- Booking a reservation to visit the Davis Mountains Preserve on Friday, August 22 also reserves you a spot for camping overnight on Friday, August 22, if desired.
- To make a reservation for Saturday, August 23, Open Day (overnight camping available), click HERE.
- To make a reservation for Sunday, August 24, Open Day (NO overnight camping available), click HERE.
EVENT DETAILS
The Nature Conservancy's Davis Mountains Preserve (DMP) is a wildlife refuge in the highest country of the Davis Mountains in far west Texas. Visitors can enjoy exceptional wildlife watching, roads for driving or biking, horseback riding (bring your own), overnight camping on select weekends, and some of the best hiking in the state, including a trail to Mount Livermore, the fifth highest peak in Texas at 8,378’.
WHEN: The Davis Mountains Preserve will be open for DAY USE and OVERNIGHT CAMPING beginning at 8:00 am on Friday, August 22, 2025. Checkout time for camping is 10:00 am on Saturday, August 23, unless a separate reservation is made for Saturday.
HOW: You’re doing it! Make a reservation here and pick up maps and more information at the preserve. Registration is required.
COST: This event is FREE, although donations are always appreciated.
OVERNIGHT CAMPING: IF YOU INTEND TO CAMP OVERNIGHT, PLEASE MARK THE BOX AT CHECK-OUT CONFIRMING THAT YOU WILL BE CAMPING. All campsites are drive-up, primitive, and first come, first served. There is a potable water spigot available for use close to the McIvor Visitor Center. Bathrooms with showers are also available at our McIvor Visitor Center.
SPECIAL EVENTS DURING OUR OPEN WEEKEND:
Welcome Back, Bears! - An Interactive Presentation on Nature, Science, and Art in west Texas
Artist and Cartoonist, Chris Ruggia, a 2024 Big Bend National Park Artist in Residence, will share images and information from his book, American Black Bears: New Neighbors in the Big Bend. Learn about how the bears have returned to their habitats in the Big Bend region and the researchers studying their progress. Chris will also do some live drawing and, if you feel like it, you can learn to draw a bear, yourself!
Location: McIvor Conservation Center at the Davis Mountains Preserve
Day and Time: TBD
Owls at the Davis Mountains Preserve
Executive Director of the Devils River Conservancy, Romey Swanson, will walk us through our Davis Mountains Preserve sky island owl species and the research that he is currently leading on these cool and cryptic creatures.
Location: McIvor Conservation Center at the Davis Mountains Preserve
Day and Time: TBD
PLEASE NOTE:
- A high clearance vehicle (8 in or more) is REQUIRED to drive past our Visitor Center to the interior of the preserve, including to the Mount Livermore/Baldy Peak trailhead. Some trails and campsites are accessible from our Visitor Center.
- NO PETS
- NO GENERATORS
- NO FIRES (Camp stoves are permitted)
- Drones are not permitted
- Bring plenty of food and water
- Pack everything in/out
- You can expect a typical mountain climate: mild with unpredictable weather, so please check the forecast, prepare appropriately, and assume nothing
- Cell service is not available on preserve
- If Horseback Riding, Negative Coggins Test Required at Check-in
Don’t hesitate to reach out to Kaylee French at [email protected] with questions or comments. Visit nature.org/davismountainspreserve to learn more about the preserve.
Directions:
From Fort Davis: Head north on Highway 118 North past the Davis Mountains State Park, Prude Ranch, and McDonald Observatory. One-quarter mile past the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic area, turn left into the DMP gate.
From Balmorhea: Take Hwy 17 South to the Y at Fort Davis and turn onto Hwy 118 North (right). From here, follow directions "From Fort Davis".
From Kent: Take Hwy 118 south for about 23 miles to the intersection of Hwy 118 and Hwy 166. Bear to the left to stay on Hwy 118 and continue on for about 5.5 miles until you come to our gate on the right. If you reach the Lawrence E Wood roadside park, you have gone ¼ mile too far.