As we arrived at the gate leading to the Christmas Mountains, the sun was rising in the sky, painting the horizon a golden hue. The journey from State Highway 118 to the key pick-up office was a 16-mile drive, passing by the Bad Rabbit Café and continuing on unpaved roads through the Christmas Mountains property. The key was attached to a long wooden stick, reminiscent of old gas station restroom keys.
With my friend behind the wheel of the rented white Jeep, we entered the Christmas Mountains, a small range located on the northern edge of Big Bend National Park near Terlingua. The gate we passed through enforced the rule of one group at a time due to the narrow, winding road that leads to the 5,728-foot summit. The road, with its sharp switchbacks, took us over an hour to ascend, offering stunning views along the way.
The Christmas Mountains, a 9,269-acre property donated by the Richard King Mellon Foundation and The Conservation Fund, have become a haven for researchers interested in studying the area’s biology, geology, and cultural history. The property, now owned by the Texas State University System and the Texas Land Conservancy, is home to rare plants, abandoned mercury mines, Lipan Apache-related sites, and millions of years of geological history.
Despite past attempts to sell the property by former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, the Christmas Mountains remain in public hands, thanks to the efforts of conservationists and concerned citizens. The property is now used as an outdoor classroom and research preserve, with plans to build a field research station at the base of the mountains in the near future.
Scientists have been gathering in West Texas since 2013 to share their research findings about the Christmas Mountains, with botanist David Lemke leading the way in studying the local vegetation. Access to the mountains is made possible through the cooperation of private property owners at the Terlingua Ranch resort, where visitors can reserve time slots to explore the area via four-wheel drive vehicles, hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
The drive to the summit of the Christmas Mountains is not for the faint of heart, with narrow roads, boulders, and steep inclines along the way. However, the breathtaking views from the top make the journey well worth it, offering panoramic vistas of the Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, and Mexico in the distance. Rich in history and natural beauty, the Christmas Mountains are a hidden gem waiting to be explored and shared with the world.