Top 5 Things to Do in Alpine, TX

Alpine, Texas is a small West Texas town with a lot to offer. Travelers heading to the remote Big Bend National Park, often view Alpine as a quick stopover. After staying in Alpine for a few days, I learned this town offers many unique things to do within its own 4.7 square miles. Build a few days into your itinerary to find out how Alpine lives up to the saying, “Austin is weird, but Alpine is far out.” Think twice about speeding through this small town and keep reading for the top 5 things to do in Alpine, TX.

1. Hike

Alpine is the home of Sul Ross State University with a historic hike on campus. The small town university’s motto is “home away from home” and less of 2,000 students call Alpine home. In 1981, three creative students were in need of a quiet place to study. They decided to carry a large metal desk up Hancock Hill to a secluded spot with an amazing view. Since they made the effort to move the desk, it’s remained there and is visited by students and visitors alike.

Hikers who visit the desk are encouraged to write in the notebook stored inside. The notebook is filled with words of wisdom, life lessons, and anything that comes from the heart. The Sul Ross State University library monitors the notebook and leaves a blank notebook when needed. All of the notebooks filled with words from hikers can be read at the library.

The trailhead is found behind Mountainside Hall in the heart of campus. Following the trail to find the desk can be tricky. I recommend hiking early in the morning to avoid the heat and downloading the trail map from All Trails. When you find the desk, be sure to look for the tree full of bicycles, another quirky addition to the hike and the town.

2. Learn

While on campus, stop at the Museum of the Big Bend. The museum has exhibits explaining the natural history, human history, and cultures of the Big Bend region. There is also a collection of fine art, historic maps, and photography. Admission is $5 a person, making a nice addition to a weekend itinerary.

3. Eat

Alpine surprised us with some delicious food! The first place we tried was Baker’s Dozen Donuts. An understated bakery, but it turns out they do indeed have the best donuts in Texas. Try to visit early in the morning to get a taste of their fresh glazed donuts. These are the perfect treat for anyone starting the 2-hour drive to Big Bend National Park.

If you prefer to enjoy a fine dining experience, the Reata Restaurant is a great option. The Reata is well-known based on the popularity of it’s sister restaurant in Fort Worth, TX. We opted for more casual meals and our first night we ate a food truck located around the corner from our AirBnB called Maria’s Comida Mexicana. The quick service, delicious salsa, and flavorful enchiladas were perfect. The next night we tried El Jardin which is another open air restaurant serving up tasty Mexican cuisine in a colorful atmosphere.

4. Walk Downtown Alpine

Another thing to do in Alpine, TX is explore the downtown area. Alpine has many shops, restaurants, and street art to explore. Be sure to walk through the alleys to discover some of the more creative and unusual art pieces in Alpine. There are several antique stores to wander and a great new/used bookstore called Front Street Books.

5. Explore Nearby Attractions

Alpine is the perfect hub to explore other areas of the Big Bend region including Marfa, Marathon, and Big Bend National Park. Marfa is a popular artsy town, located just 30-minutes from Alpine. In recent history, Marfa has become popular for its many Instagram photo spots, but the town has a long history of mystery lights that appear at night. Read about the Marfa mystery lights and take an evening drive to the viewing center along highway 90, the viewing area is only 20-minutes away from Alpine.

Big Bend National Park was the main reason we planned a visit to this part of Texas. This National Park is massive, it is actually bigger than the state of Rhode Island. We spent one day explore Big Bend National Park and enjoyed the highlights that this park has to offer. An early morning, two-hour drive to reach Big Bend National Park as the sun was rising. We spent the day hiking and driving through the large park. The two hour drive back to Alpine at the end of the day was scenic. While it was a busy day, it worked out for us as our cat, Rocky, was able to relax in the AirBnB and didn’t need to endure any more time in the car.

I hope this post convinced you to spend a little time exploring the many things to do in Alpine, TX. This unique small town exceeded my expectations and is somewhere I would enjoy visiting again in the future! Planning a trip to Texas? Find out how to spend two days in San Antonio and Austin.