Elephant Mountain WMA: Driving


Phone: (432) 364-2228
Address:
109 S. Cockrell
Alpine, TX 79830

Contact: Cody McEntire

Dates Open: Year round except: except entire area closed for special hunts
Driving Tour is open May 1 through August 30, annually.

Registration is required.

Driving

Driving Tour Permitted

The driving tour is open May 1 through August 31 (closed for Desert Bighorn sheep lambing season: January 1-April 30 and all hunting seasons.)

The driving tour starts at the self-registration station and crosses Calamity Creek almost immediately. After crossing the creek the driving tour turns south and traverses the desert scrub vegetative community along the western flank of Elephant Mountain. At the south end of Elephant Mountain, the driving tour turns northeast and continues to the Wildlife Viewing Site. Total distance, one-way is approximately seven miles. Visitors should use caution when driving due to the possibility of poor road conditions. Low clearance vehicles may not be suited for the driving tour road following periods of heavy rainfall. Wildlife species visitors can expect to see along the driving tour include desert mule deer, javelina, numerous bird species which vary depending upon the season, many lizard species during the warmer months, various species of snakes, and butterflies. At the Wildlife Viewing Site, visitors can scan the mountain slopes for views of desert bighorn. At a minimum, binoculars are a must, and spotting scopes are recommended. Morning is the best time to visit the Wildlife Viewing Site due to light conditions. The slopes of Elephant Mountain are closed to visitors to protect the desert bighorn herd.

Permits are not required for the driving tour or nature trail.