McKelligon Canyon facts for kids
McKelligon Canyon is a special place in El Paso, Texas, United States. It's home to a large outdoor theater called an amphitheater, which can seat over 1,500 people! Here, you can watch the famous play Viva El Paso!, enjoy concerts, celebrate graduations, and attend other fun events. Right next to it is the McKelligon Canyon Pavilion, a smaller venue that holds 300 people.
At the entrance to the canyon, you'll see a mountain called Sugarloaf Mountain. It's the peak on the left side in the picture next to this text.
Exploring McKelligon Canyon
McKelligon Canyon is located on the southeastern side of the Franklin Mountains. It's surrounded by tall canyon walls, making it a beautiful and exciting place to visit. Many people come here for outdoor activities like rock climbing, hiking, running, walking, and biking.
- Rock Climbing: If you love climbing, you'll find many different routes to try. The canyon has lots of cracks and crevices, perfect for climbers.
- Hiking Trails: All the hiking trails, including the Ron Coleman Trail, start at the end of McKelligon Canyon. These trails are open all year round, so you can explore them whenever you like.
McKelligon Canyon is part of the Franklin Mountains State Park. This means there might be small fees to enter, and certain rules apply to help protect the park. These rules are set by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
History of the Canyon
The land where McKelligon Canyon is located was once part of a disagreement over who owned it. Finally, in 1931, El Paso County bought the land. The canyon was named after M.J. McKelligon, a real estate agent who used to let his cattle graze there.
The long road that leads into the canyon was built using money from federal relief programs. Building this road, which also included a dam, cost about $150,000 at the time.
In the 1950s, some people thought that a valuable mineral called uranium might be found in the canyon. However, after looking into it, they found out this rumor was not true.
