Turn Key

Heading out to Davis Mountain SP in October and have a few questions.

1) Planning on one of the "Full Hook-Up" sites (1-27). Which are the best as far as shade (not expecting much), privacy, levelness and ease of entrance and exit goes? Are there covers on the picnic tables?

2) How far is it from the eastern boarder of the park to Fort Davis NHS Visitor Center via the trail indicated on the park map (beyond Park Road 3A)?

3) How is the restaurant at the lodge?

4) Will be going on "day" trips to Balmorhea SP, Marfa, Big Bend NP and the McDonald Observatory. What else?

5) Anything else I need to know that I haven't thought of?

Thanks for the input and,

Happy Camping!

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Choderus

1) If I remember right, sites #17-27 are on a hill with less shade than the #1-16 loop.

2) There are two ways to get there from the boundary. I think you're only looking at a mile or two depending on which one you take. I didn't take my map and got off the trail in the State Park and had to hike straight up the side of the mountain to get back to the trail in the NHS.

3) The breakfast at the restaurant is good. I haven't eaten lunch or dinner there. I used to recommend eating at the Old Texas Inn & Drugstore downtown but the last couple of tries there for breakfast and lunch were underwhelming. I would highly recommend Cueva De Leon in town for lunch/dinner. Also the Balmorhea Grocery store has great burritos (go for the "green" ones with the chiles).

4) Take your snorkeling gear to Balmorhea SP if you have it. If not, get some, it's well worth it. Also, take some bread to the Cienega to throw in the water. You will see pupfish, catfish, snakes and turtles all come out to feast (take more than one slice). Check out the Apache Trading Post, just outside of Alpine towards Marfa. There is a video about the Marfa Lights you should definitely watch there. Print out this map of the Marfa Lights area to take with you to the viewing area and make sure to get there before dark (it's a social event). Also, Alpine City Limits is a good place to stop and eat in that neck of the woods. If you're taking I-20 all the way make sure to stop off at Monahans Sandhills State Park and get your toes sandy if you've never been there. You'd never believe white sandhills like this would be in West Texas.

5) Do not take the javelina warnings lightly, but enjoy interacting with them. They are virtually blind and will practically bump into you. A lot of them come down from the mountain north of the playground area. Oh yeah, Fort Davis shuts down at 9pm. COMPLETELY!

Have fun, I might be there myself again in November.

campermom

TK,

We have been there twice. I prefer the site we had this last trip for the shade, it was on a cul de sac near the entrance road. Sites 38-45 and 48-61 have more trees. The pull thru sites have very little shade unless you are on the outer edge of the loop ( on the right side). If your rig will fit, get a site down hill, along the dry creek bed, when it rains, the trees get water, that's why there aren't many further up.

Here is a link to our last trip. Enjoy.
Davis Mountains State Park July 2008 - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation
Terlingua, Davis, Balmorhea, Carlsbad and Guadalupe Mountains

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Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

Me vs. Wild

I visited the park this past December and after 3 days of exploring the backcountry of Big Bend National and Big Bend Ranch State, this was my wonderful re-introduction to civilization!

It was only one day, but really enjoyed my stay here. There is a nice Interpretive center and the volunteers are knowledgable and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed my extended conversation with a gentleman working at the center as we traded stories of the trails we'd traveled and the wildlife we'd encountered in the Bend.

The Black Bear Restaraunt (Indian Lodge) is decent.. on par with a Denny's sort of thing. The hearty chicken fried steak meal warmed my body and my spirit on a cold night, followed up with gravy and biscuits the next morning. (sure beats canned chili over a camp stove!)

The park is rich with bird watching, javelina, and mule deer. An evening stroll looking for wildlife does not go unrewarded here!

On your day trips, you might consider trying 2 drives:

Hwy 118 between I10 and hwy 17 for a beautiful meandering scenic drive, and Hwy 170 between Big Bend National Park and hwy 67, going through Big Bend Ranch State Park as it follows along the Rio Grande boasts some incredible scenery. (Barton Warnock Environmental center and Fort Leaton SHS are along this stretch and also the "DOM" scene in the Kevin Costner movie "Fandango" was filmed along the roadside)

Also, there wasn't any firewood available to purchase at the park. Either bring your own, or you can purchase it at the store directly across the entrance of Fort Davis NHS.

Oh yeah.. and you can visit the McDonald Observatory just a few miles up the road on some nights for viewing events. There is an information flyer at the park headquarters.

