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!

Driving through West Texas looking at mountains from far and decided to get a look at them closer…read more I had read about the Davis Mountain loop so decided why not when will I be out here again. We left Marfa Texas and headed to Fort David Texas. (Note last place to get gas, food etc. , is in Fort Davis Texas) So this drive can be 1.5 to 2 hours depending on how many times you stop to take pictures and how fast you drive. ( note the road is winding/curvy/loopy so mind the speed limit, do not drive off the Mountain). From Fort Davis we took hwy 118 and headed North to Hwy 20, to Kent Texas. Several points for pictures along the way so look for these places to stop as they are safe. We also pasted the MacDonald Observation. What is so cool about this drive is the scenery, you'll ascend to 6,700 feet! on your drive while also crossing into mountain time zone and then back! When you arrive in Kent Texas you arrive on Hwy 20 which becomes Hwy 10 and you feel like you are in a different part of Texas as you see very little other automobiles and a few small town. So if you find yourself near Marfa Texas or Fort Davis Texas go live take this mountain drive!

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.

Beautiful place just watch your step. The desk is reached by going up then diagonal right.read more

5-stars for the experience alone!…read more So, there's not a lot of detail on how to find the desk (and, no, it is NOT easy like other might suggest), but because I feel like it was meant to be a right of passage I'm not gonna make it easy either. To get to the trailhead, go the Sul Ross campus Entrance 4 and follow it all the way back to the mountainside dorm. The trail begins there and it isn't overly steep, but you will def get your cardio in on the way up! Head straight for the big pile of rocks at the top. Once up there is where it gets a bit tricky. I will tell you once up there follow the trail to the right. This is where I honestly had no clue on where to proceed and after wandering for a bit (the 20mins is BS FYI, it may take u 10mins to get up there, but unless you know exactly where the desk is, you will be roaming for at least that long!). I oriented myself by looking for the plateau vistas from the various posted pics of the desk. Once I realized what side of the "hill", I needed to be on, I was able to fixate on the one distinctive plateau vista in the pics from the desk and headed that way. Once I came to the bike-tree, the desk is not far beyond that point. I will admit, I had gotten to a point of disorientation where I was going to give up (especially since I had forgotten my water bottle in the car...so be sure to bring water as it is brutal between the sun & wind on the hill), but #nevergiveup It really was the absolute best feeling when I finally found the desk! It was like finally finding a lost treasure after digging in so many wrong places. Definitely worth doing if you are in the Alpine/Marfa area!

My family had a great experience exploring and learning about Big Bend with Hidden Dagger…read moreAdventures. We definitely recommend this outfitter. We plan to use them when we return.

HIdden Dagger Adventures provided the programming for a small, challenging level Road Scholar group…read moretrip to Big Bend. Joe and team were excellent guides -- leading us on hikes, sharing knowledge of the terrain, wildlife, history, and their lived experience in this beautiful part of the country. The team members are not only knowledgeable, but kind, accommodating, and enjoyable to be with.

YOU NEED TO GO HERE! Whether you make your whole road trip about coming to this awesome state park,…read moreor just make it part of another trip like we did, you have to come to Monahans Sandhills and rent a sand disc from the visitor center (or bring your own) to sled down the sand dunes with your friends or family. This was my daughter's #1 memory from our whole trip and we spent 3 days in Big Bend - but apparently sledding down the sand dunes beat out all the cool hikes and stuff we saw (she's still talking about it). Honestly, this was so affordable and could be hours and hours of fun, along with the beautiful desert views that you could enjoy on hikes. Probably not as fun in 100+ degree temps, but being there around the New Year was amazing. 10/10 place to stop and have a ton of fun!

the sandhills are very cool. the sand is very soft and they are tall. shadows look neat. they have…read morea visitor center with limited hours.

A great way to spend a day in Big Bend! Our original goal…read morewas rafting but due to the low level of the Rio Grande, we ended up in canoes instead. John was our guide down the river and we had so much fun! We stopped by the hot springs for a swim before eating lunch. Then John took us on a short walk to see the remains of an old resort and hieroglyphics on the walls of the cliffs. Our trip then continued down the river through a series of rapids and into the canyons. John was great at pointing out wildlife and other points of interest along the way. We also enjoyed seeing the horses that come up on the side of the river that borders Mexico. If you have more than one day to spend in Big Bend, I highly recommend taking a trip down the Rio Grande with Big Bend River Tours. If you are lucky enough to get John for your tour guide, then you are guaranteed to have a great float!

Big Bend Ranch State Park tends to get overlooked when compared to its big brother Big Bend…read moreNational Park. I myself was guilty of this (and still am to some extent) on my 1st 2 visits to the region. On this 3rd visit, I made it a point to spend a day in the State Park. However, I only explored the river road section from Lajitas to Presidio. I didn't go deeper into the more mountainy region of the park. Here are some of the points I explored. Barton Warnock Visitor's Center- This is where you pay your fee to enter the park, if you aren't stopping to see things then you don't have to pay. It's only like 5.00 per person so don't be a cheapskate. There is a gift shop to get your refrigerator magnet or t-shirt plus a little garden area and small museum about the region. Contraband Movie set- This is about 45 minutes down the scenic river road from Barton Warnock VC. Beware of free-range cattle! It's just a little place to stretch your legs and check out a few buildings used for filming a few B-movies. Plus, there is a few picnic tables if you want to eat by the river. Closed Canyon Trail- 15-20 minutes from Contraband Movie Set. This was the highlight of the day for me. It's only like a 2-mile round trip hike over mostly flat ground through a gorgeous canyon. The canyon is much much cooler (temperature not hipness) than outside the canyon. There is a little (really little) rock scramble to get over before there is a sign that just says, "The end". Hoodoos Trail- This is only about 5-10 mins from Closed Canyon, so we did it on the way back from Presidio. The Hoodoos is said to be a 1.1-mile roundtrip trail but it's all open so there is not a real defined trail that I could see. So you can just walk around the cool looking rock formations and Rio Grande river and take in the nature. There is also a drive-up overlook if you don't want to walk Fort Leaton State Historic Site- 30 mins from Hoodoos. Cool historic fort that wasn't for military use. It was just a family who wanted a spot along the route to El Paso to sell goods and protect his family. Cool place to walk around and take pictures and learn about the region in a different time. Highly recommend the ride from Lajitas to Presidio. Plenty of points of interest along the route and places to grab a bite once in Presidio. Next time I will make may way more into the interior of the park.

Big Bend Ranch State Park is rugged, remote, and absolutely stunning. With dramatic canyons, vast…read moredesert landscapes, and abundant wildlife, it offers a true backcountry adventure. Less crowded than the national park, it's perfect for hikers, photographers, and solitude seekers. Be prepared this is wild Texas at its finest.