A natural area owned and managed by the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute for scientific research and education. The facility includes an arboretum comprised of plants native to the Chihuahuan Desert Region and a cactus greenhouse. Modesta Canyon Trail is a self-guided nature trail to Modesta Springs and Clayton Overlook, the highest point was established and grew under protection of U.S. Army post of the same name that was founded in 1854 at crossroads of famous Chihuahua Trail and Butterfield Overland Mail Route. The city has served as county seat of Presidio County and later Jeff Davis County created largely from Presidio. Altitude and climate make it a popular tourist and camping area. Signs along the trail point out geologic formations and give facts about plants and animals. Visitors to Clayton Overlook are almost always rewarded with a glimpse of aoudad Sheep from the southwest slope of the mountain.