Have fun out there

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"All those who wander are not lost."

lphilpot

I've eaten at the Black Bear Restaraunt a number of times and it's always been good. Not 5-star, but still good nonetheless.

A few other local / area suggestions :

Don't forget about Alpine - Fun little city with some interesting shops, etc.

Drive the Scenic Loop (Tx 166); LOTS of photo-ops

Horseback riding at the Prude Ranch

A full-day trip, but Carlsbad Caverns are 180-ish miles to the north. It can definitely be done in a day; we've done it before. All in all, it will take no longer than Big Bend. Drive-scenery-wise, I'd personally recommend going Tx 118 to Kent, I-10 to Van Horn and north from there through the Guadalupe Mtns. Definintely WAY prettier than taking Tx 17 north up through Pecos, etc.

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Len Philpot
l e n @ p h i l p o t . o r g (no spaces)
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Turn Key

Thanks for all the input! Lots of help and info that I can and will use. Haven't sorted through all of it yet but you can bet I will!

"Choderus", one of the things I was wondering about but didn't ask was water temp in October. I would expect afternoon air temps to still be just warm enough for swimming but how about water temps? What can I expect?

"lphilpot", I hadn't said in this post and was planning to put it in another but this will be a "2-stop trip". We will be going to Carlsbad first for 4-5 days and then returning to Davis Mountain for the balance of the trip (about another 7 days). Planning on Brantley SP for that leg of the trip and will be look for info about that area under another post so be watching and be sure to add any info you have.

Again, thanks and keep it coming!

Happy Camping!

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campermom

Balmorhea is spring few so the water is 68-71 year 'round. Once you get in, it's fine. Bring a snorkel!

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Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

Troop198

you didn't ask but at Carlsbad I would not recommend the park just outside
(White's City) the drive in from the KOA is worth it. Also McKittrick Canyon is nearby for a day trip/hike . Lots of info on that area in this forum. Stay for the bats one night at the caverns.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park - McKittrick Canyon

We also enjoyed one dinner at the restaurant at the Indian Lodge. Not worth trying to camp at Balmorhea (no shade) but the swim is fun. Nice restaurant in the town (Tex mex).

MonkeyMamma

Great info! I will be staying four nights at Davis Mountains SP in July!

We have a water/electric site reserved and will be in a PUP. Can anyone recommend a good site - shady and not right next to teh neighbors perhaps?

What will the weather be like in late July? I know it is at a higher elevation so I am hoping it will be cooler than Houston.

One last thing................my two girls are 6 and 13. Do I need to worry about the javelinas? The girls like to explore and always walk to the bathroom alone. Should I not let them? Any other animals to worry about with the kids?

Me vs. Wild

You won't need to "worry" about the javelina per say. They are basically indifferent to people and will wander right through your camp, but are not outwardly aggressive unless they feel threatened. (and being a pack animal, you'd have your hands full!) Just remember to give them the space and respect you'd give any other wildlife, and certainly don't feed them and keep camp clean.

There have been known mountain lions in the park. The chances of a spotting one, no less have an encounter are extremely slim. Might be a good idea to review how to behave in the situation of encounter (make yourself appear larger, make noise, DON'T turn and run, try to scare it off) and don't let the littlest ones too far out of sight on the trail. No cause for worry really, but best to be informed. You'd be very fortunate to actually see one. The interpretive center has good information on the local wildlife and the little ones will like the animal diorama.

Other than that, just remember to respect and give space to any critter you come across just as you would anywhere in the wild.

Have a great trip!

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"All those who wander are not lost."

MonkeyMamma

Great thanks! I know nothing about the behavior of javelinas.

So do you know about the weather in July?

Me vs. Wild

[QUOTE=MonkeyMamma;12343]Great thanks! I know nothing about the behavior of javelinas.

So do you know about the weather in July?[/QUOTE

Nope, I was there in December. I'm sure someone here will be able to help you with that.

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"All those who wander are not lost."

Troop198

For a chart see
Average High/Low Temperatures for KMRF : Weather Underground (Marfa is close)

so hot but dry heat.

Do the swimming at Balmoreah for sure

Choderus

The temp is a constant mid-to-low 70's. It's about ten degrees warmer than Barton Springs, if you've ever been there. And as has been said, if you don't have snorkeling gear, get some. It just won't be the same without it.