Big Bend National Park, Texas
Top Spots in and near Big Bend National Park
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Big Bend National Park, Texas
Hike the Outer Mountain Loop
32 mi / 5000 ft gainThe Outer Mountain Loop is a 3-day hike in Big Bend National Park. It traditionally starts at the trailhead in the Chisos Basin, leaving the Lodge area by way of the Pinnacles Trail. You then follow the Boot Canyon Trail to the Juniper Canyon Trail, which leads out of the Chisos Mountains to the ...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Hike South Rim Trail Boot Springs Trail
11 mi / 2 ft gainEmory Peak via South Rim Trail and Boot Springs Trail is a 14.9 mile loop hike where you may see beautiful wild flowers located near Big Bend National Park, TX.Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Backpack to the Southeast Rim of the Chisos
14 mi / 1600 ft gainThis 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 o...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Emory Peak via Pinnacles Trail
4.89.44 mi / 2401 ft gainThe 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” loo...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Camp at Nugent Mountain
Nugent Mountain is a very handsome butte and Big Bend is a great place to go get some splendid desert solitude and recharge your good vibes. This campsite, NM1, is the perfect spot to relax and get a great practice in.NM1 is one of the park's many backcountry, car camp sites. You will need to get...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Hike the Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend NP
4.34.5 mi / 1130 ft gainIf you are looking for expansive views of the Chisos Basin in Big Bend NP, the Lost Mine and South Rim Trails are MUST do's! The South Rim Trail is a much longer 12+ mile hike (best views in park) which some will overnight or experience in a full day trek. If you do not have time for the South ...Read more -
29.270483,-103.301669
Catch a Sunset on the Window View Trail
0.3 miIf you're staying at Chisos Basin, the sunset at Window View Trail is one to see. The Window View Trail is a paved, wheelchair-accessible, 0.3 mile loop that starts near the Chisos Basin Store and leads to a viewpoint. The viewpoint provides an excellent view of the desert floor framed by the Ch...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Chisos Mountains Loop
5.015.3 mi / 3737 ft gainMost 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 ...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Window Trail in Big Bend
4.64.21 mi / 500 ft gainThe 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 ...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Hike Oak Spring Trail
5.07.4 mi / 1 ft gainOak Spring Trail is a 4.3 mile out and back hike where you may see beautiful wild flowers located near Big Bend National Park, TX.Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Cattail Falls
5.03.0 mi / 360 ft gainHead 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 ...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Hike to the Boquillas Hot Springs
5.01 mi / 0 ft gainThe Boquillas Hot Springs are the most famous of geothermal hot springs along the big bend of the Rio Grande River. The springs were originally built into a bathhouse by J.O. Langford in the 1900s and while only remnants of the building remain it's still a perfect place to soak after a day of hik...Read more -
Alpine, Texas
Hike Ore Terminal Trail
4 miBefore I describe this trail, what season are you hiking? If summer, stop reading now and find another hike. Not summer? Okay, great, let's get started. Do not take inexperienced hikers on this trail, particularly in hotter weather. While it's only 8 miles total (4 out, 4 back), it's constantly ...Read more -
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Hike Balance Rock
3.02 mi / 75 ft gainA simple, quiet drive down a dirt road (Grapevine Spring) leads you through desolate landscape until a parking lot sprouts up to your right. From here you can see that a stretch of land sandwiched in a little valley where the trail heads directly east. The trail is easy to follow, just keep yo...Read more -
Alpine, Texas
Hike Boquillas Canyon in Big Bend
3.51.2 mi / 229 ft gainBoquillas Canyon is one of the longest and most beautiful canyons Big Bend has to offer. To get here you will head towards Rio Grande Village from the park's headquarters at Panther Junction. If desired, you can stop at the store in Rio Grande Village to pick up some snacks and beverages before y...Read more -
Terlingua, Texas
Boomerang Float in Santa Elena Canyon
5.0With a small group of people, canoes and kayaks, and one vehicle the boomerang trip (paddling against the current, then floating back downstream) up Santa Elena Canyon is the best option for floating the prettiest section of the Rio Grande while simultaneously avoiding pesky outfitters and the he...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Chisos Basin Group Campground
Overview
Chisos Basin Group Campground, situated high in the rugged Chisos Mountains, is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Big ...
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Chisos Basin (Big Bend)
Overview
Chisos Basin Campground, perched high in the rugged Chisos Mountains, is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Big Bend Na...
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Cottonwood (Tx)
Overview
Cottonwood Campground is a quiet desert oasis in the southwestern corner of Big Bend National Park. Conveniently located between...
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Rio Grande Village (Big Bend)
Overview
The Rio Grande Village Campground sits on the banks of the Rio Grande, the International Boundary between the United States and ...
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Rio Grande Village Group Campground
Overview
The Rio Grande Village Group Campground sits on the banks of the Rio Grande, the International Boundary between the United State...