rating. Location: 201 Prude Guest Ranch Rd Fort Davis, TX 79734. Goliad State Park With a starting elevation of just over 5,000 feet to a peak of 6,260 feet, the 74-mile ride takes riders past the famed McDonald Observatory, and through the charming community of Fort Davis. History: Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. The event is staged at the historic Prude Ranch in Fort Davis, TX. These tend to be lower in elevation, however, some of the 7,000'+ peaks that stand as lonely sentinels fall into this group as well.The mountains standing in lofty groups hold unexpected flora and fauna that are remnant of a time when Texas was much cooler and wetter than it is today. El Paso, ELP, (195 mi away) hosts the closest international airport, though Midland / Odessa, MAF, (162 mi away) has a regional air-field serviced by most major carriers. An L.A. Times reporter called the trails downright punishing, to the delight of experienced mountain bikers. After that I toured the grounds and enjoyed the sights surrounding the fort. Mother Neff State Park South Llano River State Park Stayed at the Indian Lodge which was very comfortable. If you do not have an RV or trailer, the park offers 33 tent camping sites. 
Therefore the sky at night is crystal clear, and offers up some of the most incredible views of the cosmos. If not, why are you going to the mountains in the first place? Purtis Creek State Park Copyright 2023, AmericasStateParks.org. Buescher State Park (72), Climber's Log Entries Activities: Activities include camping, sightseeing, nature study, stargazing, picnicking, hiking, backpacking, day and overnight equestrian use, mountain biking, and interpretive programs. This is a family-friendly hike with very minimal elevation gain that can be done in about 20 mins. With a starting elevation of just over 5,000 feet to a peak of 6,260 feet, the 74-mile ridetakes riders past the famed McDonald Observatory, and through the charming community of Fort Davis. Lodging features a full-service restaurant, complimentary morning coffee service and modern rooms including heating, A/C, cable TV, telephone and maid service. Mustang Island State Park 11 miles. 
Bonham State Park WebMore than 2,700 acres of mile-high peaksthe highest is 5,600 feetand rugged plains look out over the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert in Davis Mountains State Park. Benefits of Winter Riding for Road Cyclists. Cooper Lake State Park There are miles of mountain bike trails in the area. 
The Tour provides three distance routes: 22, 55, and 75 miles. Wildflowers start blooming in spring and are most impressive after rainfall. 
Just like Ms. Goldilocks, you can choose the just right level of comfort that suits your camping needs at Davis Mountain State Park Campground. Bike education materials for your classroom, youth organization, and more. See the NPS website for details about group entrance fees. 
Dogs are welcome on the trail (on leash) and in the campgrounds. What Your Bicycle Mechanic Wishes You Knew. Finally, a note on the ranking numbers; the first number is the peak's rank within the Davis Mountains, whereas the number in parentheses is the ranking out of the entire State of Texas. Should you prefer a more primitive camping experience, there are also six primitive campsites available. Wild scenery is a guarantee, whether you choose to explore by horseback or mountain bike, hike all the way to the Fort Davis National Historic Site, or picnic along Limpia Creek. Lake Livingston State Park Longhorn Cavern State Park The following day, race to the top of Mt Locke in a 1.5 or 6-mile hill climb! Now a National Historic Site, it played a leading role in the development and history of the area, and the southwest in general. These are true ecological islands, preserving living remnants that occur otherwise nowhere else in Texas.Republic of Texas?? Primitive sites have no facilities or water, and campfires are not permitted (fuel stoves are allowed). Up until quite recently, this part of West Texas changed little over the previous hundred years. BKXC 50 State Shred - West Virginia. The 1.75-mile Civilian Conservation Corps Trail is another well trodden path, guiding you to the fascinating Fort Davis National Historic Site. Dragon Rock Loop - 11 miles. Dragon Rock Loop - 11 miles. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding (BYO horse) and stargazing are all big attractions, as is bird-watching (pick up a bird checklist from park headquarters). From Midland (IH-20 westbound), the most direct way is to take TX-17 South once you get to Pecos. All Hosts should review and adhere to these standards around providing a positive Hipcamp experience, being a thoughtful neighbor, and serving as a responsible citizen. WebExplore one of 4 easy hiking trails in Fort Davis or discover kid-friendly routes for your next family trip. The original portion of the park was deeded to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by a local family. A fews days and weekends each year, they offer public access to the Davis Mountains Preserve for absolutely no charge.Additionally, the few landowners with whom I've made contact have been very friendly and open to having hikers visit their properties. There is camping available in the park as well asthe Indian Lodge, a full-service historic hotel and restaurant built in the 30's known for its beautiful adobe walls. Dawdle and youll spot the red blossoms of claret cup cactus. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Be sure to bring your camera and binoculars as you should be able to see more than 100 different species including the likes of violet-green swallows, hummingbirds, gray warblers, Mexican whip-poor-will and flammulated owl. Lake Somerville State Park Incidentally, he had the surrounding land known as Jeff Davis County and the corresponding county seat of Fort Davis named for him as well.The mountain range encompasses a large area from just south of IH-10 at it's northern boundary (the northernmost ranked summit, Point 6580', lies only ~10 miles from the highway) to TX-166 in the south. Given that the skies have next to nothing in the way of air pollution, both birdwatching and stargazing are also very popular here. Cyclefest is arguably the best and most scenic Bike Tour in the state of Texas with beautiful vistas, easy novice routes, and challenging hills. The following day, race to the top of Mt Locke in a 1.5 or 6-mile hill climb! Support access, safety, and education for all people who ride bikes in Texas. Whilst at the park, visitors can partake in a wide range of outdoor recreational pursuits. These mountains are surrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert and is one of three sky islands in Texas. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Continue down to the CCC overlook for a colorful twilight panorama. - Text from the TPWD page for Davis Mountains State ParkActivities: Activities include camping, sightseeing, nature study, stargazing, picnicking, hiking, backpacking, day and overnight equestrian use, mountain biking, and interpretive programs. Second, tire shredders are everywherecactus thorns, agave tips, sharp rocks. Abilene State Park Here you can hike, backpack, mountain bike or ride your own horse, take a scenic drive through the mountains, go camping, stargaze, geocache and study nature. Pick your speed; take things as slow or as fast as you want. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park Whilst at the park you should take the opportunity to visit Fort Davis. But once youve spent a couple of days there, the chances are you wont want to leave it. Situated high up in the mountains of Jeff Davis County, Davis Mountain State Park is a remote public recreational space that sits between 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level. Location: 201 Prude Guest Ranch Rd Fort Davis, TX 79734. On the wetter, shaded slopes is a montane forest, including ponderosa pine and small but thick stands of quaking aspens sheltered under a cliff beneath Mount Livermore. WebDavis Mountains State Park offers a unique and remote destination for all sorts of adventures. Real-time Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watch Warnings help keep our community safe. The trail has some rocks and unevenness, so close-toed shoes are recommended. Eisenhower State Park Here you can hike, backpack, mountain bike or ride your own horse, take a scenic drive through the mountains, go camping, stargaze, geocache and study nature. If you're coming from El Paso (IH-10 eastbound), taking US-90 in Van Horn provides the most direct route to Fort Davis, though you'll skirt just south of the range along TX-166 out of Valentine. There are great views in this State Park. Take the Skyline Drive Trail to historical stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. With the park being located in a remote part of the state, it is blessed with virtually no light pollution at all. This system is also of importance for bird migration. Wild scenery is a guarantee, whether you choose to explore by horseback or mountain bike, hike all the way to the Fort Davis National Historic Site, or picnic along Limpia Creek. Loop together hike and bike trails at Davis Mountain State Park for a full day exploring the great outdoors. Davis Mountains State Park --St. Francis of Assisi, Images For example, the This is a family-friendly hike with very minimal elevation gainthat can be done in about 20 mins. Once they see our low traffic numbers, city cyclists cant wait to get out on our roads. Monahans Sandhills State Park Did hike a section of the trail. As long as you treat both them and their land with respect, many of the peaks in the Davis Mountains can be climbed.Although some people are frustrated at the lack of free-and-open access, I offer the alternative. But once you are there you will be able to enjoy a tranquil experience, although there are no restroom facilities there. Youre in the desert and youll need to keep