Davis Mountains Loop
Texas sky islands and dark sky country.
The Davis Mountains rise like a fortress from the Chihuahuan Desert, offering Texas’s most unexpected alpine scenery at 8,382 feet atop Mount Livermore. This 65-mile backcountry loop threads through volcanic peaks, grassland basins, and remnant forests that shouldn’t exist in this corner of West Texas. The route passes McDonald Observatory, where some of the darkest skies in North America meet cutting-edge astronomy, before descending through Limpia Canyon’s oak groves and limestone walls.
Moderate difficulty with high-clearance recommended for rocky sections and creek crossings in Limpia Canyon. Stock SUVs handle most of the route, but 4WD helps in wet conditions when the clay turns slick. Best driven October through April to avoid summer heat. No permits required, but fuel up in Fort Davis—it’s 100 miles to the next gas. Dispersed camping available throughout, making this a perfect two-day exploration of Texas’s most surprising mountain range.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 65 mi / 104.6 km |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8382 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance SUV |
| Nearest town | Fort Davis, Texas |
| Land manager | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
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