Madera Canyon Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Geological Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

The closest facilities are at the McIvor Conservation Center at Davis Mountains Preserve (if open). Davis Mountains State Park has the next nearest facilities. There are no restrooms or water at the trailhead.

Good for trail running. Bring plenty of water regardless of season, but particularly in summer.

This trail is part of the Davis Mountains Preserve in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. Unlike the rest of the Davis Mountains Preserve, which has limited days for use/hiking, the Madera Canyon Trail is pretty much always open and available for running.

It follows a seasonal dry creek bed for a ways, and then makes slight climb up to a ridge line for views of the surrounding mountains and high desert. There is a seasonal pond as well, that may have water depending on the time of year. A few overlooks and benches can be found along the ridge line.

This is a "lollipop" style loop trail. The trail branches off about a quarter of a mile in, and you can go either direction to make the loop.

Davis Mountains and West Texas flora abound here. The trail winds through a pinyon-oak-juniper habitat; therefore, specimens of Juniperus deppeana (Alligator Juniper), Quercus grisea (Gray Oak), and Pinus cembroides (Pinyon Pine) can all be found here.