Arizona's Texas Canyon Rest Area
91Multi-Ton Boulders Strewn All Over the Place
About an hour's drive southeast of Tucson along Interstate 10 is the Texas Canyon rest area.
The rest area is at the north end of the canyon and the scenery in that area is fantastic. There must have been some gigantic geologic upheaval in ancient times because huge boulders are strewn all over the place.
When my sons were younger I used to tell them that this was the site of a battle fought by an ancient race of giants who hurled these huge boulders at each other. In a way this place does look like a geologic mess.
If you are in a hurry or on your way to someplace else, the rest stop is a good place to take a break and enjoy this spot without taking too much time.
Once out of the car you can stroll around and take in the majestic scenery.
If you desire more exercise than just a stroll among the rocks, there are sufficient giant boulders within the Rest Stop for climbing as the pictures blow show.
Texas Canyon, Arizona
We Lingered Here for a While As We Climbed the Rocks and Took in the Beauty
We were in no hurry and the boys and I couldn't resist climbing the rocks while my wife waited below.
Climbing the higher rocks and scanning the horizon, one could understand how the great Apache Chief, Cochise, was able to hold out against the U.S. Army for years before the Army gave up and negotiated a peace with his tribe of Chiricahua Apache.
It is also good to remember that, despite the vending machines, running water and flush toilets provided at the rest area, this is still wild country and there are other critters besides tourists here. Even though I have lived here for almost 25 years and have never seen a rattle snake or scorpion outside of a zoo, I still keep a sharp eye on where I step and what I grab when climbing and hiking in areas like this.
A Reminder That We Are Not the Only Visitors Here
It Wasn't Always This Peaceful
My sons climbing boulders in Texas Canyon Rest Area
Rocks of Texas Canyon tower above my wife as she Awaits Our Return
From Atlanta to Los Angeles, I-10 is a Major Truck Route
Interstate 10 Connecting Atlanta, GA with Los Angles CA
Atlanta, Georgia - 
Los Angles, CA - 
Texas Canyon Reststop at coordinates 32° 3′ 9″ N, 110° 5′ 10″ W - Texas Canyon Rest Stop on I-10 about 3/4 of the way between Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angles, California
Our Journey Continues
Texas Canyon on Interstate 10 Between Tucson, AZ and El Paso, TX
Texas Canyon Rest Stop on I-10 in Cochise County, Arizona - The Texas Canyon Rest Stop on Interstate 10 is located at coordinates 32° 3′ 9″ N, 110° 5′ 10″ W in Cochise County, Arizona just east of Wilcox, AZ
 | Amazon Price: $14.14 List Price: $22.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $12.00 List Price: $21.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.24 List Price: $14.99 |
|
â
â
BUILDABLE SOUTHERN ARIZONA LOT~POWER@LOT!! $1,800 @ $95 per/Mo~NO DOC FEEâ
â
Current Bid: $95.00
|
|
Sheraton Desert Oasis Timeshare Scottsdale Arizona - No Reserve
Current Bid: $1.00
|
|
Westin Kierland Villas Timeshare Scottsdale Arizona 30,500 Staroption Points
Current Bid: $1.00
|
Have travelled on I10 a number of times in the late eighties and nineties....used to stop on the South side of the highway where it was safe to pull off, and admire the huge perfectly round boulders piled up on the North side of I10.....could not imagine how these boulders of all sizes got piled up and some of the large ones balanced on top of another one.....all of the rocks I saw were round, and do not see any of them in these photos.
These are great pictures. My mothers grandfather settled Texas Canyon and her cousin still lives on the ranch there. I haven't been back in almost 20 years. It is definitely an awesome place when you get back into it the old homestead is back there. Many memories thank you.
Looks like a great rest stop area and also one to scramble upon rock formations. Enjoyed reading and seeing the photos in this hub.
Terry Lane - the tall columns of rocks piled on top of one another are very visible along the road to the west of the rest stop. However it is difficult to get good pictures of them while also driving a car 75 miles per hour on Interstate 10.
Also, since Texas Canyon was but a quick stop on our trip that day, we did not spend much time hiking the area around the rest area. I suspect that if we had spent more time I could have found a way over to the area you described and have been able to take pictures of the rock formations that you describe.
When i visited Texas Canyon in the late sixties and early seventies I saw tall collumns of rocks maybe thirty or forty feet tall set atop one another as though they had been stacked there by someone. I don't see them in the photos on this page.
Too bad you stopped there. Had you gone a little farther, to exit 318, Dragoon Rd., you could have experienced the Triangle T Guest Ranch. It's one of the oldest guest ranches in AZ, was once an Apache sancuary, held Japanese POWs, housed many famous people, and hosted numerous film-makers. Next time you're in the area, go check it out. You won't be disappointed. (I think they have a web site)
Bill, Thank you for visiting my HubPages. As to finding more pictures, the best I can suggest is to to a Google Image search. Although I must admit, when I did this I got pretty much the same scenes for the Arizona Texas Canyon (there are some other canyons in other states that are named "Texas Canyon" as the ones that I took myself and have displayed here. I have added a couple of more pictures to this Hub. Chuck
Where can I find more dtailed pictures of the canyon?
Great pics! You would never know how enormous the boulders are without pictures of people in it, to give some perspective.
Sounds like and interesting place to take a break on a trip. Thanks for the great info and pictures.
I enjoyed the photos, too. When I first went to Texas in the 1950s it felt like a foreign country (I am from California).
great pics chuck thanks for sharing.....jimmy
Randy E. 9 months ago
22 yrs. I saw this canyon on my way back from California and for years I tried to find it again on the internet. I finally thought that I had dreamed it up. Thanks for the pictures. It is a beautiful place and I hope to see it again sometime now that I know it wasn't a dream.