Hancock Hill, behind Sul Ross State University, features a small system of hiking trails on University and private property. A few suggested routes are indicated on the Google Map below, including overlooks of the town and the path to “The Desk” (see below). There are multiple small crossing paths and it is easy to get confused as to which is which, so be careful!
To find the trailhead: turn left at the end of Avenue B (SRSU Entrance 4). The trailhead is at the far edge of the old Mountainside dormitory parking lot.
Be sure to bring water and protect yourself from overexposure to the sun. The trails can be rough and rocky, so sturdy footwear is highly recommended. Pets are allowed, but their waste should not be left behind!
Mountain biking is welcome on University property, but NOT on the adjacent private property. Be aware of signs and do not cross fence lines with a bicycle. The trails are considered quite difficult for mountain biking.
The Desk
In 1981, three Sul Ross students decided they needed a quiet spot away from the dorm to study. Together they carried a desk up Hancock Hill right above Mountainside dormitory. Soon they were spending hours up on the hill studying and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
One day, one of them left a notebook in one of the desk drawers and when he checked it later, someone had written in it. He replied and soon the tradition of a notebook associated with The Desk was born. 10 years later, the first completed notebooks were brought to the Archives of the Big Bend in the Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library.
The Desk is located at the eastern edge of Hancock Hill, and is indicated on the Google Map above.