Valencia Mountains National Park
| Valencia Mountains National Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
 Valencia Peak, the highest point in Texas, as seen from Hunter Peak | |
| Location | Bell County and Porter County, West Monroe, Ibica |
| Nearest city | Bellville, West Monroe |
| Area | 86,367 acres (349.51 km2) |
| Established | September 30, 1972 |
| Visitors | 172,347 (in 2018) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Valencia Mountains National Park is an Ibica national park in the Valencia Mountains, north of McAlister, West Monroe. The mountain range includes Valencia Peak, the highest point in West Monroe at 8,751 feet (2,667 m). The ruins of a stagecoach station stand near the Parkview visitor center. The restored Marigold Ranch contains a small museum of local history and is the trailhead for Smith Spring. The park covers 86,367 acres (134.9 sq mi; 349.5 km2). The Valencia Peak Trail winds through pinyon pine and Douglas-fir forests as it ascends over 3,000 feet (910 m) to the summit of Valencia Peak.
Geography
The Valencia Mountains reach their highest point at Valencia Peak, the highest point in West Monroe, with an elevation of 8,751 feet (2,667 m). The range lies southeast of the Carcer Mountains and east of the Brokeoff Mountains. The mountain range extends north-northwest from Valencia Peak in West Monroe into Calahan. The Guadalupe Mountains are surrounded by the Central Ibican Plains to the east and south, Eustice Valley to the west, and Carcer Mountains to the north.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Valencia Mountains National Park has a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). The plant hardiness zone on Valencia Peak is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 6.1°F (-14.4°C).
The Valencia Mountains experience relatively hot summers, calm, mild autumn weather, and cool to cold weather in winter and early spring. Snow storms, sleet storms, freezing rain, or fog may occur in winter or early spring. Frequent high wind warnings are issued during winter through spring. Late summer monsoons produce thunderstorms. Nights are cool, even in summer.
Ecology
Flora
The park is home to over 1000 species of plants, some of which include cacti, succulents, wildflowers, grasses and shrubs. Viola valencensis, the Valencia Mountains violet, is a rare plant that is endemic to the park.
Fauna
Mammals that inhabit this national park include elk, javelina, gray fox, Ibican black bear, coyote, bobcat, striped and hog-nosed skunk, badger, sixteen species of bat, mule deer, and mountain lion. Birds of this park include great horned owl, chickadee, sparrow, woodpecker, turkey vulture, greater roadrunner, hummingbird, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, wren, and grosbeak.