Davis Mountains State Park

Davis Mountains State Park
Davis Mountains
Location	Jeff Davis County, Texas
Nearest city	Fort Davis
Coordinates	30°35′45″N 103°55′58″W / 30.59583°N 103.93278°W / 30.59583; -103.93278Coordinates: 30°35′45″N 103°55′58″W / 30.59583°N 103.93278°W / 30.59583; -103.93278
Area	2,709 acres (1,096 ha)
Established	1938-1939
Governing body	Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Davis Mountains State Park is a 2,709-acre (1,096 ha) state park located in the Davis Mountains in Jeff Davis County, Texas. The closest town is Fort Davis, Texas. The park elevation is between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level. The original portion of the park was deeded to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by a local family. Original improvements were accomplished by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 and the park was opened to the public around 1938. Campground facilities were added in 1967.

Features

The park is next to the Fort Davis National Historic Site and the two are connected by four miles of hiking trails. Within the park is the "Indian Lodge", an adobe motel with 39 rooms that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

The park has seven miles of equestrian trails in the special use Limpia Canyon Primitive Area, the section of the park north of Texas State Highway 118.

Flora

Fort Davis State Park receives more rain than the surrounding desert and hosts a variety of trees such as pinyon pines, Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi), Gray Oak (Quercus grisea) and One-seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma). Shrubs such as Scarlet Bouvardia (Bouvardia ternifolia), Little-leaf Leadtree (Leucaena retusa), Trompillo (Ipomoea hederifolia), Evergreen Sumac (Rhus virens), Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), Apache Plum (Fallugia paradoxa), Little Walnut (Juglans microcarpa), Tree Cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata), Torrey Yucca (Yucca torreyi), Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii), and Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata) abound.

Fauna

Montezuma Quail are regularly observed in the park. Western Scrub Jays, White-winged Doves, Curve-billed Thrashers, and Rock Squirrels are among the most common wildlife seen. Collared Peccary, Cougars and bears have also been recorded in the park.

See also

• List of Texas state parks

References

External links

• "Davis Mountains State Park," Texas Parks and Wildlife.