Davis Mountains State Park

We love this park! Great views from the Sky drives. Beautiful sunsets with mountaintop views of the McDonald Observatory. We have also camped here several times and love the dark skies! Always be aware of burn bans to prevent wildfire!

Very quiet park, a lot bigger than I thought it would be. They have full hook up sites, electric and water sites and tent sites. I had site 34 which was water and electric. I have t-mobile so I had to drive to the top of the mountain to get signal. This road is part of the park. Bathrooms were clean and nearby. All the creeks are long dried up so don’t expect a waterfront lot. Great place to camp, I was here for 2 nights.

Spent only one night there but we were pleased with the State Park. We had site 60 with electricity and water (no sewer but there was a dump site nearby) and site was okay (with some mud) and levelled. But site was quite far from showers and the shower block had only one men and one women shower/toilet... so a bit challenging and involved some wait. Hopefully the campground was not too crowded. Rangers and staff were quite nice and gave a lot of goodies to our kids after they had completed their junior ranger book. The interpretation centre was interesting. Did not take the skyline road to the top; was not sure it was okay with our motorhome as it looks narrow. Rangers mentioned sharp turns, so did not take any chances. There is a nice trail (1.6 miles) going to the top. Our biggest deception was that it is not a "bike friendly" place. There are mountain bike trails but really tough and technical and not possible to climb the skyline road. Will come back if in the area but on a different campsite.

I visited as an employee with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and I must say this is an excellent and peaceful place to visit!! This is the third park I’ve visited and it’s one of the best in my humble opinion!! First experience at bird viewing and love seeing deer so close!! Can’t wait to go back 🙌🏿

Our camping trip was really great, if a little hot. The bathrooms are clean and well-maintained, and all of the campsites are far away from the others. We were bummed that the Indian Lodge was closed while we were there because we didn't realize (and no park staff told us until the last day of our trip) that the gift shop is inside the Lodge and inaccessible while it's closed for construction. We were also not aware, and it is not anywhere on the website, that the Indian Lodge Trail trailhead is inaccessible as well. We saw a sign on a different trailhead saying this, but it would be nice to put that information on the website or on the trail map while the Lodge is under construction. Other than that, this park is great for a weekend trip. We really enjoyed the bird blind and got to see lots of wildlife while we were there.

Decent views but the trails are not that great. There is absolutely zero shade out here so wear lots of sunscreen. I highly recommend going to Big Bend before coming here.

We stayed here for two weeks & enjoyed the park so much! The campground has different levels of amenities ranging from full hookup to dry sites. We were in a water/electric site. The sites all seemed mostly level with asphalt service. The dump station was centrally located to the different branches of the campground. There were two shower houses/ bathrooms that were clean & had good water pressure and hot water. We used Starlink & had fantastic service with that, with two people working M-F with no interruptions. One bar at best on T-Mobile unless you hike up the mountains where the service is great. The Interpretive Center, office, and shower houses have WiFi available that worked well the couple times I used it. The park has several great hiking trails ranging from .25 miles to a 10ish mile hike across the highway at Limpia Creek. We hiked all of them & would recommend any of them. The Interpretive Center was a big highlight for us as we always like learning about the park/area we are staying in. Ranger Charlie and Sasha were wonderful resources for wildlife information, recommendations on restaurants, and other points of interest in the area. They also put on different types of programming throughout the week both at the Interpretive Center & within the park. We attended a Star Party, hiking with shelter dogs, and several other programs during the two weeks we were camping here. Normally there is a hotel & restaurant within the park, but it was closed for renovation while we visited. The park & surrounding area were great for wildlife viewing. We saw tons of javelinas, wild hogs, aoudads, roadrunners, a bobcat, Montezuma quail, mule deer, pronghorn, and probably others that I am forgetting to list. The park is located close to Fort Davis National Historic Site, McDonald Observatory, Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, and the town of Fort Davis which has a couple restaurants, shops, grocery store, and hotels. We loved Stone Village Market for soup & sandwiches & the train car across from Fort Davis NHS for ice cream. We really enjoyed the Star Party at McDonald Observatory, which are held on Tuesday, Friday & Saturday nights. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay here & will definitely be back on our next trip through the area.

