Spend some time in beaufitul Ft. Davis, Texas where you will see igneous rocks, historic sites and the starry skies of this beautiful west Texas landscape. For 3 million years, beginning 38.4 mya molten rock poured from multiple fissures in this region. Guided by UTEP Professsor Libby Anthony, you will tour the grounds of Ft. Davis National Historic Site where you will see and learn about the igneous formations.
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Meet at 11AM in the parking lot of the Ft. Davis National Historic Site and hear an introduction of the geology of this region followed by a tour of the grounds. You can enjoy the Visitors Center and the town of Ft. Davis at your leisure. If you wish, bring a picnic lunch for after the tour. (A cooler full of picnic goodies is encouraged.)
Do a day tour of the observatory which includes a close-up look of the large research telescopes. A sun-viewing allows you to see live, safe views of the sun via specially filtered telescopes equipped with cameras. Knowledgeable guides present the history of the Sun, its formation, and what we expect the Sun to do over the next 5-6 billion years. Your guide directs the telescope to view the Sun and various surface features.
Ft. Davis is little over a 3-hours drive from El Paso via Van Horn and Valentine. (MAP) Keep in mind that Ft. Davis is on Central Time and thus an hour ahead of us. 11 AM there is 10 AM here. If you are coming over on Saturday morning, leave early enough to make the drive.
Another option is to stay in Ft. Davis or Alpine on Friday night and for sure on Saturday night if you plan on visiting the Observatory. HERE is Expedia’s list of motels and hotels in Ft. Davis. Of course, there are other sites with information and deals. You can also choose to spend Friday night in Marfa or Alpine.
You can also turn off I-10 east of Van Horn onto Hwy 118. (MAP) It is a winding road into (or out of) Ft. Davis, so give yourself an extra hour or so. The payoff? An extraordinarily beautiful drive.
COM recommends the Indian Lodge or Hotel Limpia and especially their restaurant. There are also less expensive properties in Fort Davis and the surrounding area.
Do get motel or hotel reservations now or as soon as you can. This region is very busy this time of the year.
One possible stop on Friday is the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute just south of Ft. Davis. They are closed on Sundays.
Gas stations are limited except in Alpine, so be sure that you have plenty of gas. Van Horn has gas stations as does Alpine.
What Else To Do in Ft. Davis or Surrounding Area
If you plan on coming early on Friday or staying over Saturday night, there are plenty of adventures to enjoy. None of these are COM sponsored, but are suggestions for things that you can do during your free time:
Hiking
All Trails Best Trails in Fort Davis
3 History-Packed Hikes in the Davis Mountains
Hiking Fort Davis National Historic Site
Nature
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
Best Bird Watching Trails in Fort Davis
Birdzilla.com Fort Davis, Texas
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