Top Things to do in Big Bend National Park
Top 10 Things to do in Big Bend National Park, Big Bend National Park
Huge national park in Texas that spans 801,153-acres filled with limestone canyons, rivers, sand and forests.
1. Chisos Mountains
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 334 reviews
A great spot for the outdoors-lover in Big Bend National Park.
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
Born from volcanic activity more than 35 million years ago, the Chisos Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to the Chihuahuan desert. The Chisos hold two honors: not only are they the southernmost mountain range in the continental US, but they are also the only mountain range to be contained entirely within a National Park. Some of the best hiking trails that get you up close and personal to the Chisos have trailheads that begin in the Chisos Basin near the Chisos Mountains Lodge. Favorites here include the South Rim, Lost Mine, and Window Trails. You can also hike to Emory Peak, the highest point in the Chisos Mountains at 7,825 ft (2,385 m) above sea level. Hiking in the mountains provides a totally different experience than desert or river hikes. Take into consideration the altitude, heat and sun. Always hike with adequate water, at least 2-3 liters. And at sunrise/sunset – look for the alpenglow!
2. Lost Mine Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 322 reviews
Five-miles round-trip, this trail is fairly easy compared with many other hikes in the park.
Reviewed By RhondaA646 - South Portland, United States
We enjoyed every trail we did in Big Bend but this almost 5 mile hike up and back was our favorite. The views are simply spectacular. If I can recommend anything is to get there early. Parking is limited at the trailhead. Also in October, though chilly at 8:00am, you warm up quickly so you will be happy to hike up in the shade. The hike up is primarily switchbacks (which makes it an easier downhill as well) so doable for me at 60. There was not a moment in this hike without great views. Make sure you keep walking across the rocks to get to the very top with amazing vistas. This is a must do in the Park.
3. Santa Elena Canyon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 661 reviews
Borders the western edge of Big Bend National Park.
Reviewed By travelerfromsj - San Jose, United States
This is an easy hike with probably the most bang for the buck of any trail in Big Bend National Park. It’s 1.5 miles out and back with 80 feet of elevation, and it takes you into the canyon along the banks of the Rio Grande river, with 1500 vertical feet of limestone cliffs towering above the trail. The only problem is that to even start this trail you have to first cross Terlingua creek, which connects with the Rio Grande River right after the trail head. You have three options here: 1. Visit Big Bend when there has been little to no rain and the creek is dry. 2. Take off your shoes (or put on water sandals), hike up your pants, and wade across the creek. This is a great option if the creek is low, but when we visited in early November, Terlingua “creek” was about 50 feet wide and maybe 2 ½ feet high. At that point I would call it a river! I only saw one person wade across when we were there. 3. When you reach the creek, turn right and walk down a little ways until the creek turns into a thin stream. Then walk across and look for a steep, narrow little path that goes up the banks of the creek. Climb up this path (it’s about 20 feet up) and then scramble through the rocks and plants at the top until you reach the start of the trail. When I was there, that’s pretty much what every hiker did, including one man who managed it while holding a baby. I’ve posted pictures with this review that show what this unofficial path looks like. Hopefully they’ll build a bridge over the creek at some point, but for now I think the unofficial path is the best bet during the rainy season. This is a great trail with stunning views, and it’s well worth the rather difficult start.
4. The South Rim Loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 99 reviews
This trail gives a great hike with amazing views.
Reviewed By darwinmoore - Spring, United States
You simply can't do better than this. We took Pinnacles up, then Boot Canyon to the South Rim Trail, then Laguna Meadows home. I had read somewhere that you could do the South Rim in just under 9 miles, but I don't see how -- even if you just go out to the edge, look out and return. Our trip was around 14.5 miles, with a fair amount of meandering around the rim when we got there, and about 2500 feet of elevation gain. The bulk of elevation gain is up front on the way up the Pinnacles Trail, although you gain some more on the final approach to the South Rim from Boot Canyon (which itself is also unexpectedly lush and gorgeous). The views at the rim are fabulous, Grand-Canyon-esque type vista views. You earn this one, and you'll be proud you did.
5. El Camino Del Rio
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By GroverR - Pensacola, United States
We saw 5 national parks and 2 national monuments and they have some amazing scenic drives, but this is the best drive we did in West Texas, New Mexico or Arizona. First you have the open Chihuahuan desert, then great mountains and rolling hills and finally a river in the desert that is also an international border. All of that adds up to an incredibly, beautiful drive. To throw in on top of that you have the goat Clay Henry, the unofficial Mayor of Lajitas and teepee picnic tables along the river. The road is uncharacteristic of every other road in West Texas as it has dozens of curves, moving with the river. Finally it is the river that can be viewed so many times for this road that adds to the charm and experience. You constantly remind yourself that everything you see on the other side is another country.
6. The Window Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 320 reviews
From the road, this spot offers a spectacular view into the canyon below.
