Mount Livermore, Texas, United States

5Fred B 5:00 PM Mar 17, 2018

Mount Livermore - Baldy Peak Hike
I hiked this mountain on 16 Mar 2018. Baldy Peak is part of Mount Livermore and is located on the Davis Mountains Preserve. The turn-off from Highway 118 is not easy to see if your driving south from I-10. Its about 25 miles south of I-10 and is not far from the Madera Canyon Roadside Park. A sign was posted the day I visited. As noted in a 2017 review, this area is only open a few times a year so you have to visit during one of their open weekends. The Texas Nature Conservancy (TNC) who runs the preserve has done a great job in maintaining the area. The visitors center requires everyone to sign a liability release and sign-in/out. They provide verbal and written details along with maps for the hike. And for those that don't want to hike, birding seems to be a popular alternative. The Madera Canyon Road requires a high clearance vehicle, its about six miles to the trailhead. The road is well marked as is the trail. The hike is 3.1 miles one way and follows a jeep trail the entire way except for the last bit where there's an obvious trail. There is some light scrambling required on the final approach. I would rate this trail as moderate in difficulty. The Texas Nature Conservancy functions through donations. Something to consider although the when I visited I was never asked to donate. I did because I support organizations that provide access to conservation preserves.

5rwmoreau 5:00 PM Apr 25, 2017

Drive up here on your visit to McDonald Observatory
This mountain has the highest public road in Texas and ends at the first and then the largest telescope in the Observatory. There is parking there and it is a short hike to see the Telescope building and view the nearby large array radio telescope in the valley to the east.