Texas Mountain Trail

State: Texas
Length: 1416.0 mi / 2278.8 km
Time to Allow: Plan for a few hours to enjoy sections or a week to enjoy the region.

In the lower west corner of Texas sits the Texas Mountain Trail. While this trail offers a smaller region, it’s rich in history and well worth a visit for those seeking incredible views. What’s unique about the area is it covers two different time zones along with many other geological wonders while bordering Mexico and New Mexico. Find authentic adobe structures mingled with the Rio Grande river and so much more.

El Paso City is the first town at the very tip with a rich history and impressive geography, with two mountain ranges rising out of the desert. Find the Rio Grande in this historic city filled with museums, trails, and national parks. Stop in the Museum of Archaeology or visit multiple art galleries or take the kids to the Western Playland amusement park or WaterWorld. Catch a game at two different stadiums too.

For cooler weather, go up 4500 feet to Alpine and enjoy a spring-fed creek. Trains still go through the town daily as the Cowboys play at Kokernot field. Spend the day shopping at the Gallery on the Square and stay at the famous Holland Hotel, open since 1928 and dine at the accompanying Century Bar and Grill.

Dell City nestles down in the shadow of the Guadalupe Peak, Texas’ highest mountain, perfect for campers who want to explore the wild. Fill up on supplies in the small farming town or catch one of the town’s many festivals. History buffs can then make their way to Fort Davis for a historic downtown and the restored Fort. It’s a great place for stargazers, too, with the darkest sky in the nation easily visible from the McDonald Observatory.

Lajitas is home to a small community overlooking the Rio Grande and San Carlos ford. Visit the Big Bend Ranch State Park or hit one of many trails, or try out a zip-line tour for incredible views. Next, Marathon offers a little bit of ancient Greece with mountains reminiscent of the Mediterranean. Stay at the Gage hotel with influences from Native Americans, cowboys, Mexicans, and the Spanish. Try coffee and a play to green chili chorizo at the V6 Coffee Bar before checking out the town’s unique architecture.

Visit Lincoln National Park in Ruidoso or take in a horse race before sipping wine at the Noisy Water Winery. Do a little gambling too at the Billy the Kid Casino before seeing one of several museums or art galleries and end the day with a horseback riding tour or bike tour on an ATV. Lastly, check out the San Elizario Presidio Chapel in an iconic town known for the first Thanksgiving. Take a guided tour with your smartphone and visit the San Elceario Catholic Church or the historic jail for a little more history.

Local Information

Texas Heritage Trails – Mountain Trail – Visit this site for itineraries, maps, photos, history, calendar of events and more. You can check byway news, subscribe to a newsletter, or visit several related blogs.

More Texas Byways

You can check out additional Byways in Texas by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the Texas Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.