Pecos Spring facts for kids

Pecos Spring was a natural spring located about 3 kilometers (1.1 miles) northeast of Sheffield in Pecos County, Texas. It sat at an elevation of 2060 feet (about 628 meters) above sea level. The water for Pecos Spring came from a large underground water source called the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) aquifer, which is made of limestone rocks.

In the past, Pecos Spring flowed with a good amount of water. On March 7, 1924, it released about 0.7 cubic feet of water every second. However, by August 17, 1943, this flow had dropped to 0.5 cubic feet per second. Sadly, by 1961, the spring had completely dried up and stopped flowing.

The Story of Pecos Spring

Early Visitors and Important Stops

Pecos Spring has a long and interesting history. It is believed that Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, an early European explorer, might have passed by this spring in 1534. Later, the Comanche people often used the spring as a place to set up their camps.

The spring also became a regular and important stop on the Old Spanish Trail. This was a famous route that travelers used to go from San Antonio to El Paso. Pecos Spring was about 32 miles south of a place called Leaving of Pecos. It was also about 6 miles northwest of the Pecos Crossing on the Devils River.

A Lifeline for Travelers

For many travelers coming from the east, Pecos Spring was a true lifesaver. It was the very last source of good, fresh water for a long distance. The road they traveled, the San Antonio–El Paso Road, went along the dry and empty west bank of the Pecos River. The Pecos River itself had water that was a bit salty, making it not good for drinking.

Travelers would have to go another 48 miles before reaching the next water source, a place called the Arroyo Escondido. This made Pecos Spring an incredibly important stop for anyone needing to refill their water supplies before continuing their journey across the dry landscape.