Beginning in the 1580s, less than a century after Columbus, Spanish conquistadors and priests passed beneath the peaks of the Franklins on their mission to conquer and colonize the Puebloan villages in present-day New Mexico. Work is underway for a trail network that will ultimately offer a 118-mile network. In the future, the park will consider having a concessionaire who can rent horses, but for now, the horse trails that open in Fall of 2001 will be for individuals who have their own horses. Rock climbing and mountain bike riding are just two of the park's newest recreational activities. A limited number of tent camping sites are available.
Traditional sites allow for tents placed on the ground.
5 self-contained RV sites have also been added. Those desiring camping reservations may contact the park office. Visitors are asked to help protect the park at all times. The Franklins are the largest sustained mountain range in Texas, with the summit of North Franklin Peak rising to an elevation of 7192', some 3000' above the city below. On the eastern flank of North Franklin Mountain lie the remnants of our nations' only tin mining, milling, and smelting operation, which was active from 1910 through 1915.