Davis Mountains State Park is a park that I've always wanted to come back to and I finally did…read moreafter 8 years. As one of two Texas state parks that provides mountain trail access, this place can offer some phenomenal views of nearby mountains both near and far. I came here for a two-night camp. I made all my reservations online and arrived before the office closed to check in. The campsite I reserved had both water and electric hookups, which I did occasionally use during my time here. There are many hiking trails to choose from, although some trail access was restricted due to recent flooding. But all the trails I hiked were well-maintained and clearly marked. My favorite trail, Skyline Drive Trail, took me up the side of the mountain via switchbacks up to the mountain ridge. The trail leads all the way to the famed CCC overlook that allowed me to see differently-shaped mountains in the distance. I thought it was cool that I could see the University of Texas McDonald's Observatory from the overlook, even though it requires a 13-mile drive to get there from the park. During my stay, I also had the opportunity to attend a ranger talk. The ranger came from the nearby Fort Davis National Historical Park with some relics of times past. The talk was informative and entertaining. I enjoyed the clean bathrooms near the campsite, though you'll have to bring your own shampoo and body soap to shower. The water provided at the campsite is potable and I thought it tasted better than the tap water I get at home! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and would love a chance to come back in the future!

Stumbled upon this stunning state park during a short stay in Fort Davis. We did a scenic drive on…read morethe Skyline Trail, and did some short hikes to enjoy the absolutely stunning vistas o west Texas from various viewpoints. We also briefly visited the recently renovated Indian Lodge (open for breakfast and lunch), which we hope to stay at next time. This state park is a hidden gem and absolutely worth a visit!

Out on the frontier removed from the frustrations of civilization sits Balmorhea an artesian gem…read morehiding among the tumbleweeds. The springs themselves are astonishing. Crystalline water, a natural oasis. Wilderness as a touch of elegance. The water is cool, refreshing, and large enough you can swim without bumping into a flotilla of inflatable flamingos every ten seconds. It is serene. Now, the true pièce de résistance: tiny fish. Yes darling, little cousins of piranhas nibbling delicately at your skin. At first, it's mildly horrifying. Being lightly snacked upon by aquatic creatures isn't typically on the itinerary. It's nature's exfoliation service. Truly. These miniature aestheticians gather around and provide the most delightful, ticklish skin treatment imaginable. Think of it as a rustic version of spa fish pedicures, except this one is completely natural, wildly entertaining, and performed by creatures that actually live in the ecosystem instead of a questionable salon tank. The entire place has this fascinating ecological charm that sneaks up on you. You're floating in a massive spring-fed pool, mountains in the distance, dragonflies skimming the water, and tiny fish politely tend to your skincare needs. The magic of Balmorhea (I'll let you figure out how to pronounce it correctly) is that it's a living ecosystem, and being able to swim in the middle of it is special. It's frontier chic. Don't expect marble spas and cucumber water. Following an afternoon, my skin felt absurdly smooth, stress level plummeted, and it was imperative to recommend the remote desert destination without qualification. Five stars for the fish running the spa.

Fun time at this park…read more Enroute from San Antonio to El Paso, we were able to stop at this park to get the kids out of the car and into some refreshing spring water It was clean, not crowded and left us already planning a return on our next trip back or towards Big Bend National. There are cabins on the ground, picnic tables, barbecue pits. I saw a basketball court. They had a few nature areas to enjoy. I was certainly pleased with just getting my feet wet, but the water is clear and if you were interested in seeing more below the water, I recommend goggles or snorkeling gear. I hear companies teach scuba here too. There's not much else near the park, so bring all the amenities you need or want there. Good times with nature. We will return.

Located in great part of town with walking distance to shop restaurants and the Fort. Unfortunately…read morethis park is in disrepair. That said we enjoyed it for 2 days. Warning someone in the neighborhood has dogs that bark and a rooster that crows at sunup.

This guy hung up on me while I was asking questions regarding my dog and this facility. Look guy, I…read morewanted to follow your rules and instead you start talking about people bringing pit bulls and giraffes. That's weird and just plain not normal. To all travelers - look at Trip Advisor about this asshole. Legit. Stay wild.

