Discover El Paso: Nature, Missions, and History

At Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site, distinctive geology and rainwater create a refuge for living things. As you approach, three low mountains rise from the Chihuahuan Desert; more than 200 bird species have been documented there. The rock art also gives the site a special historical dimension: it is associated with at least three cultures and more than 1,500 years of history.

Desert Landscapes, Wetlands, and Trails

Guided tours at Hueco Tanks explain the park’s natural and cultural history. A guided tour is required to access West Mountain, East Mountain, and East Spur. Plan this part of your visit accordingly: follow Hueco Tanks Road to the entrance, as GPS may show an incorrect route. Check the official directions before driving.

Rio Bosque Wetlands Park offers a different kind of landscape: the 372-acre city park in El Paso is in southeastern El Paso County near Socorro, Texas. Its western boundary runs parallel to the Rio Grande, which forms the international border between the United States and Mexico in this area. Restoration work supports native plant communities of the river valley.

The park has three loop trails for walking: the 0.6-mile Bosque Trail, the 1.5-mile Wetland Trail, and the 2.4-mile Rio Trail. The distances let you choose a loop to suit your plans. The University of Texas at El Paso also offers free guided walks there twice a month. As the schedule may change, check the current dates.

The Rio Grande River Trail is another option for outdoor exercise. This paved, multi-use trail is about five miles long and approximately eight feet wide, running between Vinton and Canutillo along the Rio Grande. It is suitable for walking, running, and cycling, with views of the riverbank. Its length offers a different-distance option compared with the three shorter loops at Rio Bosque Wetlands Park.

Waterfront Activities and Golf

Ascarate Park includes a 48-acre lake. Visitors may bring their own kayaks and boats; only trolling motors are allowed on the lake. Ascarate Pool offers another way to enjoy sports: the outdoor pool is 50 meters long and suitable for competition. Golf options include the 27-hole Ascarate Golf Course, which opened in 1955, and the short nine-hole “DELTA 9” course.

Missions, Architecture, and Tradition

The historic El Paso Mission Trail connects Ysleta, Socorro, and San Elizario along a nine-mile route and is part of the larger El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail. Each place has its own character: Ysleta Mission represents more than 300 years of Texas history. The present-day Socorro Mission was dedicated in 1843; its features include adobe walls about six feet thick and massive vigas. San Elizario Presidio Chapel was built in 1877 in the traditional Spanish mission style, with round-arch arcades and gold-decorated columns.

In San Elizario, the historic Placita is a public square in the center of town that can be used for public gatherings and performances. The annual San Elceario Fiesta, celebrated for more than 100 years, is also part of local tradition. It features Mexican cuisine, carnival rides, and live entertainment; check the dates and current event program before traveling. You can book a self-guided or guided tour through Mission Trail Experience Tours. Tour availability may change.

Museums and Regional History

The El Paso Museum of Archaeology presents 14,000 years of prehistory from the El Paso area, the wider Southwest, and northern Mexico. Dioramas and exhibitions focus on the lives of Indigenous peoples of the Americas and their material culture. The El Paso Museum of History complements this perspective with more than 1,000 years of regional history. One of its distinctive features is an interactive digital wall, one of only a few of its kind in the world.

Chamizal National Memorial commemorates the peaceful resolution of an international border dispute between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Its covered theater has 500 seats; the program includes plays, musicals, dance, opera, film screenings, lectures, and discussions, among other events. A Sun Metro stop at the corner of Paisano Drive and South San Marcial Street is within convenient walking distance of the Memorial’s facilities. Transit details may change, so check the schedule before traveling. If you plan to visit Magoffin Home, note that it will remain closed until 2027 for restoration; the visitor center is open.

Discover more destinations: Fabens, Clint, El Paso, Angelina County, Jeff Davis, Travis, Hemphill County, Knox County.

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