Photo Gallery
We're convinced you'll love it in the Davis Mountains. But see for yourself what lies in store for you here: Browse the Photo Gallery below!
Scenic Loop Drive
Fort Davis is the starting point for one of the most scenic and remote drives in Texas and America . Seventy-five miles long, the drive leaves Fort Davis on Texas 118, proceeds up Limpia Canyon past Mt. Locke and the McDonald Observatory and then into Madera Canyon and a quiet, pine shaded picnic area. After a left turn on Texas 166, the road passes Mt. Livermore and Sawtooth Mountain , then gradually descends toward the southeast side of the mountains, with broad views to the Sierra Vieja Mountains along the Rio Grande to the south. As you approach Fort Davis again on Texas 166, the Puertacita Mountains and Miter Peak are straight ahead. Highest elevation on the Loop is about 6700 feet, making it the highest public highway in Texas .
McDonald Observatory
When three large domes appear on a mountain ridge in the distance, you know McDonald Observatory can't be far away. The observatory's three largest instruments are the 362" Hobby-Eberly telescope on 6,600-foot Mount Fowlkes, and the 107" Harlan J. Smith and 82" Otto Struve telescopes located on 6,800-foot Mt. Locke. The observatory is located just 17 miles from Fort Davis on Texas Highway 118.
Activities
We are, after all, located in a rare part of the country. Where you can view a wide range of history and unique scenery. Where it’s possible to embark on a fishing trip one day, and trek through miles of winding mountains and trails the next. Where the world is your playground and there are countless attractions, recreational activities and events.
Chihuahua Desert Research Institute
The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens is located on 507-acres, four miles south of Fort Davis on Highway 118. The Center is in a marvelous setting, with views of Mt. Livermore to the north and Blue Mountain to the southwest. "The mission of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute is to promote public awareness, appreciation, and concern for the natural diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert through research and education programs." Known to locals as CDRI, the Center is home to a Visitor's Center, the Leapin' Lizard Gift Shop, an arboretum, and the cactus and succulent greenhouse with over 200 species of Chihuahuan Desert cacti. For those who enjoy hiking, the CDRI offers two, moderately strenuous hikes: the Modesta Canyon Trail, a one-hour hike down a protected canyon to Modesta Canyon Springs, and the Clayton's Overlook hike with spectacular views of the surrounding territory.