We were passing through & needed a last minute spot to stay at in our motor home & this place was…read moreperfect! It's October so the pool was closed for the season, kids were sad but understood so they played on the play ground for a while. We were able to park under a shade tree in a decent sized spot which also had TV, sewer, & electricity. Check in was easy & a sweet family helped us check in & even guided us to our spot. This place has clean bathrooms & showers & a place to do laundry & hang out to play games & more (which they provide). Pokemoners, there is a Pokespot near the Propane fill area. We stayed in #14 & played Pokémon as a family. Overall, highly recommend

We showed up without reservations on spring break. We got the RV car wash slab. Worked out great…read morefor us. Bathrooms were very clean. The camp area was also very clean. Sorry I didn't take photos. I would definitely return.

When we go to Marfa, we would walk the grounds here and always say "next time let's stay here"...we…read morefinally did! It was a toss-up between a teepee or yurt. Since it was a couple of days before Christmas and the desert can get cold, we opted for the yurt. The yurts offer heating and cooling while the teepee only offers a fireplace, which makes sense...it's a teepee and you have to do it the way it's meant to be. The yurt was roomy and the bed comfy. We stayed warm too! Loved sitting out on our little porch/deck to watch the stars. The main office area also has a shop and place to sit and eat, etc. They've got a bar and outdoor patio (all communal) as well. Showering outdoors (common bathrooms are a very basic outdoor shelter) definitely added to the primitive aspect of staying here. It was a wonderful experience and the best time we're doing a teepee!

Eclectic lodging along with camp ground amenities. The lobby has a good gift shop and drinks and…read moresnacks. We stopped in just to check it out coming back from the Judd exhibition down the road. We didn't stay here on our trip as we opted for something in the town square to walk everywhere but El Cosmico is a very short drive away.

Very pleased, in short. No bugs or horror stories…read more In length, the reason I give it 5 stars is they are honest in what to expect and the service was very easy to work with and nice. There are no on line reservations, but with a quick phone call I had two nights reserved easily. Originally the girl and I were very skeptical and not too sure how to prepare for a cabin that said "its not for everyone." Even though, we found it very easily at night and followed the path off the main road. We were pleasantly surprised with the cabin which had a full kitchen, small front porch BBQ, and even a little living area. It could easily accommodate 5 people who didn't mind sleeping in close quarters. The big front windows of the cabin gave a great view and proof of our seclusion which made it mentally very quiet/peaceful. While getting ready in the early morning we could see the milky way better than I ever have before (couldn't see it in Fort Davis). There's no room service or continental breakfast, its not that kind of place, but for 65$ a night I will happily make my own food. Jim was the only "employee" I saw during my stay and he was a pleasure to work with. The bad: The furniture in the living area was well used which was totally acceptable, but if your a clean freak its gonna be below par. Same goes for the shower. To me, all things you would expect for a mtn town cabin. I came for Hammerfest bike race and would definitely recommend it for team lodging especially considering it is a 15 minute drive from Fort Davis and stage 2 ended at the dirt road leading to the cabin.

We did a short Spring Break camping trip to the Davis mountains and stayed three nights at the…read moreCrows Nest Ranch. It is about 18 miles west of the town of Ft. Davis, so not too far from Davis Mountains State Park. I found the accommodations average for a campground. The restrooms are not new, but they were presentable and usable. The toilets flush with running water, so they aren't the kind that sit on an open hole above a smelly holding tank. There is hot water for showering and even a couple of coin operated washing machines! One reason I chose to stay here is because it is a ranch with a lot of area to roam around on without having to see or hear a lot of people like you do at state or national parks. We hiked up to the top of one peak for a 360 degree view of the area around the ranch. A flashlight is a must at night. It is pitch black, so it is excellent for viewing the stars!

Davis Mountains Preserve - which is separate from the Davis Mountains State Park - is home to…read moreMadera Canyon Trail. While searching for an appropriate hike for my crew, I came across the the 32,844-acre Preserve established by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). This trail unlike others within the preserve is open to the public. No permit required. The beautiful, slightly moderate 2.4-mile trail is also open all year long, from sunrise to sunset, regardless of the closure of the Davis Mountains Preserve. My young daughters, my Black Mouth Cur, and I are now fans. We hiked the entire loop on 2.15.2025. A sign-in sheet was at the large kiosk at the entrance. There was a somewhat snobby couple that came in after us that neglected to sign in. But I digress... Yes, contrary to Shannon B.'s review from Apr 2, 2018, leashed dogs have always been and still are welcome... there is a dog waste bag station near the trail's entrance. Remember to leave no trace - only footprints. Best part of all of this beautiful nature? Free parking & entry. Thank you, TNC and DMP. What a Lonestar State gem. Here's more info: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/davis-mountains-preserve/