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
Our group started the Window Trail around 8:30 am, departing from the Chisos Basin Trailhead near the Lodge. It is a gentle downhill grade all the way through the Chisos Basin. Bring your sticks if you normally hike with them. The trail gets rockier and more interesting as you move into the upper portion of the Oak Creek Canyon with its colorful rock formations. As you approach The Window, there is some scrambling as well as a series of smooth stone steps. The creek bed was dry, however. The payoff: the up-close Window view! Just don’t get too close to the edge because the pour-off is slick rocks and there are no railings. The Window was one of my favorite Big Bend hikes. Instead of returning to the Lodge, we took the Oak Spring Trail down and then continued to the Cattail Falls and finally hiked out to Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive where our van was parked. I doubt I could have hiked uphill all the way back to the Lodge without having a heatstroke! Take into consideration the afternoon heat and sun when planning your hikes and bring adequate water. There is little shade in the desert.
7. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 301 reviews
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
Cutting through the heart of Big Bend National Park, this 30-mile drive on a well-paved road snakes up, down, and around the western slopes of the Chisos Mountains and through the Chihuahuan Desert. There are several places to pull over and stretch your legs, including Sotol Vista Overlook, the Castolon Historic District, and several trailheads. And saving the best for last where the blacktop ends: the spectacular Santa Elena Canyon.
8. The Balanced Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
Reviewed By BestTravelsNow - Hereford, United States
Springtime visit resulted in amazing blooms and colors on the drive to the trail head. The trail itself is easy to slight challenge towards the end. Amazing colors all along the trail. Lots of lizards. Very much enjoyed the trail
9. Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By los499 - Arlington, United States
My family and I journeyed across the border and into Mexico the week of Christmas. It was a wonderful, safe, and positive experience. We got up early, remembered to pack our passports and headed to the crossing. There was a park ranger there who gave brief instructions on what items we could and could not bring back with us upon our return. The river was quite high, and I must say, the rowmen did a fabulous job of keeping everyone safe and dry! To cross the river by boat is $5/person. We had a group of nine. Some preferred to walk to the town of Boquillas on foot (it's about half a mile, mostly sandy terrain); while a group of us journeyed by horse (which was $8/person). (Some advice on the horses- I would not choose this option if you have no experience with horseback riding and are in a large group. Some of the horses were a little wily and would start off to gait, which might be frightening if you don't know what you're doing. And there is one guide per group, so for example, one man to wrangle the five horses in our group wasn't really enough when one horse starts to gait with a child on it's back! Fortunately for us, my husband rode up and was able to help). A third option and slightly less expensive would be a burro for $5/person. The fee is round trip, so you only pay once. Each group was assigned a Mexican national who in essence became our tour guide. Each of the men were bright, spoken enough English to communicate well with the non-Spanish speakers in our group, friendly, and welcoming. The town itself is very small. It's lined with kiosks where local women and children sell works of art like embroidery, wire sculptures, and other tchotchkes. Note the importance of making purchases IN Boquillas as opposed to the illegal set ups placed along hiking trails (if you purchase something illegally, you are responsible for having illicit items which haven't gone through customs...purchasing on trails also encourages people to break the law, crossing over illegally). We had lunch at the restaurant which was lively with music and a beautiful overlook of the Rio Grande. One of the guides actually invited us into his home, which while probably unconventional, was really quite interesting to meet his family and see how they live (especially for the kids). It felt entirely safe the whole time we were there. I would go again and I would definitely recommend this journey for adventurous travelers! It's a great way to get a taste of Mexico! Plan to spend a few hours if you eat and look/walk around. On the return to the US, the kids really enjoyed the process of going through customs. A state park ranger will go through your bags and inspect everything you're bringing back. Then, each person or group uses a kiosk with a phone to ring a border patrol agent in El Paso. You have to scan in your passport, and answer a few questions, before being allowed to leave the building. There are only two kiosks available and one was closed for maintenance the day we passed through, so the wait time seemed long (about an hour).
10. Hot Springs Historic District
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 157 reviews
These hot springs were the first area of the National Park to be inhabited by homesteaders in 1909.
Reviewed By los499 - Arlington, United States
Wow. This was one of our favorite treks at Big Bend NP. The road to the hike is rocky and somewhat treacherous, but completely doable without 4x4 (for example, we drive a mini van and were fine!). If you drive a RV, you have to park and hike a little further in (I'd recommend getting a trail map because there is a shortcut which avoids the narrow road with traffic- probably safer). At the parking area are some ruins atop a set of stairs. There are some lovely views from up there. Then, to get to the hot springs, take a short hike through sandy terrain. (The hike was so easy most of us took our shoes off and walked barefoot). Sandals or even flipflops would be fine for this one. Careful along the rocky cliff sides...my daughter got quite the surprise when a roadrunner came out from between the rocks and landed right in front of her! The hot spring comes up at 105 degrees, however the outter edges of the "tub" are slightly cooler. We saw people doing the "polar bear plunge", jumping from the hot springs, into the river and back again. Be prepared to get all the way in if you go; there aren't a lot of dry clean places to sit along the edge. It gets quite muddy from people entering and exiting from all sides of the tub. The bottom surface is sandy, most people were barefoot, though you could wear water shoes (or flip flops). Parts of the hot spring were knee deep and others waist or even chest deep (depending on your height). There is nowhere nearby to change clothes so I would recommend coming in a swimsuit and wearing clothing over (or even a cover up). (Some people were comfortable going in their underwear). Bring a towel, sunglasses, and maybe a hat and enjoy! This was definitely my favorite of everything we did at the park. If you're brave enough to peak the Chisos mountains, get up early and do that THEN relax your whole body here at sunset or late afternoon! Your body will love you!