My family and I recently visited Davis Mountain State Park for the Fourth of July weekend, and our experience was a mix of highs and lows. While there were some enjoyable aspects of the park, there were also some significant downsides. Upon arrival, I appreciated being greeted by a park ranger rather than having to go inside the office. However, the ranger we encountered was unfortunately quite grumpy and rude. Despite my attempts to engage her politely, she responded with a cold stare and demanded that I turn off my RV. This initial encounter left a negative impression. One major drawback of the park was the lack of cellular service. Given the mountainous terrain, it was expected, but as someone who works remotely, it was a significant inconvenience for me and my family. It's worth noting for others who rely on connectivity during their travels. On the positive side, the scenic beauty of the mountains was truly breathtaking, especially when we ventured up to the Mountainside to witness the stunning sunset. The mix of blue, orange, yellow, and red hues painted across the sky made it a highlight of our visit. For those interested, the trail or road to access the mountainside view is called the Skyline Trail. It's definitely worth exploring if you haven't been to this park before. In the evenings, the temperature dropped to comfortable levels, allowing us to enjoy the pleasant night air. This was a welcome respite from the extreme heat typically experienced during this time of year. A quirky and amusing aspect of the park was the presence of unusually large and mutated ants. These creatures were a novelty, but visitors should be cautious of their pincers. We took a walk along the Headquarters Trail from our campsite to the interpretive center. The trail itself was nice, albeit rocky, with red lava rocks scattered throughout. However, due to the lack of service and limited activities available, we made the decision to cut our stay short and head to Big Bend for the Fourth of July. While at the interpretive center, we encountered overcast weather and light rain, which prevented us from exploring the trails. However, the center provided a great view of the mountains, and our kids enjoyed engaging in activities such as coloring and participating in the Junior Ranger program. It was a pleasant spot to be in, especially with the scent of rain in the air. In summary, our experience at Davis Mountain State Park had its ups and downs. The beautiful scenery, particularly the sunset, was a definite highlight. However, the unpleasant encounter with a grumpy ranger, lack of service, and limited activities impacted our overall enjoyment. Therefore, we give Davis Mountain State Park a rating of three out of five stars.

We love this park! Great views from the Sky drives. Beautiful sunsets with mountaintop views of the McDonald Observatory. We have also camped here several times and love the dark skies! Always be aware of burn bans to prevent wildfire!

Very quiet park, a lot bigger than I thought it would be. They have full hook up sites, electric and water sites and tent sites. I had site 34 which was water and electric. I have t-mobile so I had to drive to the top of the mountain to get signal. This road is part of the park. Bathrooms were clean and nearby. All the creeks are long dried up so don’t expect a waterfront lot. Great place to camp, I was here for 2 nights.

Spent only one night there but we were pleased with the State Park. We had site 60 with electricity and water (no sewer but there was a dump site nearby) and site was okay (with some mud) and levelled. But site was quite far from showers and the shower block had only one men and one women shower/toilet... so a bit challenging and involved some wait. Hopefully the campground was not too crowded. Rangers and staff were quite nice and gave a lot of goodies to our kids after they had completed their junior ranger book. The interpretation centre was interesting. Did not take the skyline road to the top; was not sure it was okay with our motorhome as it looks narrow. Rangers mentioned sharp turns, so did not take any chances. There is a nice trail (1.6 miles) going to the top. Our biggest deception was that it is not a "bike friendly" place. There are mountain bike trails but really tough and technical and not possible to climb the skyline road. Will come back if in the area but on a different campsite.

I visited as an employee with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and I must say this is an excellent and peaceful place to visit!! This is the third park I’ve visited and it’s one of the best in my humble opinion!! First experience at bird viewing and love seeing deer so close!! Can’t wait to go back 🙌🏿

Our camping trip was really great, if a little hot. The bathrooms are clean and well-maintained, and all of the campsites are far away from the others. We were bummed that the Indian Lodge was closed while we were there because we didn't realize (and no park staff told us until the last day of our trip) that the gift shop is inside the Lodge and inaccessible while it's closed for construction. We were also not aware, and it is not anywhere on the website, that the Indian Lodge Trail trailhead is inaccessible as well. We saw a sign on a different trailhead saying this, but it would be nice to put that information on the website or on the trail map while the Lodge is under construction. Other than that, this park is great for a weekend trip. We really enjoyed the bird blind and got to see lots of wildlife while we were there.

Decent views but the trails are not that great. There is absolutely zero shade out here so wear lots of sunscreen. I highly recommend going to Big Bend before coming here.

