The Amerind Museum is located about 10 miles east of Benson, situated on 1900 acres of land in an area known as Texas Canyon.
This area is known for the giant boulders that are scattered about along Interstate 10 for a 10 mile stretch. These granite boulders are a result of erosion with water working their way through cracks that over millions of years created these great rocks.
It received it’s name Texas Canyon as a result of the early European settlers all coming from that state, displacing the Native who had been here for more than 1000 years.
While the rocks are the most noteworthy part of the area, the grasslands have supported ranches for over 100 years.
A couple times a year the Amerind Museum opens up the trails and roads throughout their land for a ‘fun ride’.
It was 7 miles of bumpy ground down grasses, dirt, rocks and sand, with over 500′ of total elevation gain.
The views however were worth it.
Especially visually interesting was the mix of the grasses, rocks and landscapes in the distance.
There was some evidence of prior homesteads scattered about, including this windmill – still spinning but for no apparent reason.
The area is high enough in elevation there are no cactus, but the random yucca does make an appearance.
A couple of octotillo’s made an appearance as well.
The rocks are huge, as evidenced below with the semi trucks sailing down the interstate dwarfed by the boulders.
As we neared the end of our 7 mile loop we passed this area with rocks more reddish/orange than the other granite ones.
While the fun ride ended up being far more challenging than expected, the views were worth it.
RDZ Photography 