Panther Canyon Abode Big Bend Ranch State Park - Texas
Posted by: 
txoilgas
N 29° 22.329 W 103° 57.689
13R E 600789 N 3249665
The shelter is located along the Rancherias Trail about 6 miles from the East Rancherias trailhead which is 1n the Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Waymark Code: WM5NT5
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/26/2009
Views: 17
The terrain is very rough and the trail tough to follow but the beautiful desert scenery makes it all worthwhile. It is best done as part of an overnight trip. This shelter is only accessable via foot or horseback.
Huge mountains tower over a vast desert expanse. Rushing water carves massive canyons out of solid stone.
Big Bend Ranch is one of the largest and least visited Texas parks. In 1988, the state of Texas purchased 216,000 acres of spectacular Chihuahuan Desert. Later purchases brought the total to 287,000 (roughly 450 square miles), an enormous amount of land, doubling the size of the Texas State Park system.
Access to the public was slow at first, but now there are many trails to explore and camping areas to take advantage of.
One of the most scenic drives in Texas, Hwy 170, takes you right into the heart of this incredible land. Driving down this road is like traveling back through time, to a place where ancient volcanoes once erupted, creating extraordinary landscapes and breathtaking vistas.
The "Solitario", a huge collapsed caldera made of molten rock, is one of many rare and interesting features of the park.