We stayed here for two weeks & enjoyed the park so much! The campground has different levels of amenities ranging from full hookup to dry sites. We were in a water/electric site. The sites all seemed mostly level with asphalt service. The dump station was centrally located to the different branches of the campground. There were two shower houses/ bathrooms that were clean & had good water pressure and hot water. We used Starlink & had fantastic service with that, with two people working M-F with no interruptions. One bar at best on T-Mobile unless you hike up the mountains where the service is great. The Interpretive Center, office, and shower houses have WiFi available that worked well the couple times I used it. The park has several great hiking trails ranging from .25 miles to a 10ish mile hike across the highway at Limpia Creek. We hiked all of them & would recommend any of them. The Interpretive Center was a big highlight for us as we always like learning about the park/area we are staying in. Ranger Charlie and Sasha were wonderful resources for wildlife information, recommendations on restaurants, and other points of interest in the area. They also put on different types of programming throughout the week both at the Interpretive Center & within the park. We attended a Star Party, hiking with shelter dogs, and several other programs during the two weeks we were camping here. Normally there is a hotel & restaurant within the park, but it was closed for renovation while we visited. The park & surrounding area were great for wildlife viewing. We saw tons of javelinas, wild hogs, aoudads, roadrunners, a bobcat, Montezuma quail, mule deer, pronghorn, and probably others that I am forgetting to list. The park is located close to Fort Davis National Historic Site, McDonald Observatory, Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, and the town of Fort Davis which has a couple restaurants, shops, grocery store, and hotels. We loved Stone Village Market for soup & sandwiches & the train car across from Fort Davis NHS for ice cream. We really enjoyed the Star Party at McDonald Observatory, which are held on Tuesday, Friday & Saturday nights. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay here & will definitely be back on our next trip through the area.

My family and I recently visited Davis Mountain State Park for the Fourth of July weekend, and our experience was a mix of highs and lows. While there were some enjoyable aspects of the park, there were also some significant downsides. Upon arrival, I appreciated being greeted by a park ranger rather than having to go inside the office. However, the ranger we encountered was unfortunately quite grumpy and rude. Despite my attempts to engage her politely, she responded with a cold stare and demanded that I turn off my RV. This initial encounter left a negative impression. One major drawback of the park was the lack of cellular service. Given the mountainous terrain, it was expected, but as someone who works remotely, it was a significant inconvenience for me and my family. It's worth noting for others who rely on connectivity during their travels. On the positive side, the scenic beauty of the mountains was truly breathtaking, especially when we ventured up to the Mountainside to witness the stunning sunset. The mix of blue, orange, yellow, and red hues painted across the sky made it a highlight of our visit. For those interested, the trail or road to access the mountainside view is called the Skyline Trail. It's definitely worth exploring if you haven't been to this park before. In the evenings, the temperature dropped to comfortable levels, allowing us to enjoy the pleasant night air. This was a welcome respite from the extreme heat typically experienced during this time of year. A quirky and amusing aspect of the park was the presence of unusually large and mutated ants. These creatures were a novelty, but visitors should be cautious of their pincers. We took a walk along the Headquarters Trail from our campsite to the interpretive center. The trail itself was nice, albeit rocky, with red lava rocks scattered throughout. However, due to the lack of service and limited activities available, we made the decision to cut our stay short and head to Big Bend for the Fourth of July. While at the interpretive center, we encountered overcast weather and light rain, which prevented us from exploring the trails. However, the center provided a great view of the mountains, and our kids enjoyed engaging in activities such as coloring and participating in the Junior Ranger program. It was a pleasant spot to be in, especially with the scent of rain in the air. In summary, our experience at Davis Mountain State Park had its ups and downs. The beautiful scenery, particularly the sunset, was a definite highlight. However, the unpleasant encounter with a grumpy ranger, lack of service, and limited activities impacted our overall enjoyment. Therefore, we give Davis Mountain State Park a rating of three out of five stars.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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).

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Make sure you plan ahead and get reservations for the Indian large if you desire to stay there. They are booked all the time.

I was very disappointed by the park itself - this review doesn't include Indian Lodge or surrounding attractions. There were TONS of RVs and so much traffic we had trouble sleeping in our tent. The park hosts were more like park patrol units - they were included in the noisy traffic, driving by about twice an hour. They left us passage aggressive notes after one night of camping about "leaving our trash and storage bins out", so we decided to move over to Indian Lodge earlier than planned. This park has changed a lot in the last couple years.. I wouldn't say for the better.

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!

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.