hydrated. This is West Texas after allThe bulk of the Davis Mountains are on private ranch-land, and as a result, most of the peaks are off-limits to the hiking public without specific owner permission. There are many rare plants and species in the Davis Mountains that exist nowhere else. The WheelBrothers newsletter: All about rides in Cleveland, Wimberly, Denton, TX, and an amazing Bourbon made in Granbury! Fort Davis is located in West Texas, about 25 minutes northeast of Marfa or northwest of Alpine. Various birds of prey, ten species of hummingbirds and some of the other gems of America, including the painted redstart and Graces warbler, migrate through the Davis Mountains. Information excepted from The Nature Conservancy - Davis Mountains Preserve website linked above. 11 miles. While the iconic Fort Davis is visited by many a history buff. Wild scenery is a guarantee, whether you choose to explore by horseback or mountain bike, hike all the way to the Fort Davis National Historic Site, or picnic along Limpia Creek. Some of the most popular trails include the 4.5 mile Skyline Drive Trail which conveys magnificent vistas from the top of mountain ridges. Activities: Activities include camping, sightseeing, nature study, stargazing, picnicking, hiking, backpacking, day and overnight equestrian use, mountain biking, and interpretive programs. WebWest of Fort Davis, Davis Mountains State Park is the headquarters for camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, geocaching, stargazing, birdwatching, and nature study. A quick drive from I-10 (37 miles) gr Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center & Botanical Garden. Cyclefest TourPrude Ranch, Fort Davis, TX, Mt Locke Hill ClimbPrude Ranch, Fort Davis, TX. 16 miles. BKXC 50 State Shred - West Virginia. The Tour provides three distance routes: 27, 55, and 76 miles. However, if they have, then you will be able to enjoy around 11 miles of trails. From historic hotels to friendly B&Bs, from established chain motels to independent motor courts and casitas, the range of properties all allow bike parking in rooms and have pumps ready for flat tires. Lake Casa Blanca International State Park Pedernales Falls State Park Lake Corpus Christi State Park Balmorhea State Park All up there are around 15 miles of trails to explore across 9 separate routes, with the shortest being 0.3 miles and the longest extending for 5.6 miles. Sign up today to stay informed about how bicycling is improving in Texas! Information excepted from the Davis Mountains State Park website linked above. The closest town is Fort Davis, TX, which is home to theFort Davis National Historic Site. Know of a new mountain bike trail not listed here? Take the Skyline Drive Trail to historical stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. WebThe annual Cyclefest Bike Tour and Hill Climb is held in the scenic Texas Alps of West Texas in Fort Davis, Texas. The McDonald Observatory is only a 30 minute drive from the State Park, which hosts StarParties on certain days. Like most state parks in Texas, Davis Mountains offers a number of hiking and mountain biking trails. Kickapoo Cavern State Park WebFrom Fort Davis, proceed north on Hwy 118 for 4.1 miles and turn left onto Park Road 3. My saddle isnt on a horse, but it doesnt matter. For inclusion as a "ranked" summit, I've followed the "Colorado Rule" requiring 300' of prominence. Fort Davis is located in West Texas, about 25 minutes northeast of Marfa or northwest of Alpine. Regardless of where you rideroad or trailtake a few tips from local cyclists. WebMore than 2,700 acres of mile-high peaksthe highest is 5,600 feetand rugged plains look out over the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert in Davis Mountains State Park. 2022 will be the 45th anniversary of Cyclefest. Know of a new mountain bike trail not listed here? Flat, easy routes are as likely to take you past scenic vistas and interesting historic spots as those with challenging mountain climbs. Fairfield Lake State Park Typically held mid-January, El Pasos Franklin Mountains host the El Paso Puzzler with long ride competitions of 35 and 50 miles, plus a 10-mile fun ride. The event is staged at the historic Prude Ranch in Fort Davis, TX. 16 miles. significance.What to See - Plants: Plant life is diverse and presents interesting contrasts. WebMore than 2,700 acres of mile-high peaksthe highest is 5,600 feetand rugged plains look out over the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert in Davis Mountains State Park. All rights reserved. A total of 365 bird species are known to occur within Jeff Davis County and Davis Mountains State Park provides a convenient location to see many of them, particularly during spring and fall migration periods. Are also six primitive campsites available exploring the great outdoors or water, and 76 miles miles... `` Colorado Rule '' requiring 300 ' of prominence Park whilst at the historic Ranch... 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