Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site gives the El Paso & Juarez communities a tangible connection to our shared past.

Whether visitors are picnicking, hiking, birdwatching, or just enjoying the solitude, Hueco Tanks is a unique experience. The park is also a popular rock climbing destination.  With the help of the rock climbing community, Texas Parks & Wildlife has been able to help conserve the unique natural and cultural features of Hueco Tanks while allowing resource-compatible recreation. An oasis of nature and culture, people have found solace for millennia at Hueco Tanks.

Natural cisterns in the rock have helped Hueco Tanks serve as a refuge for plants, animals and people for over 10,000 years. Thousands of pictographs left by prehistoric and historic Native Americans are a testament to the life-sustaining power of Hueco Tanks. The park offers educational and recreational tours year-round, as well as special evening programs for families and afternoon hikes for kids. School groups regularly visit the park for tours that focus on the geology, wildlife, flora, and history of Hueco Tanks.

Hueco Tanks hosts the annual Interpretive Fair Weekend during the third weekend in October. The fair focuses on educational tours, hands-on activities, environmental and cultural information booths and presentations by cultural groups such as the Mescalero Apache School, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Dancers, and the Kiowa Young Men's Association. Through these programs, Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site aims not only to entertain, but also to improve cultural understanding and encourage stewardship of site resources. The Interpretive Fair is one of few events to offer El Pasoans and visitors exposure to traditional Native American culture. It is also a venue at which Native American youth learn about their culture through participation in ceremonies that have been practiced at Hueco Tanks for many generations. Entrance fees are waived for the fair, allowing attendance by members of the community who may otherwise find park entrance fees cost-prohibitive. Many families take advantage of the fair's free admission each year.

This place matters because it gives our visitors a rare glimpse into the minds and cultures of peoples of the past, through amazing painted images. It is a place that allows recreation in a wild and unique landscape, while inspiring stewardship for cultural heritage and the natural environment. This place preserves an irreplaceable connection to our shared past, for the benefit of today's visitors and future generations.

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