I'm like to preface this with some context. My girlfriend and I go to state and national parks almost every weekend. We're big advocates and are always telling friends about new spots to check out. I've been to Davis Mountains State Park multiple times and stayed in the lodge multiple times. I'd like to note this review is specifically about the service experience we had with the park employee and not the park itself. I've always loved the park and think while Big Bend isn't too far away, Davis Mountains state park has a charm all its own that is worth seeking out. It's also right next to the beautiful scenic loop and Mcdonald Observatory. My girlfriend and I share a state parks pass. It's, specifically, in her name, and I understand going into this review that the rule is the pass holder must be present. With that said, no park employee has ever enforced that rule in the entire time that we've had the pass, and, furthermore, the enforcement of the rule isn't the entire root cause of this review. The main reason I'm taking time to write this is that I've never had a Texas state parks employee interact with me with such a condescending and impolite tone. I've gone over the interaction in my head multiple times trying to pinpoint what I might have done to warrant this type of treatment. I've concluded I didn't do anything in this situation and this being the only time I've been treated this way makes her the outlier here. Here's the situation. My girlfriend drove back the day before we went to Davis Mountains State Park. She had just gotten a new job and it dictated that she wouldn't be able to stay in West Texas to meet our 2 other friends driving from Austin. We were invited to an event in Marfa and had a day to explore some of the sights in the surrounding area. Neither of them had been to West Texas before, so I pushed for Davis Mountains, the scenic loop, and the Mcdonald observatory. Our main plan was the scenic loop since we didn't want to wear ourselves out hiking before the event in Marfa later that night. I mainly just wanted to show them the lodge and the Skyline Drive before we embarked on the scenic loop. As I've done plenty of times before, I went into the office and greeted the two women there. I explained that I had a parks pass and we were just going to be here for a little while during the day. no camping. I knew something was off when the employee seemed to slightly scoff when I explained I had a parks pass. This seemed strange to me. She asked me the usual questions about adults, children, pets, etc. I was forthcoming with each of them, but the questions were coming out in a more accusing tone than I'm used to. Finally, she swiped my parks pass and asked me who my girlfriend was. I explained it's my girlfriend's name and we typically share the pass since we both paid for it. We're usually together, but she couldn't make it this time due to extenuating circumstances. She curtly responded that I couldn't use the pass unless she was present. Now, I know this is the rule, but in all the time we've had the pass no one has ever made a big deal out of it. I made sure to explain this to her before I paid for 3 adults and left the office. This comes down to expectation. I understand that while no other park's employee has made it an issue in the past doesn't mean I should expect it to be the case in all situations. Regardless, my interaction with this employee was poor from the moment I walked in the door, so it felt more like her searching for a reason to be rude to me than someone simply enforcing the rules. I used to be an employee of a large tech company name after fruit, so, trust me, I've had to deal with entitled people before. In all the times I've visited other states parks including this one, multiple times before, have I been treated like I walked into the DPS and had to deal with an employee's crabby attitude. Anybody who has had to deal with this type of government employee otherwise would be able to imagine the contrast between a DPS worker and a parks employee. We were there less than hour with all things considered. With that said, that gave me plenty of time to consider whether I would drive six hours to be treated that way again. It certainly gives me pause when I consider whether I'll recommend people make the extra drive to go there in the future. The last thing I want is to hear from a friend that they drove 2 to 3 additional hours, from big bend, to check out a park I recommended and be treated this way. Had it not been for this interaction this would have been a five star review since I've enjoyed this park in all my other experiences otherwise.

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.

Absolutely beautiful ! Very well maintained . I just moved to this area with my husband and this is our favorite spot!

Spent several days here in an RV. Was close enough to all we wanted to see and do and had all the conveniences for RV camping. Quiet and clean. Staff will look for ways to accommodate people.

I stay here by myself every other year. Great place to get away from the city and clear one's head. Fantastic hiking with amazing views. I usually come in August, and although it's warm, it's never too hot for a multi-hour hike. Warnings: In August, thunderstorms pop up out of nowhere. The radar will be totally clear when you start a hike, but two hours later you're scurrying for shelter and lightning is striking every five seconds. Also, on my most recent trip, I encountered a rattlesnake, scorpion, enormous centipede, fox, javalina, and skunk. Lots of nature surrounding you. Plan to eat at the Black Bear Restaurant. Amazing food, very surprising for a state park.

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.

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.

The hotel is underpriced. The restaurant boasts a cook who rivals your grandma in her prime. The setting is perfect, and quiet.

