Red Feather

Great view, secluded, had fun driving around in the mountains.

I’ll start by raving about the incredible, secluded stargazing this prime location offered! We arrived at midnight, and the stars were almost comparable to Big Bend. We loved the secluded feel of this off-road retreat; there aren’t many places you can go in Texas where you feel “in the mountains,” since public parks tend to be crowded and highly regulated, but I’d count this a bonafide mountain camping experience. The sunrise was also sweet, and the overnight temperatures were reasonable even in late May, probably tempered by the elevation.

The only drawback: although I have an SUV with 4WD, I was not prepared for the driveway leading up to the site. I’ve only off-roaded on flat terrain, and got stuck about halfway up the due to the incline of the gravel road. Would recommend having someone drive who has more experience off-roading, or you can treat it as a walk-in site!

Response from America , the Host, on June 19th, 2020

Thank you for such a beautiful in-depth review Kate! So glad you enjoyed your stay, please plan a return trip!

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Thank you America and Chris for providing us with this magical place!

The Davis Mountain views from Red Feather are stunning - sunrises in particular are really amazing. And the small simple deck is perfect to soak it all in. I highly recommend this camp spot to others and can't wait to go back myself. Though you can see little residences in the distance, this is a very private spot.

I had planned on heading into Davis Mountains State Park for a day, but hiking around the roads of the Resort was equally perfect. No need to go anywhere else.

A word of note: as it says in the description, a 4x4 or AWD is a must for getting up to the campsite. It took me a few tries to get all the way up the hill in my Subaru Crosstrek... but I made it!

For the bird nerds, here's my list (from both Red Feather and hiking around on the roads):

Great-horned owl (calls only)
Greater roadrunner (calls only)
Bewick's wren
Scrub jay
Common raven
White-winged dove
Broad-tailed hummingbird
Black-chinned hummingbird
Turkey
Northern mockingbird
White-breasted nuthatch
Bushtit
Ash-throated flycatcher
Canyon towhee
Black-headed grosbeak
Blue grosbeak
Bluebird (not sure if Eastern or Western)

We also had a visit by a little "squadron" of javelinas, including a female with two babies.

Response from America , the Host, on June 5th, 2020

Thank you Lee! I'm so glad your stay was so enjoyable! Please plan to come again :)

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A lovely secluded spot. The driveway was a bit challenging with a four-cyl. fwd Rav 4, but once we unloaded two passengers, we made it just fine. There’s a great table and chairs just up the hill for viewing the sunset. The picnic table and hammock were great to have. We brought a large tarp that we hung over the picnic table and it was absolutely essential in the hot summer sun. We didn’t find any established trails in the immediate area, but we roamed around and had a nice couple of hikes with our kids (7 and 1). It was a quick trip to Fort Davis, and Marfa was just another 25 minutes away. Securing the tent to the wooden platform was a little challenging, but we figured it out. We saw lots of birds, and a hummingbird visited us several times. We slept with the rain fly off, giving us a beautiful view of the stars. We definitely recommend this secluded spot, and would like to come back!

Response from America , the Host, on June 21st, 2020

Thank you Emily! We would love to host you and your group again!

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Loved our time at Red Feather, everything from the epic drive in to the beautiful sunsets, it was top notch. An amazing spot and we're thankful for great hosts like America and Chris for allowing us to experience it.

Response from America , the Host, on July 1st, 2020

Thanks for sharing these great photos Aidan! Ya'll are welcome back anytime!

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Beautiful spot. Peaceful at dawn and dusk. Caught a killer sunrise. You’re definitely remote, in a sort-of private community with a few small cabins. But, the spot itself is private to say the least... I drove up solo to escape - and boy did I. You definitely need 4WD or Awd - I didn’t get service (which was great). If you’re looking for a unique west Texas spot high up in the mountains - this is it! Can’t wait to bring my girlfriend next time!

Response from America , the Host, on July 6th, 2020

Thank you Jon! We're so glad you enjoyed your stay, please come back with your girlfriend next time! -America

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We are huge fans of West Texas and love Big Bend and all of the surrounding towns.

When we heard about Hipcamp, we were crossing our fingers that we could find a private campsite off the beaten path. And let me tell you, Red Feather exceeded all of our expectations.

The adventure started when we got to use our all-wheel drive to climb the mountain to get to the site. Our first impression when we got out of the car was WOW! We were up at the top of the mountain with so many spectacular views.

There is a large deck where you can set up your chairs and hang out under the shady tree to take in the landscape. The owners leave a hammock that you can open up and use to relax and read a book. There is a picnic table with a nearby fire pit- so we were all set for meals.

There were several great spots to set up our tent which is perfect in case you have a group of people with multiple tents or if you want to try a new spot on your next trip out there.

As we began to explore, we realized there was a path we could walk up and at the end of the path was the most amazing overlook with incredible views of the mountains. The owners set up a cute vintage coffee table with chairs which we used every morning to have our coffee and every evening to watch the sunset. We spend hours sitting here enjoying the views and listening and watching all of the unique West Texas wildlife.

By far the most incredible part of the stay was when we ventured back up to that spot at night to see the stars. I have NEVER seen such an incredible starry night! You could see the Milky Way so clearly and there were shooting stars all night! It was an absolute dream and a must for any avid star gazer! 💫

We loved our visit so much and can’t wait to go back for another unforgettable experience!

Response from America , the Host, on July 23rd, 2020

Thank you for such a beautiful review Maya! I loved this so much! I'm so happy you had a wonderful stay, please come back soon!

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Took my 10 year old kiddo and my 10 year old nephew, and they were not allowed tablets or any tech. I thought I might have a hard time keeping them occupied, but they occupied themselves and had a blast. I think they just enjoyed being away, and this place feels “away.” We only heard a couple of airplanes overhead during our three days, but otherwise, just nature’s sounds. Very peaceful. At night, the donkeys sound off every now and then, and the boys thought that was hilarious.

We loved the daily afternoon thunderstorms. The valley below really comes to life after a rain here. I had planned to take daily excursions to the McDonald Observatory and Balmorhea, but both were closed. The boys are all in for a return trip to Red Feather to visit both.

Having a coffee at sunrise in the seating area above the campsite is a must. Magical.

Response from America , the Host, on July 27th, 2020

I’m so glad you guys had a great time Ricardo! You’re welcome to come back anytime!

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The view the view the view. The stars the stars the stars. So many it made us dizzy. If you want something truly off grid and private that exemplifies all of the grandeur of West Texas, this is it. The kids loved it too.

Response from America , the Host, on August 30th, 2020

Thanks Joaquin! I'm so glad you and your kids had a great time!

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