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 The Chihuahua Trail and Escondido Water Hole
N 30° 40.698 W 101° 40.381
14R E 243919 N 3396999
One of three historic markers at a rest area along the incredibly scenic State Highway 290 between Ozona and Sheffield
Waymark Code: WMPP2Q
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/29/2015
Views: 6
This marker preserves the history of an ancient route through this beautiful, harsh, and breathtaking country.
It is one of three historic markers located at the rest area along State Highway 290 overlooking Fort Lancaster and the Pecos River.
Marker Number: 5303
Marker Text:
The Chihuahua Trail was opened by segments, but was not called by this name until the 19th century. A small part of the route, along the nearby Pecos River, was followed by the Spaniard Gaspar Castano de Sosa in 1590, during an expedition to New Mexico. By 1850, the trail was finally extended to connect the city of Chihuahua and the Texas Gulf Coast, by way of San Antonio. Gold seekers going to California found it practical because it touched at all known water holes in this rugged terrain. Heaviest use of the trail came during the mid-1870s, when freighters transported tons of silver and copper from the state of Chihuahua for shipment to the eastern U.S.
One of the landmarks along the Chihuahua Trail in this part of western Texas was Escondido ("Hidden") water hole, seven miles southeast of Fort Lancaster. A small, deep well in the side of a rugged canyon, this water source was very hard to find, but saved the lives of many travelers. However, it is flanked by rock cairns marking the graves of some who died near the water hole of accidents or disease. (1976)
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Visit Instructions:
Please include a picture in your log. You and your GPS receiver do not need to be in the picture. We encourage additional information about your visit (comments about the surrounding area, how you ended up near the marker, etc.) in the log.
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