Had been through Ft. Davis nearly 20 years ago and wanted to make it back. Finally did and I am so glad I made time for it! I recommend all the trails, most are moderately challenging but you don't need to be a mountain goat. I also highly recommend the hike between the state park and the national park -- is about 8 miles there and back, and worth the views and the solitude. Bring lots of water. If you are a mountain biker or like to hike more challenging trails, give the Limpia Canyon trail a try. It is across Highway 118 and you'll need to check-in at the state park HQ first. There is no one on this trail which is fantastic, but be sure to bring plenty of water and possibly a first-aid kit. The mountain biking was quite challenging, but worth it and the downhill on return was an absolute blast! Thank you to all the men and women who work in our state parks, and thanks also to the previous generations who have put this land aside for all to enjoy!

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

My dad and I had a great experience camping here in September. The whole area was far greener and more vegetated than I expected. We enjoyed a brisk morning hike up the Skyline trail with beautiful views of the area. I'd like to return sometime and hike some of the longer trails. They have quite a few of different lengths that cater to different abilities and time commitments. The campsites were roomy and noise was not a problem, even with a big cycling group nearby. I liked the bird viewing area with bird feeders and a fountain--if I'd had time, I would have grabbed a book and stayed longer.

Great step off point to visit the McDonald Observatory. We spent the night in the rv section. Very nice. Love the desert. The park hosts do a telescope sun observation and night star observations. Along with rescue dog trail walking sessions. We checked out the Indian Lodges and will return to stay there.

Neat state park tucked into a small valley in the Davis Mountains. Lots of mountain trails that aren't super rugged and most can be done in a couple of hours easily. Plenty of campsites and the lodge is also available. A very different Texas experience from what most Texans see in the big city, rolling plains, or hill country.

We stopped here for trail running on our way to Marfa and Big Bend. I'm not sure if that's advisable given their mountain lion warning, but we've only seen a javelina and deer. The eleven miles of trails are well maintained and have nice views. We paid $6 per person for the day pass. There are campsites and even a little hotel and restaurant if you'd like to stay. We didn't come here on our last trip out here, opting instead for the adjacent Fort Davis National Historical Site, which for roughly the same price gave us access to both the fort and similar trails.

Bureaucratic Incompetence PROS: Hiking, close to McDonald Observatory, thorough ranger talks, good water. Beautiful scenery. CONS: Paid $20 too much due to state park reservation system bureaucratic incompetence*1. Too smokey due to a "Prescribed Burn" program in the park. No cell coverage*2. Picnic table on wrong side of rig. Unreliable electric pedestal: had to wiggle the connection to get it to work. Then the electric went up and down during the night, repeatedly tripping the transfer switch in the rig. I called maintenance and all they did was reset the breaker. It should have been replaced since it could damage the rig. Restaurants in the town of Fort Davis are expensive: $13 for a burger and milk shake meal and $18 for a gourmet burger meal. Boring downtown historic district walk: only three expensive specialty shops and some hotels were open: not unique, not interesting to us. Cops are crawling the town looking for the slightest infraction. There are flashing speed signs: I was one MPH over the limit, the sign flashed and and a cop got on my tail. He did not stop me though. Dump station and picnic table on wrong side. Not customer focused. *1 We had to make two reservations to stay two nights due to the prescribed burn program. Upon arrival, when we tried to settle this clerical mistake, they charged a $10 reservation change fee since the reservations were already made online. The ranger had no remorse that their incompetence that led to the overpayment and we were not happy. Their business motto is "Satisfaction not guaranteed". Texas State Parks charge a daily use fee PER HEAD: very expensive. For a family of five, this could cost up to $280 per week. *2 AT&T and Verizon coverage maps showed coverage in the campground. However the reality was ZERO coverage since the campground is in a "bowl" of mountains.

Love this place. I have been here at least once a year for the past fifteen years. Tent camping is good, if you like that sort if thing. If not, check out the Indian Lodge - ask for a room in the old part, which was a CCC project during the depression. But make reservations early as the place fills up fast. You can find the room layout online; use that to request specific rooms (I recommend room 123).

As a local I am primarily reviewing the Black Bear Restaurant. The Park is great, I always enjoy visiting and of course the view from Skyline Drive. The restaurant is one of the hidden gems of Ft. Davis. The prices are reasonable and the quantity and quality of the food are excellent. One of the nice things about the Black Bear is that they have smaller portions available for those with smaller appetites, and the larger portions for us big eaters. Try the CCC sandwich, fried. A great big fried Chicken Breast on a homemade roll with all the trimmings. If you must it can be had grilled. The other steak and chicken entries are consistently good. The Mexican and Italian food can be a bit iffy, this is not their specialty. The salad bar is usually a bit tired, with limited selection. Overall, this is probably the highest ranking restaurant in Ft. Davis, if you include value, service, selection, and taste.