levels change, they invade new areas and their constant burrowing disturbs previously untouched archeological sites.

Amistad National Recreation Area’s natural features are primarily the result of two influences: geology and climate. The local flora and fauna has developed in response to these two factors. Despite Amistad’s desert-like appearance, the park represents an interesting collection of plants and animals found at no other National Park Service site.

The entire Amistad NRA area is underlain by 100 million year-old Cretaceous limestone. A number of different formations make up the strata, and most include a wide variety of marine fossils. Karst landscape (dissolution features such as sinkholes and caves formed in limestone) is common in the area, and limestone forms the bedrock beneath the lake. Due to this lack of soil, and the fact that the tributaries feeding the lake pass though areas that are relatively pollution-free, Amistad Reservoir is clear and water quality is high.

The climate has created plant communities well adapted to survive the rocky soil. The Amistad NRA area looks like a desert, but the climate doesn’t meet the true definition of desert. Deserts are usually defined as arid areas receiving about 10 inches of precipitation or less a year. The park’s annual precipitation is around 18 inches. What characterizes the climate, though, is the extreme fluctuations of precipitation. One year the area may only receive a few inches of rain; the next we can get the entire year’s average in one storm. Plants have adapted to this ‘feast or famine’ regime, but it makes it very difficult to predict when plants will green up or even flower.

Boaters quickly notice that the prevailing winds at Amistad come from the southeast. These winds are from the Gulf of America and make most mornings, especially in spring and fall, humid and overcast. By the afternoon, the clouds and humidity have burnt off, leaving hot dry weather. Summers can be hot (averaging in the high 90s F), but winters are mild with only a few nights of hard freeze. Tropical storms occasionally make their way west from the Gulf, and soon lose much of their power by the time they reach the Amistad area.

Visitors heading west from Amistad NRA observe the transition from Gulf-influenced climate and vegetation to true desert by the time they get to the Big Bend region’s Chihuahuan Desert. There, as for most of the American Southwest, a continental climate prevails, with high pressure systems, and hot dry air.

Amistad has a variety of limited development campgrounds, like Governors Landing. NPS / J. Rolls Designated Campgrounds There are five designated campgrounds within the park: Governors Landing , Rough Canyon , San Pedro , Spur 406 , and 277 North . Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations. Campgrounds are generally open year-round and rarely fill up, except on holiday weekends.

Campground fees range from $6 to $10 per site (50% discount with Interagency Senior Pass or Access Pass) and are payable within 30 minutes of occupying a campsite. There is a self-pay fee station centrally located at each designated campground. Each site has a covered picnic table and fire grill. Ground fires are prohibited. All campgrounds have vault toilets. Only Governors Landing has running water to shared spigots. The other campgrounds are primitive. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. Check-out time is 11 am. Recreational Vehicle (RV) Sites Though most of the park's campsites will accommodate RVs, there are no hookups. An RV dump station with potable water is available only to those with receipts showing they are camping within Amistad National Recreation Area campgrounds. It is located along the road to the Diablo East boat ramp. Governors Landing can accommodate RVs up to 28 feet in length while San Pedro Campground is best-suited for larger RVs. Camping Limits Site capacity is not to exceed eight persons and one recreational vehicle camping unit (three vehicles total). Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas only and may not be driven off-road. Visitors may stay in a campground up to 14 consecutive nights with a limit of 60 nights in the park in a calendar year.

San Pedro Group Campsite's picnic area NPS Photo Group Campsites The park has three areas available for group camping: Rock Quarry, San Pedro, and 277 North. These group campsites are available by reservation only. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance and no less than three days in advance. These reservations can only be made on Recreation.gov . The fees associated with these reservations are in the chart below.

An individual may not rent a group campsite for more than 14 consecutive days and can only reserve the same group campsite twice within the same calendar year. The demand for some of the group campsites has been great, so these limits are designed to allow as many people as possible to enjoy these sites. Price Chart for Reserving Group Campsites Campsite 1-15 People 16-35 People 36-75 People Rock Quarry $35 $75 N/A San Pedro $35 $75 $155 277 North $35 $75 N/A

Backcountry Camping Backcountry camping is mostly only accessible by boat. Backcountry camping is permitted on the lake waters and shoreline but not within a ¼ mile of a developed area. For the purpose of backcountry camping, a developed area is defined as a designated campground, dispersed camping area, day-use picnic area, launch ramp, or public road. In addition, the entire south shoreline from Amistad Dam eastward to the US 277 bridge, with the exception of Hunt Area 5 during non-hunting season, is considered a developed area.

The following areas are closed to backcountry camping: Hunt areas during hunting season. All areas accessed by wheeled motor vehicles, except for designated dispersed camping areas. All archeological sites. All caves and rockshelters. Within 100 feet of any springs.

There are five designated campgrounds within the park: Governors Landing , Rough Canyon , San Pedro , Spur 406 , and 277 North . Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations. Campgrounds are generally open year-round and rarely fill up, except on holiday weekends. Campground fees range from $6 to $10 per site (50% discount with Interagency Senior Pass or Access Pass) and are payable within 30 minutes of occupying a campsite. There is a self-pay fee station centrally located at each designated campground. Each site has a covered picnic table and fire grill. Ground fires are prohibited. All campgrounds have vault toilets. Only Governors Landing has running water to shared spigots. The other campgrounds are primitive. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. Check-out time is 11 am.

The park has three areas available for group camping: Rock Quarry, San Pedro, and 277 North. These group campsites are available by reservation only. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance and no less than three days in advance. These reservations can only be made on Recreation.gov . The fees associated with these reservations are in the chart below. An individual may not rent a group campsite for more than 14 consecutive days and can only reserve the same group campsite twice within the same calendar year. The demand for some of the group campsites has been great, so these limits are designed to allow as many people as possible to enjoy these sites.