The Davis Mountains Preserve is a privately-held 33,000-acre treasure managed by the Nature…read moreConservancy approximately 25 miles northwest of Ft. Davis on Hwy. 118 (about 10 miles past McDonald Observatory and about ¼ mile past the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area; 30.70723, -104.09968) in Jeff Davis County in the northeastern Chihuahuan Desert. No, this isn't the state park with a similar name, but a wholly different destination that you should add to any Fort Davis, Texas itinerary if you love the outdoors. The Conservancy established the Davis Mountains Preserve in 1997 from the lands of the historic U Up U Down Ranch, with the heart of the preserve being the evergreen-covered, 8,378-foot Mount Livermore, the highest peak of the Davis Mountains and the 5th highest in Texas. They describe the place as "a unique sky island with plants and animals found nowhere else in the world." It took until 2004 to acquire the total acreage and the Conservancy continues its vital efforts today to restore and protect this sensitive region through innovative partnerships with ranchers and other landowners, as well as service & educational groups like the Boy Scouts and the Texas A&M Forestry Service. These later agreements with owners of the surrounding lands have created an additional 70,000-acre buffer zone around the preserve. The majority of this nature preserve is closed to the general public, but we can get a taste of what's inside by hiking the 2.5-mile loop known as the Madera Canyon Trail (map: https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/multimedia/madera-canyon-trail-map.pdf; information about what you'll see: https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/multimedia/madera-canyon-trail-fact-sheet.pdf). The trailhead is adjacent to the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area just off Hwy. 118, and the trail is open to the public year-round from dawn until dusk. Hikers should sign in at the trailhead kiosk prior to departing upon the trail. Be sure to bring plenty of water, stay on the trail, take only photos, and leave only footprints. At a small number of annual special "Open Days" events (generally bi-monthly, around 7 per year), the public is invited inside the preserve for a more intimate look throughout the entire property: hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, picnics, photography, birding, stargazing and other outdoor activities. You can check the calendar for those 2018 dates and start planning your trip here: https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/events/davis-mountains-2018-open-days.xml Know before you go to the special Open Days: * Only high clearance street legal vehicles will be allowed past the McIvor Conservation Center. * Only camp stoves are allowed, and ground fires are prohibited. * Restrooms are available at the McIvor Center. * Guests should bring their own food and drinks, and take their trash home with them. * Hikers should bring their own binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, hats, appropriate footwear and plenty of water to drink. * Firearms and any technology that disrupts quiet enjoyment are not permitted. * For safety reasons, children must be supervised by parents or other designated adults. * No pets are permitted on the Preserve, other than service animals for assistance. More about the Davis Mountains Preserve and scenic drives in the area: http://www.davis-mountains.com/pages/Davis%20Mountains/nc.html https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rjd03 https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2017/jan/ed_3_ponderosa/index.phtml http://www.texashighways.com/travel/item/257-postcards-davis-mountains-scenic-loop

if you are looking for long-term parking so you can work out of Alpine, this may be a good deal…read more The rates are extremely reasonable, way below average in the town area. There is an old adage, you get what you pay for. We love the owner, Georgiana, and pray she finds a buyer soon. So if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, this could be a phenomenal opportunity for you buy it make a resort and charge a nice fee and you will be in the chips.

Rolling G RV park is a little tiny park with only about 20 spaces. The owner is very wise and let's…read moreabout half the spaces out for monthly rentals. As she is just getting started, she has wonderful plans for the future. This was our second stay with Georgiana. She is so pleasant you just wanna hug this little granddaughter that we have found in Alpine. She recently leveled sites and put down gravel on the roads and parking places. She has a nice dog run for your big pooch. The view of Sul Ross University & surrounding mountains is amazing both during the day and at night. But if you're looking for fancy, it ain't there yet.

I don't understand the high reviews here and on google. 5 stars is a resort scoring perfect. This…read moreplace is run down and unkept. Did not expect just a gravel parking lot with electric posts. We couldn't level facing the correct direction so we had to pull in the wrong direction. This made using the electric and water with what we carry not possible. $30 charge to change your site even though only four sites out of 33 sites in our section were being used. WiFi is on the porch of the store and laundry behind it quite the walk from our site. Would not recommend and would not go back ourselves.

the old ladirs there are rude and let a grown man into women's restroom while a little girl was in…read morethe correct restroom. the best experience was dealing with the young lady about our camp spot