Davis Mountains State Park is a park that I've always wanted to come back to and I finally did after 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! read more

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Stumbled upon this stunning state park during a short stay in Fort Davis. We did a scenic drive on the 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! read more

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The staff here are phenomenal. Extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I have yet to run into a single one not smiling. The park is nice for being in the high desert lots of mature trees giving some shade. There is a nice, air conditioned Interpretive Center with birdfeeders and lots of great birds visible. Birders seem to love it and I enjoyed learning from them! Mixed review on the sites. The first one i went to had the picnic table on the wrong side so if I hadn't had an extension cord I would have had to have my door on the opposite side to plug in. The second site did not have much shade available. Phone service is non-existent but they have wifi near the showers and at the interpretive center (not throughout the park) . Restrooms are very clean and air conditioned. Wind can be fierce. Watch out for the javalinas that roam without regard at night. Great park! read more

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Davis Mountains State Park lies in West Texas near Fort Davis. The area had long been on my bucket list until I finally decided to bring my girls and dog along on the long President's Day weekend in 2025. The park offers an array of activities including RV and tent camping in which reservations are highly recommended. Day use fees are currently $6 per person ages 13 years and older. While the desert terrain was exceedingly dry, the wildlife was still considerable. We saw deer, javelinas, and abounding bird species. I loved the small Grace's Warbler with its canary yellow face and neck. I'm so happy to have seen one. The dark night skies were particularly special. Thank you, West Texas. Check out more info at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/davis-mountains read more

Beautiful desert mountain scenery and lots if javelinas we saw! Great photo opportunities!!!

Love this State Park! We stayed here for a week and loved it. They have great programs and such nice staff. The homeless dog walk was so fun! The Indian Lodge tour was so neat. The park store has a good amount of items. The hiking trails are nice. Some could be kept up more. read more

Davis Mountains State Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Davis, Texas

Fort Davis is a special place, one you do not want to miss in your lifetime. I was there with some trail running friends and did some exploring. Highly recommend bringing your rv if you have one otherwise traveling from Dallas fly into Midland. I did that and rented a car. This is some of the most beautiful parts of our great state. Reserve your spot for the park ahead of time. Lots to do in the area. Perfect for a family getaway or with friends who like adventure. read more

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When I camp in Texas I often say this is my favorite state park but I think this time I really mean it!! This park is large, quiet, has the BEST bird blinds, a nice interpretive center, good trails, is friendly, and near some cute small towns. It's also close to the McDonald observatory. I cannot wait for the lodge to open. I want to stay there next time. It's so pretty on the outside. read more

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Another beautiful, well-maintained Texas State Park. Plenty of places to camp and the lodge was incredible. I seriously wish I had stayed here vs. in town. The staff at the check-in were very pleasant, friendly & nice. This is the best of a State park and sets a high bar. There are tons of trails to hike or roads to drive around and check out the scenery. We were on a mission to check out all the old CCC sites and they were definitely worth the effort. I am so amazed of how awesome they look and how well they have survived the decades. The views from the tops of the bluffs/hills were worth the trip up there. Only be VERY careful going around turns and driving around. We went well after school returned and most vacationers had slowed down their summer plans. I definitely was glad I didn't see a lot of traffic on the narrow, windy roads to the top. read more

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Davis Mountains State park is up there as one of my favorites! With the dark skies and great campsites, it's no wonder it is such a popular park. The Skyline Drive Trail makes for a high place to watch the sun rise and set, yes both! And then you go there at night and just look up in awe at all the stars! The Indian Lodge Trail is a tough one on the legs. It'll be great when the Lodge opens up again. Montezuma Quail is also an enjoyable one. Lots of wildlife here- bighorn sheep, skunk, javelina, and deer were all spotted. The park is 15ish minutes from McDonald Observatory and 10 minutes from Fort Davis where there's a grocery store, gas and a few restaurants. So much fun at Davis Mountains!! read more

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Has a nice lodge and restaurant. Many hiking trails and a campground with electric and primitive sites. There is also a nice bird watching aviary. Close to Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory. $6 entry fee for day use. read more

This place is so great! There's so much to see and do here. This place is so far out in the mountains, it's a wonderfully beautiful place to hang out. I came out here and tried my hand at Texas mountain climbing. There's plenty of mountains to try this on, and they're not quite as challenging as the Alps or Himalayas. For the RV camping crowd, there's pull-thru camping sites, complete with 30amp electricity, water, and sewage. There's also places for tents. They have full restrooms, complete with clean showers. The facilities here were really nice. I ended up climbing the 2nd highest mountain, which wasn't too difficult. There were other nature trails that I rode by bike on, one of which led me to the Indian Lodge, a cool retro Indian hotel. They have a scenic overlook trail that we drove up, where we ended up on top of the tallest mountain, looking out across the West Texas mountains, and could see as far as the McDonald Observatory. In the middle of the night, our campsite got raided by javelinas! Wild pigs surrounded our camper looking for food! Oink! read more

PRO: Nice and quiet campground. View from the top of the scenic overlook was awesome at sunset, stars at night were incredible. Free showers included in camping fee! Seemed clean, shower water was hot, and good water pressure. Each shower stall shared a curtained-off vestibule for changing, with a seat and hook for keeping your things nearby. One of my best on-the-road showers so far. CON: No cell service. read more

Excellent. Peaceful. Beautiful. Bathrooms clean. Showers were hot! Make sure you visit Marfa and Alpine while you're here. read more

Located in West Texas, this park is not as well known as Big Bend national park. Nevertheless, there are some fine hiking trails from easy to challenging. My youngest daughter and I did a couple of moderate trails and the only challenging trail without hurting ourselves. The views from the trails were wonderful especially if you hike up to the ridgeline or summit. If hiking is not your endeavor, you can drive up to the highest point of the park for a 360 degree view. Even though it was a small park, we rarely encountered another soul on the trail. It was so peaceful without the crowds. We saw wild pigs, deers, Montazuma quails, and other birds during the hike. Fort Davis Historical fort, McDonald Observatory, and Marfa Mystery Lights are nearby for touring. We are looking forward to a return trip to hike the other trails. read more

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Great views, really good weather in the spring and fall, dark beautiful sky. Def a worthy area to visit for nature fans. read more

Davis Mountains State Park - Twilight - Parks Near Me - Fort Davis, Texas

If you have mountain goat children like I do, then this destination is for you. Just be sure to give them instructions at the start of each trail. Otherwise, you bend down to tie your shoe, look up, only find that they have galloped up the rocky trail, and are too far to hear you shout "remember there's a mountain lion up around there!". We stayed at the CCC-built Indian Lodge, which reminds me of the sprawling pueblos of New Mexico, right down to its plaza-like exterior courtyard. It's gorgeous. And there's nothing rustic about the interior. You will be extremely comfortable here. I love their wildflower scented bath soap! There's even a full-service restaurant on-site, The Black Bear. Indian Lodge is owned and operated by the state park, which translates into very affordable room rates. Indian Lodge is nestled at the base of the Davis mountains. Many trails start out almost immediately near it. Also nearby is the Interpretive Center, complete with bird watching habitat and, during the summer, Bug Shows every Thursday evening. Don't miss the drive up Skyline Drive. The view at the top is stunning. Nice trail from there, as well. If you ask ahead of time (when the Visitor Center is open), you can obtain a free permit which allows you to be up here past 10:00 pm. Why? For optimum stargazing, of course! read more

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Absolutely beautiful mountain pass park to drive through. It's a incredible experience one you'll never forget. Also there are little cove areas to park here and there along the way... to stop and take pictures or just breathe in the moment. read more

On our week-long trip to the Big Bend area in September 2017, we went to 1 national park, 1 national historic site, 1 national historic landmark, 4 state park, and 1 state historic site. Davis Mountains was a nice park and we enjoyed the short hike we went on, but it's hard to compare with the area's other great parks! Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area but don't expect the majesty of Big Bend! read more

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A lovely park in the highest city in Texas. The fort is worth a 2 hour visit and there is maybe two days worth of hiking trails. Marfa lights are popular and The University of Texas observatory tour and night viewing is an absolute must. Take warm clothes because it gets cold up there. Of course once you have been here, you owe it to yourself to spend a week down in big bend national park, that place is beyond amazing. Camp grounds are well kept and pretty, only water and electric, no sewer hookup but a dump station of course. WiFi is available but so slow it is pretty much useless. No Verizon or at&t reception in the park because it is surrounded by steep hills. If you take the 5 minute drive into town or walk to the top of the hill you will get full LTE. read more

Beautiful park with tranquil surroundings. There are plenty of trails for hiking, mountain biking and lots of outdoors fun. Come here to relax and enjoy the West Texas desert. I hiked the Old CCC and Skyline Drive Trail here on a sunny winter afternoon. It's a moderately easy hike with spectacular vistas of the West Texas desert. The loop trail is about 4 miles long. Trail is rocky so bring proper shoes. No shade so take extra water and sunscreen. read more

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I've visited about 60 of the 99 Texas State Parks and this one is my absolute favorite! When my husband mentioned going out of town for our 29th anniversary mid-May 2019, I immediately knew I wanted to share this awesome place with him. We hiked. We trekked. We climbed. We hiked some more. We enjoyed the views. The wildlife. The people. The sunset. It is the beautiful backdrop of our special time of celebrating us. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

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My camping bud and I have stayed at the Davis Mountian State Park for the final West Texas night of several Big Bend Camping trips. The park is nested in a draw just up the road from Fort Davis, Texas, in itself a nice one day destination (Hotel Limpia) on a well-marked pull-off on Hwy 118. Pull and park at the headquarters for your camping slot and pick up a campground map. All public roads are paved and well maintained. There are primitive tent-type camping areas, as well as pull-throughs for trailers and pop-ups. There are well-maintained washrooms with showers, sinks, and mirrors. Groundfires may or may not be permitted depending upon the weather and the potential for wildfires. There are usually 'hosts' in the campground to answer questions or assist if problems should arise in off-hours, and the park headquarters is manned during posted hours by an always friendly staff. One should note with great interest that there are several bands of banded peccary who are NOT shy about rummaging through any tent, ice chest, camper, etc in which they suspect contains food. One only has to be awakened ONCE to the sound of spewing soft drink cans, clamped and crushed by the strong-jawed critters to understand the signs and warnings are NOT made in jest! (see enclosed photo, taken at night with a flash) The access road to Indian Lodge runs along the side of the camping area, and while there's a speed limit in effect, it seems to be generally ignored by both camp personnel and visitors alike. After dark, deer are a hazard in the area, and folk use the road for hiking access to the restaurant in the lodge, reason enough to mind one's speed! There are several trails in the park, and most will prove taxing, if not in length, in the sheer steepness of the terrain encountered. Wear appropriate footwear! Allow plenty of time for trail walks, as darkness tends to fall quickly in the mountain areas. None of the trails have water, so pack accordingly. A good car 'trail' is the quick drive up to the ridge point above the park, where one can see the old Ft. Davis in the (hikeable) distance, as well as a wonderful view over toward Marfa. The crests of this ridge is very steep, so parents need be aware of the little ones as they trundle about. Indian Lodge has a decent restaurant (breakfast is best), staffed by friendly and helpful staff. The lodge itself is a jewel, and even with modern renovations (windows, floors, TV, bathrooms, etc) maintains a wonderful 'old south-west pueblo charm'. The rooms range from one bed units to those with suite-style layouts. One is wise to call well ahead for reservations, especially during or near 'peak times'. A word of caution: Alcohol is generally not displayed either in the campground or at the lodge. So if you wish to enjoy, do it on the sly - this IS state property, after all. If you're in the area, Davis Mountain State Park is a great stop, and provides a taste of what 'might have been' had the idea for another National Park taken root. As it is, it provides a wonderful entry or exit point for your stay in the big bend area of West Texas! read more

Davis Mountains State Park - Why one does NOT leave food unattended in the park!! - Parks Near Me - Fort Davis, Texas

We tent camped here last month for 8 nights. This was our first time here. We loved the scenery, the wildlife, and the full moon was gorgeous! We found a perfect camp site after arrival since the one assigned to us wouldn't even fit our tent. The only thing that keeps me from giving this park 5 stars is the camp sites themselves. Tent camping is a bit rough in that most of the sites are pretty much all rocks. And it looks like rocks were brought in! So even though they "say" they are tent sites, most are only suitable for campers or RVs. Regardless, the birding is fabulous! There was an elf owl living in a utility pole behind our camp site. The vultures were neat to see roosting in the trees together at dusk. The hummingbirds zoomed all over the place and the bird feeders at the observation hut were always full of fine feathered specimen. ;) In addition we saw a grey fox and a whole bunch of javelinas came to visit our camp site at night. And a very brazen skunk as well. He marched right up to us as we were reading late at night! The bathrooms were also suitable although a bit of a walk. My only wish is that this park had some cold water to play in. It gets quite HOT! The 35 mile drive to Balmorrhea isn't too bad though. We also visited The Caboose in town for some cold ice cream. We ended up eating out way more than eating "in". The Black Bear resaurant at Indian Lodge was quite tasty and inexpensive. The Star Date cafe at McDonald Observatory is de-lish and we drove in town to Fort Davis (slim pickins..food is only so-so) and Marfa (great food there) as well. All in all we had a great trip! This was a perfect home base for us as we trekked all over the area day in and day out. Highly recommended for your family vacation! Can't beat $15/ night with the best views ever! read more

Davis Mountains State Park - Javelina! - Parks Near Me - Fort Davis, Texas

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Many campsites. Small compared to other state parks. Beautiful views. Several hiking trails of varying lengths and intensities. Daily educational programs offered in building near campsites. I saw advertised a story-telling event for children and several programs for adults on wildlife and water topics. The mountains were formed 35 million years ago! First visited by European Explorer Espejo in the late 1500s. Love state and national parks! Thank you, previous generations, for having the foresight to set aside land for the public (and plants and animals). read more

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We were in the area so we decided to drive through and check out this campground. There are about 100 sites, some for tents and others for rvs, both water and electric and full hook up sites are available. There are multiple bath/shower houses. They even have some primitive equestrian camping areas. Lots of hikes on the property as well as the "Skyline Drive", a nice drive above the campground for some spectacular views. What a great place to go star gazing. There is also a lodge with rooms to rent and a restaurant. read more

Great weekend trip. There's lot of hiking trails and the layout of the state park is easy to follow. We camped at the water only sites. It's nice that you can park your vehicle at your site, the restrooms and showers are also super clean and the water stays warm! The view of the hikes are scenic of west Texas. There's variety for hikers of all levels. I'd suggest a skyline drive scenic area for sunrise or sunset. For the longer combined trail (sheep pen canyon trail, loop, and vista trail) BRING LOTS OF WATER(!!!) and head out early in the morning. There are a few scattered shade spots but there's only one non-potable water location at the top and it's was super hot by 11:30am (went in March) with sparce shade. It's a good campsite to check out the Fort Davis Historical Site, Marfa, and even stop enroute to Big Bend. read more

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Beautiful Texas state park. Although we only drove through the park for a few minutes, we liked it. The entire park was very clean the roads were well maintained. If you drive into the park, be sure to stop at the museum and then drive up the mountain for the scenic views. You won't be disappointed. There are actually two scenic overlooks at the eastern end othe park. Both offer excellent panaromic views for taking pictures of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Located in the Chihuahuan desert, Ft. Davis (and the surrounding areas) offer a beautifully stark landscape. Almost like something you'd see in a painting of the Old West. At the Scenic Overlooks, on a clear day, you can easily see Miter Peak and the Twin Haystack mountains over at Alpine. Towards the southwest, you can almost see all the way down to Chinati Peak, south of Marfa. Also, take a drive on the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop Highway. You won't be disappointed. read more

A jewel in the Davis Mountains! Awesome hikes, picnic & camping, great facilities & the Park Rangers, Park Hosts, Park Staff & Friends of the Park (Tiera Grande Master Naturalists) ROCK!!! Make sure & BE RESPECTFUL as they are all doing us a huge favor by working to keep our park open during extremely difficult days... Now Go HIKING! read more

Really beautiful park! Had a good time even though our neighbors weren't the best and we got rained on pretty hard. We did the Montezuma Quail trail and it was so fun. From our campsite we were able to see mountain goats on the hills. There was also a deer that liked to chill at our campsite with us! read more

Stayed at the indian lodge which is about to be renovated! It was great! Amazing view if the sunrise each morning, a big bed, clean bathrooms, complimentary coffee, and great A/C for the hot summer day! The actual park is clean, well kept, staff is friendly, and visitors seemed to be very respectful of the park. We will be visiting again! read more

Davis Mountain State Park is yet another gem of a state park we have located here in Texas. I mean how lucky are we that we have so many!! Davis Mountain has a few different hikes with decent elevation changes, moderate difficulty with stunning views. That in my book makes a pretty great hike. The park is dog friendly but has a lot of thorns so if you bring your 4 legged friend with you be sure to get them some boots. There is also a pretty cool Indian Lodge located on the grounds that you can stay in. They don't allow dogs so that is why we didn't stay there. I did run into their gift shop to grab a sticker and they were very friendly. We also had a picnic at one of the many picnic tables at the base of the mountain. They also have quite a few campsites available for all of you campers out there. read more

This is another one of our Texas State Park's gems. The parks department does a great job with all of the parks and this one is no different. The park is pretty big, so it is probably best to stop in and get a map when you pay the $6 entry fee. I did have a problem with the maps. They give you two maps of the entire park. One is more roads focused, and one is more trails focused. What was confusing is one was North facing up, and the other was South facing up. This really does not make any sense. We took a combination of trails to make a roughly six mile hike. The hike was very scenic, but you have to pay close attention to your footing as these trails have a lot of big rocks. One of the plusses is you can take your dogs on the trails here, which is not common for the other parks in the area. Davis Mountain State park was yet another great park with a lot to do. The scenery is beautiful and the hiking is great. I would definitely go back. read more

We stayed at the Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park for four days this winter. I can not recommend it highly enough. The park is small if you are comparing it to Big Bend (which is probably the biggest draw to this remote area of Texas), but has plenty of things to see and do if you are the outdoorsy type. There are a number of pretty hiking trails, a couple of which begin right outside the doors of the lodge. There is also a lovely scenic drive with views of the surrounding valleys, the town of Ft. Davis (some good restaurants there, we liked Frontier Burger a new place owned by some Austin ex-pats), and the McDonald Observatory 30 to 40 miles away ( we went to the night time Star Party at the observatory- totally fun, we got to look through some big telescopes at cool stuff like Jupiter and the Andromeda Galaxy- make reservations ahead of time if you plan to go they fill up fast!). The lodge itself is a beautifully restored and renovated cluster of buildings, most of which were constructed during the Depression by the CCC. Our room was in the historic section of the lodge and had high wood beamed ceilings, a small fireplace (not working now alas), original furniture from the 1920's also built by the CCC, and a very nice, modern bathroom. Everything was spotlessly clean and well cared for. The terrace walks around the rooms are dotted with glider seats and small tables for enjoying the sweeping view of the valley or star gazing at night. The lodge has a small lobby with games like Scrabble, cozy chairs, and two fireplaces. There is also a computer with sporadic (but free) internet. Just a side note since I'm on the subject; our cell service and 3G connectivity were also sporadic for the entire time we were in the area. I was glad I'd left the land line number for the lodge with our pet sitter, if you go and may need to be reached in an emergency I'd consider doing the same if I were you. The randomness of cell service wasnt a problem for us, on the contrary, it felt great to be so far away from all things hectic and rushed and work-related. Instead we woke up when we felt like it. The thick Adobe walls of the building kept the temp in our room steady and delightfully cozy. We walked to breakfast each morning at the Black Bear restaurant where the food was good, the prices were GREAT and the service was super friendly. The park rangers take turns doing serving shifts in the restaurant. I have never met a park ranger who was not incredibly nice, polite, smart and helpful. They are a breed apart whether they are waiting tables of fixing trails or catching drug smugglers and wildlife poachers. It's incredible what those people do for so very little money. They do it because they love the places they work and it shows, it really shows! read more

Davis Mountains State Park - The lobby at Indian Lodge. - Parks Near Me - Fort Davis, Texas

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We were so impressed with this park and want to come back with our 5th wheel. The drive up Skyline Drive to the top was amazing and I hear it is the best place to see the sunset. read more

Situated in the Davis Mountains of Texas, this is a hidden gem of Texas. This is my "go-to" campground. When you want to get away and enjoy some quiet this is your place. The mountains don't quite fit my definition of mountains since I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, but they are quite beautiful nonetheless. Deer and javelina walk through your campsite. Sites are large and recently redone for those of us who like to RV, full hook ups plus cable. Tent campers will find excellent sites with tables and fire rings (hopefully you won't have a burn ban) and plenty of room. If you like to hike and bike you will LOVE this park. We have done the long hike of over ten miles into the back of the fort. Make sure you visit this historic fort which was home to the Buffalo Solders. If you don't want to cook, try the Black Bear restaurant or head into town for some great food, especially breakfast at the drug store. Staff is great, wildlife is great, hiking is great, biking is great or just relaxing in this pristine mountain park is wonderful. If I could give it ten stars I would! Go! read more

Beautiful place.... very clean. There are lots of signs to guide you throughout the park read more

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We camped here on our trip home from Big Bend. We really just needed a place to camp before going to the observatory the next day. Let me say...this little state park is beautiful! The camp sites were good size and although they are next to one another they are separated by trees making them feel very private. I felt safe letting my kids run around. Our campsite had a picnic table and water. We were a one minute walk from the bathrooms, which were nice. It rained right after we set up our tent and we had the best time just telling stories and being together. After the rain we were even treated to a double rainbow! Beautiful place. Nice people. Great campsites. read more

This review is for Black Bear Restaurant inside the park. Awesome restaurant in a town, considering that there's limited choices when it comes to places to eat in Ft. Davis. The servers were VERY friendly, prices are inexpensive, and the food was the best that we had while we were in Ft. Davis. The chicken was so juicy and delicious I actually asked the waitress if they had a chicken coop in the back. I would definitely recommend Black Bear Restaurant, even if you're not staying in the park. read more

We stayed here 8/9 and 8/10, a last-minute change from other reservations we had in the area. This is a wonderful state park, as other reviewers have adequately noted. I can't add anything, other than in looking at the park and some of the old buildings (such as the Indian Lodge), one has to marvel at the work completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in building this and other state parks. Our particular RV site was likely the best in the park as there were no other sites immediately around us (nope, I won't tell you the site #!). What I will comment on are the following items. There are limited full service sites with cable.....ours was a water/electric site only, which was fine. But if you must have cable, call early. Due to its location in a valley, there is no cell or wi-fi. And there are only two ways to get it....go into town, or take the hike on the Quail and Indian Lodge trails. That will put you on the top of the mountain. And the hike? It would be considered strenuous for some, quite steep in some areas, and I personally think longer than the mileage stated. Take plenty of water, as it is 3 +/- hours. We totally enjoyed it. Great park, very much recommended. read more