Backcountry camping is mostly only accessible by boat. Backcountry camping is permitted on the lake waters and shoreline but not within a ¼ mile of a developed area. For the purpose of backcountry camping, a developed area is defined as a designated campground, dispersed camping area, day-use picnic area, launch ramp, or public road. In addition, the entire south shoreline from Amistad Dam eastward to the US 277 bridge, with the exception of Hunt Area 5 during non-hunting season, is considered a developed area. The following areas are closed to backcountry camping:

Diablo East Nature Trail NPS photo Whether looking to just stretch your legs with a short stroll or to take a longer hike, Amistad National Recreation Area offers hikers a number of easy trails to explore. At the Pecos Day Use Area , there is a short interpretive nature trail where you can enjoy views of the Pecos River, its cliffs, and a wide variety of plants. Read on to learn about safety considerations while hiking. More trails with maps are available at the bottom of the page.

Hiking Safety Tips Always carry enough water (1 gallon per person per day). Hike during cooler hours of the day. Always use sunscreen and wear protective clothing. The landscape is full of plants with thorns; wear pants and heavy-soled hiking boots. Watch out for venomous snakes. The best way to do this is to not put body parts into areas you can't see into (tall grass, mounds of rocks, etc). If you encounter a snake, do not make any sudden movements. Stop, then slowly back away from it. Do not kill the snake. Snakes are protected by federal law and play a very important part in the desert ecosystem. If you plan to hike alone, always let somebody know where you are going and when you will return. Take only pictures; leave only footprints. All things inside National Park Service boundaries, living and non-living, are protected by federal law. The removal of plants, animals, artifacts, rocks, etc., is prohibited. Bring a copy of Amistad National Recreation Area's hiking maps, which show the park's boundaries, since hiking on adjacent private land is not permitted. For additional safety considerations, visit the park's Safety page.

The most recognizable feature of a mountain lion is its long tail, which measures about two-thirds the length of its body. NPS photo Mountain Lion Safety Mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) are known to be in the area but are rarely seen. While an encounter is unlikely, it is always a good idea to be prepared and know how to react in case you have an encounter with an aggressive mountain lion. Maintain eye contact, and never turn away from the lion. Stand up straight, with arms above your head in order to appear larger. If children are hiking with you, pick them up and hold them. Back away very slowly in case the lion is guarding a kill or her den. If the lion approaches, throw rocks or sticks and yell at the animal. If the lion does attack, fight back.

Diablo East Trail Map. Click for printable version. NPS map Diablo East Trail System Diablo East day-use area has three trails: the Blue Trail Loop, the Green Trail Loop, and the Nature Trail. The Blue Trail Loop is about a mile long with its trailhead at the RV dump station. It loops north and west, briefly connects with the Green Trail Loop, runs through the south end of the lower parking area, and returns to the RV Dump Station. The Green Trail Loop is 0.5 miles with its trailhead near the public restrooms on the north end of the lower parking area. The loop runs west and south from here, briefly connects with the Blue Trail Loop and returns through the lower parking area. Hiking the two trails as a connecting circut will provide a longer, 1.3-mile loop.

Sunrise Trail map. Click for printable version. NPS image Sunrise Trail The Sunrise Trail is approximately 1.5 miles long and connects the parking lot at 9685 Hwy 90 West to Spur 454. The hike begins on the Highway 90-side of the covered area but soon after cuts back toward the water. Located on the old Brite Ranch, there often is opportunity to view a large variety of plants and birds on this hike. There are benches on which to sit and enjoy the sweeping views of the lake. The map also depicts where the shoreline is in relation to the trail when the reservoir is at 1117 feet above mean sea level (amsl) in lighter blue and 1100 feet amsl in darker blue. The park boundary is in red. The inset shows where the trail is in relation to San Pedro Campground.

Figueroa Trail Map. Click for printable version. NPS map Figueroa Trail System Across the Devils River from Southwinds Marina and Governors Landing is the Figueroa Trail System. The trailhead for this system is near the Rock Quarry Group Campsite. The Figueroa Trail is actually a series of trails that comprise the longest section in the recreation area. Located on the old Figueroa Ranch, these rolling trails cross through desert and shrubland plant habitats, while providing views of the lake and the dam.

Diablo East day-use area has three trails: the Blue Trail Loop, the Green Trail Loop, and the Nature Trail. The Blue Trail Loop is about a mile long with its trailhead at the RV dump station. It loops north and west, briefly connects with the Green Trail Loop, runs through the south end of the lower parking area, and returns to the RV Dump Station. The Green Trail Loop is 0.5 miles with its trailhead near the public restrooms on the north end of the lower parking area. The loop runs west and south from here, briefly connects with the Blue Trail Loop and returns through the lower parking area. Hiking the two trails as a connecting circut will provide a longer, 1.3-mile loop. The short, interpretive Nature Trail (marked on the map with an orange line) begins on the north end of the upper parking area and does a small loop on a point of land near the lake shore. It is .3 miles in length. This trail provides information about a variety of plants, and a hiker can enjoy sweeping views of Amistad Reservoir.

Across the Devils River from Southwinds Marina and Governors Landing is the Figueroa Trail System. The trailhead for this system is near the Rock Quarry Group Campsite. The Figueroa Trail is actually a series of trails that comprise the longest section in the recreation area. Located on the old Figueroa Ranch, these rolling trails cross through desert and shrubland plant habitats, while providing views of the lake and the dam. CAUTION : The Figueroa Trail System is located within Hunt Area 1. Please be especially vigilant for hazards during hunting season (September 1 - February 28).