Davis Mountains State Park–Skyline Drive Trail

Davis Mountains State Park is about 150 miles from our home, and one of the closest places to go hiking. It has some great trails, and several other features that make it a terrific place to spend some quality time.

The first trail we hiked there was the Skyline Drive Trail. This is one of the longer trails, and it’s a moderate hike. We wanted a longer hike because we were practicing for an upcoming trip to Montana, but we also had to take into consideration that it was late June, in the desert. Even though the park is at about 5000-6000 feet above sea level, the temperatures in summer still reach the high 90s.

Desert mountains have a beauty all their own. The trail abounded with cactus and wildflowers. There were even a few butterflies floating about.

We like to take our time and shoot pictures as we hike, so unless we have to catch a shuttle or get out of an area before a gate closes, we don’t get in much of a hurry.

The trail is about 2.6 miles one way, but there are other trails that link up to extend the total distance of the hike. None of the trails in the state park are particularly strenuous, but you can count on amazing views.

The trail starts out in a relatively straight line. Skyline Drive road can be seen nearby throughout the first mile or so, and the trail even crosses the road a couple of times. The trail eventually moves away from the road into a series of switchbacks, where much of the trail’s elevation is gained.

From there, it’s a short distance to the Keesey Canyon overlook, where the trail meets up again with the road. After the overlook, pay attention, because the trail is not well marked, but if you head toward Skyline Drive, you’re going the right direction. Here, you have the option to turn around and go back the way you came, or take a different trail back to the trailhead. We like loops, because there’s more scenery, so we chose to hike down the road a bit, and return via the Old CCC Trail.

This is definitely a beautiful hike.

Just make sure you take plenty of water, especially during the summer. It was well over 90 degrees the day we hiked this trail, and we each went through our 3-liter reservoirs and an additional water bottle as well. It’s also a good idea to make sure you take along some salty snacks. They will help replenish the electrolytes that you lose when you sweat, and plus, they are yummy! We have found that food just tastes better when you eat it perched on top of a rock just off a trail’s edge.