Tour of West Texas, Stage 3 (Limpia Canyon)
Limpia Canyon is a dramatic volcanic gateway into the Davis Mountains, carved over millions of years by the waters of Limpia Creek. Its walls are composed of massive trachyte and rhyolite layers formed by Cenozoic eruptions roughly 35 million years ago, creating the striking vertical columns seen on Sleeping Lion Mountain. Situated at an elevation between 4,800 and 5,500 feet, this "sky island" microclimate supports a lush riparian corridor of Emory oaks and alligator junipers, providing a biologically diverse contrast to the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert.
Historically, the canyon served as a vital sanctuary for the Mescalero and Lipan Apache before becoming a strategic corridor for the San Antonio-El Paso Road in the mid-19th century. This led to the 1854 establishment of Fort Davis at the canyon’s mouth to protect the regional mail routes. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) hand-cut the canyon’s extensive trail system and constructed the iconic Indian Lodge from local adobe. Today, it remains a premier destination for high-altitude exploration and navigating the winding loops of the Texas Alps.
Region: Texas
City: Fort Davis
Distance: 57.27 km
Elevation Gain: 123 m
Elevation Loss: 646 m
Difficulty: 201 (Easy)
FIETS Index: 0.48 FIETS
Avg Grade: -0.91 %
Max cat climb: 5
Min elevation: 1013 m
Max elevation: 1535 m
Ride Category: Flat