Christmas Mountains Loop

The Christmas Mountains rise from the Chihuahuan Desert south of Alpine like ancient stone monuments, accessed by a network of ranch roads that haven’t seen maintenance crews in decades. This loop starts on Highway 118 and follows old ranch tracks through the heart of these limestone peaks, passing abandoned homesteads and crossing numerous washes that can run flash floods after desert storms. The route threads between Christmas Mountain itself and the unnamed peaks to the south, offering views toward the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park.

This is serious backcountry requiring high-clearance 4WD and desert driving experience. Rocky sections can puncture tires, and summer heat makes this route dangerous—stick to fall through spring. Carry extra water, food, and tools for repairs. Cell service is nonexistent, and you might not see another vehicle for hours. Several primitive camping spots exist among the mountains, but this is raw desert country where self-sufficiency isn’t optional. The payoff is total solitude in one of Texas’s last truly wild places.