Approximately four miles northwest of Fort Davis in West Texas, Davis Mountains State Park occupies just over 2,700 acres in Jeff Davis County, midway between Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, and Big Bend National Park. The area was deeded to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by a local family during the Great Depression and improvements were made by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933. Since the late 1930s, the park has been open to the public. Formal campground facilities were added in 1967.
As the most extensive mountain range in Texas, the Davis Mountains were formed by volcanic activity some 65 million years ago. The range was named after Jefferson Davis, who served as the U.S. Secretary of War and was later President of the Confederacy. He was also responsible for ordering the construction of the Fort Davis army post, which was active from 1854 until 1891. In 1961, its ruins were declared a National Historic Site, and the National Park Service undertook a major preservation program to restore the structure.
Today, visitors can enjoy camping, sightseeing, nature study, star-gazing and picnicking in the Davis Mountains State Park. Other popular recreational activities are hiking, backpacking, day and overnight equestrian use, and mountain biking. The park features several picturesque drives and two scenic overlooks, with four miles of hiking trails that connect with the Fort Davis National Historic Site.
South of State Highway 118, there are restrooms with and without showers. Other facilities in the south half of the park include campsites with water and electricity, sewer service, and cable TV connections. There is a group picnic area with tables, an outdoor amphitheater with a capacity of 200, a playground, an interpretive center staffed by volunteers, and a Texas State Park Store. For hiking, nine miles of marked trails have been developed.
North of State Highway 118, the Limpia Canyon Primitive Area takes up the northern half of the park. It has been designated as a special use area with a fee required. It includes ten miles of rough hiking trails as well as primitive tent campsites and equestrian campsites. Other facilities here include a secured parking area and a host campsite.
Also within Davis Mountains State Park is Indian Lodge. Originally built by the CCC in the early 1930s, it features 39 rooms, a restaurant, meeting rooms, and a swimming pool (for guest use only). The lodge is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Special rates are available and reservations are recommended.
At an elevation varying from 5,000 to 6,800 feet above sea level, the park gets an average annual rainfall of 18.9 inches. In winter, temperatures often fall below freezing, while summers are hot with low humidity and cool nights. After sunset, temperatures drop quickly, so it is recommended that visitors bring jackets year-round.
Davis Mountains State Park can be reached by traveling on State Highway 17 one mile north of Fort Davis and turning west onto State Highway 118 North. From there, the park entrance is three miles farther on at Park Road 3. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1707, Fort Davis, TX 79734.
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