Hike Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

Big Bend National Park, Texas

5.0/5

based on 1 reviews

Save Add Photo

Add Photo

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

30.9 miles

Elevation Gain

1 ft

Route Type

Point to Point

Description

This is a new adventure! Be the first to share your experience.

Join a supporting community of travelers and adventurers sharing their photos and local insights.

Added by Outbound

Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is a 30.9 mile point-to-point hike that takes you by a river located near Big Bend National Park, TX.

Download Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Hiking

River

Hike Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive Reviews

Liz Claflin

Scout

Hike Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

12/13/25

This is not a hike! Its a scenic drive (out and back) through the most breathtaking desert scenery. Arguably the most scenic drive in Texas! There are many hikes (long and short) along the road. There are also numerous pullouts with informational signs and vistas. At about 2/3 of the way through, you’ll come to a visito center woth bathrooms, a gift shop with snacks, and historic displays. There are also bathrooms at various vistas and hiking parking lots. The road ends at Santa Elena Canyon, which offers a gorgeous, short hike into the impressive canyon. Give yourself at least half a day to do this drive. Lots of opportunities for wildlife sightings.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Cattail Falls

Head south on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend. Just after mile marker 3, you will see signs for the Sam Nail Ranch overlook, and a small opening in the scrub brush will appear on your left... but go slow, it's easy to miss! Turn left down the dirt road. Follow it for about a mile or two until you reach a remote parking area in the desert. The road is not terrible, but be careful. ...

Hike Oak Spring Trail

Window Trail in Big Bend

The Window Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Big Bend National Park. Whether you're visiting for a day or camping at one of the sites in the park, the Window Trail is a hike worth doing, and can be done in just a couple of hours at a leisurely pace. The Window itself is a V-shaped canyon that overlooks the desert into Mexico and offers stunning panoramic views, especially at sunset. To...

Chisos Mountains Loop

Most people don’t know that there are 8,000-foot peaks in Texas, but in the exceptionally remote southwest corner of the Lone Star State, Big Bend National Park’s Chisos Mountains soar high over the Chihuahuan Desert. The South Rim of the mountain bowl features a few backcountry sites that allow backpackers to delve into the magical world of the high desert mountains, while escaping the brutal ...

Emory Peak via Pinnacles Trail

The hike to Emory Peak zig-zags up the face of the mountain, and only when you reach the peak do you get the full, 360 view of Big Bend National Park. Trust me, it's gorgeous. You get some pretty amazing views before reaching the peak, too, but you are hiking on the inside of the “horseshoe” loop, so you have the full view of the basin. Start from the carpark, where there is a bathroom and tr...

Backpack to the Southeast Rim of the Chisos

This 14 mile loop provides incredible views of the Chisos mountains. This hike can be done in a day, but to really take in the scenery, stay overnight and experience the incredible cliffs overlooking Mexico. You can add on an extra 2 mile by doing the Emory Peak trail which gets you to the top of a narrow peak. We left the trailhead by the ranger station in the Chisos basin and climbed the Pin...

Hike Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

Details

Description

Download Outbound mobile app

Features

Hike Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Cattail Falls

Hike Oak Spring Trail

Window Trail in Big Bend

Chisos Mountains Loop

Emory Peak via Pinnacles Trail

Backpack to the Southeast Rim of the Chisos

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps