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Texas Mountains: A Scenic Loop Surprise
17 Oct
Summary
- A 75-mile scenic drive winds through Texas's Davis Mountains.
- The route features jagged summits and plateaus up to 8,000 feet.
- Key stops include Fort Davis National Historic Site and McDonald Observatory.
While Texas is renowned for its vast ranches and rodeos, a surprising mountainous landscape awaits discovery in its western reaches. The Davis Mountains Scenic Loop, a 75-mile route, showcases dramatic jagged summits and dusty plateaus, ascending to an impressive 8,000 feet above sea level.
This drive primarily follows Highways 118 and 166, passing striking bluffs within the Chihuahuan Desert. Though the loop can be completed in about 1.5 hours, visitors are encouraged to linger and explore juniper and oak forests, visit space observatories, and embark on canyon hikes.
The journey is anchored by the town of Fort Davis, the highest town in Texas. Starting points for the loop include Fort Davis National Historic Site, a preserved 1880s frontier fort. Approximately 20 minutes from Fort Davis, the McDonald Observatory offers daytime solar viewing and nighttime stargazing programs.
Mount Livermore, standing at 8,382 feet, presents a prominent shark-fin-shaped massif. A challenging 6-mile out-and-back trail offers a hike to its summit. The scenic route also includes numerous pullouts and optional detours to unique nearby destinations like Marfa.
