Exploring the Hidden Gems of Rockhound State Park: A Journey Along the Thunder Egg Trail

What if you could uncover hidden geological treasures while exploring one of New Mexico's most breathtaking landscapes? Join me on an unforgettable hike through Rockhound State Park, nestled near Deming, where we'll tread the scenic Thunder Egg Trail. Along this 1.6-mile journey, get ready to learn about the fascinating Big and Little Florida Mountains and the captivating history behind their floral names. I'll also share some intriguing insights into the park’s rich mineral collection opportunities, including the elusive thunder eggs, which are akin to geodes. 

As we navigate the trail, I’ll reflect on my recent experiences in the Deming area, including my brief venture on the Continental Divide Trail and the stunning vistas of the nearby Spring Canyon recreation area. Discover the campground facilities and the local flora, such as the towering sotol plants and barrel cacti, adding a touch of botanical exploration to our trek. Whether you're an avid hiker, a geology enthusiast, or someone who loves the great outdoors, this episode promises a deep dive into the hidden gems of Rockhound State Park. Tune in and walk the trail with me through New Mexico’s rugged landscape.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey and welcome. I'm near Deming, new Mexico, and I'm at Rockhound State Park. Over there you can see the big Florida mountains and I believe over there over the top of that hill is another part of the park called Spring Canyon and behind me they don't look a whole lot different to me, but it's called the Little Florida Mountains and I am just hiking around right now, pretty cool. So I'm hiking what's called the Thunder Egg Trail here at Rock End State Park and, as I said, these mountains that way are the Big Floridas. The ones that I'm walking past are the Little floridas. The ones that I'm walking past are the little floridas. And no, I did not get lost and take a wrong turn. In albuquerque, florida means flowers in spanish, so the early spanish explorers named the mountains florida, because I would assume that they did a lot of flowering during certain times of the year. Cool, I'm on the Thunder Egg Trail. It's like a 1.6 mile trail around Rockhounds State Park. Wish I had more time out here to do some stuff. Supposedly at this park you can collect rocks, up to 15 pounds of minerals, and there's thunder eggs on here which are similar to geodes that you can collect and take home with you. So at some point, probably more toward the end of the trail, so I don't have to carry them too long, I will take some thunder eggs with me, or what I think are thunder eggs Don't really have much identification about them with me. I think they're probably egg-shaped. That would be a good sign. And I'm not sure where the thunder part comes from, but that's pretty interesting. So it looks up there. Maybe it's the high point for Little Florida. I think that's what I saw on the map. I don't know how you would looks up there. Maybe there's the high point for the little floridas. I think that's what I saw on the map. I don't know how you would get up there, or even even if you can get up there, but there's some mantanas up there. The big floridas are over there, and spring canyon, a recreation area or spring canyon state park. I think there's two separate state parks but they manage the other one as a separate unit about About halfway done on the Thunder Egg Trail, I believe, and it keeps going that way. So let's keep going. What a nice view though. So, yeah, over there is what they call Spring Canyon. Probably not going to get to go in it tonight because it's going to be too dark. It is a gated. According to the park ranger manager whatever he was it's a gated area at 4 pm. You can see the campground below me. They do have some campsites here. I'd love to come back and stay here a little longer. So I'm working assignment right now in the Deming area.

Speaker 1: 3:01

I haven't had a whole lot of time to get out and explore. Yesterday I was on the CDT for a little bit and the Divide Trail and then today I'm here in Rockhound State Park, which is a little bit closer to Deming, very cool, and, as I was saying, the big Floridas are out in front of me, but the little Floridas are up there and I'm assuming from the antennas on top that's probably the highest point on the little Floridas. It's a little windy out here. All these plants with the big tall stalks, I believe, are called so talls, which is s-o-t-o-l. I don't believe it's a pun, but it sounds like they're so tall when they have the little stalks up, and I don't know a lot of the history about them, but I believe those are their fruiting bodies, so they flower and then turn into fruits ever so often. I don't think it's every year, but I could be wrong. Anyway, supposedly you can collect thunder eggs on this trail, but I don't really know what they look like exactly, so I may not be collecting any.

Speaker 1: 4:12

But here we go. I wouldn't normally go off the trail like this, but these cactuses are interesting. It's like a barrel cactus, I think is what those are. I'm not sure if that's the actual name. That's what they look like. They look like a little short, stubby barrel. I imagine some of these rocks in here are thunder eggs, so I'll probably pick a few out. Take them with me. I don't know what do you think? So here's some common desert plants out here on the Thunder Egg Trail on the small Florida mountain range. I pretty much hiked the entire trail and I'm at 0.87.

Speaker 1: 4:56

Right here you have these cactus. They're paddle looking, prickly pear, the little bushes. Right here Evidently there's a lot of rocks. This looks like it's a little out of date and damaged. But you have different things. I can see jasper on there, but there's no rock. Looks like it came out. Pink jasper agate I can't tell what that one says Black perlite, rhyolite and thunder eggs. I think I got some thunder eggs in my pocket I was able to take out of here.

Speaker 1: 5:36

That's the back out. We're gonna go that way. Look at the beautiful sunset. We're gonna go that way. And then we're gonna go check out spring canyon. Cool, our creosote bush, I believe. According to this, the little stick things with the little things, that's called Mormon tea we have sotol and bear grass which look pretty similar. The yucca just has the one stalk, whereas the sotol and the bear grass, which are both yucca-like to me, have the double stems. So that's pretty much what we have. I'm gonna keep walking and go on back to the trailhead.

Speaker 1: 6:15

Yeah, so Rockhound State Park the other part of it is on the other side of that ridge. There you can see the towers on top. Maybe this is Spring Canyon and it's getting dark and I got other things I need to do, but I think maybe tomorrow I can come and go do spring canyon, check it out. Neat area, neat, neat, very cool. So I walked up the hill. Here there's this big, toothy mountain thing right behind me. That's pretty cool. As I said, the other side of that ridge, right there you can see the. Maybe in the dark you can see, or the soon to be dark. You can see the towers, antennas or whatever on top of those mountains over there. This is pretty, pretty beautiful.

Speaker 1: 7:05

I think I'm going to have to try to come up here, come over here tomorrow and after work and see what, see what I can find. Maybe this will be a part two Pretty neat. Well, like so many times in our life, I'm at a crossroads and if I go down this road that takes me back to Rockhound State Park, the main park, you can see the big Floridas or the Floridas over there, little Floridas, you can see the outline of them over there. And back over there leads me to the lights of Deming and back to the house where I must get ready for another job, another day at work tomorrow. If you enjoyed this adventure, make sure to give me a thumbs up. Think about subscribing to the channel. If you have comments, questions, leave them below and do me a favor and watch one of these videos. Join me next time for a trip up into Spring Canyon. Bye for now, see you on the trail.