Three Major Mountain Ranges of West Texas

1. Guadalupe Mountains

• Location: Far West TX, NM border
• Geology: Part of Rocky Mountain system; ancient reef (Capitan Reef)
• High Point: Guadalupe Peak – 8,751 ft (highest in Texas)
• Protected: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

2. Davis Mountains

• Location: NW of Guadalupes, TX/NM border
• Geology: Volcanic origin; Basin and Range Province (not Rockies)
• High Point: Mount Livermore (aka "Sleeping Giant") – 8,382 ft
• Notable: McDonald Observatory (dark skies)

3. Chisos Mountains

• Location: Entirely within Big Bend National Park
• Geology: Volcanic intrusion (laccolith), not fault-block mountains
• High Point: Emory Peak – 7,825 ft
• Unique: Only mountain range fully contained in a U.S. national park

All three are "sky islands"—high-elevation habitats isolated by desert, hosting unique flora/fauna.