Palo Pinto Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palo Pinto Mountains |
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 Palo Pinto Mountains
Location in Texas
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,447 ft (441 m) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Painted stick/wood/pole/tree |
| Geography | |
| Location | Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Drive/hike |
The Palo Pinto Mountains are a range of hills in western Palo Pinto County, Texas. The name Palo Pinto means "painted stick" in Spanish. This name likely comes from the juniper trees found in the area. These hills are rugged and beautiful. They stretch for about 15 miles. You can find them from near Texas State Highway 16 and Farm to Market Road 207 in the southwest. They go all the way to Crawford Mountain in the northeast. This mountain is near the Brazos River.
The Palo Pinto Mountains are part of a larger natural area. This area is called the Carbonate Cross Timbers. It is a special type of ecoregion defined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Sometimes, people use "Palo Pinto Mountains" to mean a much bigger area. This larger area includes most of the Western Cross Timbers north of I-20. These mountains are often compared to the Texas Hill Country. Both areas have similar landforms. They are both dissected plateaus. This means they are high, flat areas that have been carved by rivers. They also have karst topography. This means the land has features like caves and sinkholes. These are formed when water dissolves limestone.
The plants found here are also similar to the Hill Country. You can see post oak trees (Quercus stellata). There are also blueberry juniper trees (Juniperus ashei) and mesquite plants. The Carbonate Cross Timbers has a base of limestone rock. The surrounding Western Cross Timbers area is mostly made of sandstone.
The highest point of the Palo Pinto Mountains depends on how you define them. If you mean the specific line of hills, Crawford Mountain is the highest. It is about 1,470 feet (448 meters) tall. It rises about 360 feet (110 meters) above the land around it. If you mean the broader hilly region, the highest point is in Stephens County. This unnamed spot is about 1,628 feet (496 meters) high.
Exploring the Palo Pinto Mountains
When people talk about the broader Palo Pinto Mountains region, it covers many counties. These include all of Jack and Palo Pinto Counties. It also covers most of Stephens County. Large parts of Parker, Montague, and Wise Counties are also included. Smaller parts of Young, Cooke, and Clay Counties are part of it too.
Towns and Parks in the Region
Many towns are located within this wider area. Some of these towns are Bowie, Graham, and Jacksboro. You can also find Bridgeport, Decatur, and Breckenridge. Other towns include Mineral Wells and Springtown.
The region is also home to fun outdoor spots. Possum Kingdom Lake is here, along with its state park. A new state park was bought by the state in 2011. It is not open to the public yet.
Roads and Access
If you are looking at the specific Palo Pinto Mountains range, only one main road crosses it. This is US 180. It goes through a pass called Metcalf Gap. Texas State Highway 16 also runs next to the eastern side of the hills.
For the broader region, many roads help people get around. US 380 and State Highway 114 are in the northern parts. US 281 runs north to south through the area. State Highway 59 is in the northeastern part. Many smaller roads, called Farm to Market Roads, also cross the region. A notable one is FM 4.
