Stacking Stones Isn’t Allowed in Texas & This Is Why

Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.

Stones, however... may hurt wildlife. And that's where we begin.

Stacking, or rock balancing, is a form of artistic or recreational expression where - you guessed it - rocks are balanced on top of each other.

It's actually not ILLEGAL to do in Texas, but it's considered 'not allowed.' To be more specific- you can't do it at Lone Star State Parks.

I supposed you can stack some rocks in your backyard... but of course that would be looked down on.

Jokes aside... what may seem as harmless, could actually harm animals and their habitats pretty bad. That's why it's been officially outlawed in Texas. It destroys and disturbs sensitive wildlife habitats that are crucial to the environment and ecosystem.

Confused? Always best to go with the Leave No Trace Seven Principles of National Parks. Leave rocks alone...along with fossils, plants, and animals.

Another name for stacking stones are cairns. Rock cairns.

Rock cairns have existed since humans have been around to build them, as Zion National Park explains in this article. “The name originates from a Gaelic term that means ‘heap of stones,’” the article notes. “It was likely first coined by Scots who used them to mark trails across grass-covered, hilly landscapes. In the Andes Mountains and Mongolia, rock cairns were used to mark routes to safety, to food, and to villages. Early Norse sailors used them to mark the land, long before lighthouses came into use. Other groups used them to mark gravesites, for ceremonial purposes, or even to hide caches of food supplies."