Fort Davis was established in 1854 by Lt. Col. Washington Seawell to protect travelers migrating along the El Paso Road. It was officially decommissioned in 1891, when its use became outdated and the United States decided to spend funds to fortify other points in the country. It is today a historical landmark maintained by the Texas State Parks Department and boasts many diverse and historical hiking trails in the area. Hiking in the area takes travelers along nearby ponds and forests to see the landscape of Texas at its fullest as well as historical El Paso Road landmarks and better views of the now-decommissioned fort.
The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens is near Fort Davis and is operated by the Chihuahuan Desert Research Center. Though the area is actually dedicated to education and research, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens also offers beautiful hiking around the gardens, allowing visitors to see rare desert flowers, ancient American Indian sites and the site of Canyon Springs, a natural spring. The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens is in Big Bend Country only five miles north of Marfa Texas.
Located in Quebec, Texas, the Tobe Gap Traverse is a more complex array of cliffs and mountainous deserts near Marfa. The traverse contains Texas's fifth highest summit on the peak of Mt. Livermore as well as some of the most scenic terrain in the Davis Mountains. Usually suggested to only seasoned hikers and climbers, the Tobe Gap Traverse offers beautiful valleys and ponds as well as breathtaking cliff side views.
Located on the other side of the Davis Mountains from Tobe Gap, the Madera Canyon is also near Quebec, Texas, only 10 miles from Marfa. Because of the deep complexity of the hills and forests in the Madera Canyon, hikers are rarely allowed to travel the paths alone. Instead, you are escorted through the thickets and paths by a trained park ranger, who will bring you to all of the best sites in the canyon. This area has a considerably lesser amount of rock climbing activity, but it makes up for it in pure scenery.
