Big Bend is the 15th largest park in the National Parks System. Located in Texas, along the border of Mexico, this park is known for its diverse biology and ecosystems. It comprises desert, mountain, and river ecosystems, so it has abundant flora and fauna. In my opinion, the desert terrain mixed with its lush mountain environment makes this park extremely unique! There is so much to see and do in this national park that there is absolutely no way one short trip could cover it all! We’re excited to one day go back to the park and pick up where we left off.
How to Get There:
- Nearest Airports:
- El Paso (Texas)
- Midland/Odessa (Texas)
- By Car
- From Houston: ~602 mi.
- From Baton Rouge: ~868 mi.
- From Dallas: ~532 mi.
Easy Hiking Trails in Big Bend:
- Boquillas Canyon Trail– 1.2 mi.
- Santa Elena Canyon Trail– 1.3 mi.
- Hot Springs Loop Trail– 1.2 mi.
- Window View Trail– 0.4 mi.
Highlights of the Park for Non-Hikers:
- Boquillas Crossing/ Boquillas del Carmen (see full page on Boquillas, Mexico coming soon)
- Rio Grande Overlook
- Homer Wilson Ranch Overlook
Highlights of the Park for Avid Hikers:
- Emery Peak: ~9.8 mi.
- The Window Trail: ~5.2 mi.
- Lost Mine Trail: ~4.8 mi.
- Hot Springs Canyon Trail: ~5.5 mi.
Outside of the Park:
- Big Bend Ranch State Park- the state park is located right beside the national park and also runs along the Rio Grande. The cost to enter is $5 per adult which can be paid at any of the Visitor Centers. There are plenty of camping options within the state park if you choose not to camp in the national park.
- Lajitas Golf Resort- this resort has a couple of dining options if you stay nearby. Be sure to check closing times for visitors if you are not staying at the resort as a guest. Rates are expensive, but the green fees are lower if you are a guest at the resort. If you are a golfer, I recommend playing a round to check out the unique golf course!
- Terlingua Ghost Town- this town will be one of the only towns with food and amenities near the National Park’s west entrance (Study Butte). Here you will find several restaurant options, however, they can get very busy during the peak season with wait times up to 3 hours!!
- Marfa- is located much further out from the park, but about 30 miles. This town is a small art hub that is known for its art installation, Prada Marfa. If you have some extra time and enjoy art, this may be worth checking out!
Glamping– Our Accommodations:
During our time in Big Bend, we stayed two nights at The Summit. There are many types of accommodations at their property, however, we stayed in a stargazing dome tent and went the glamping route! We absolutely loved it and as far as glamping accommodations go, I have no complaints. This was my second experience with glamping and it was great, I would definitely stay here again if given the chance.
However, the only downside was its location in relation to the park. It is very close to the park entrance and to the state park, but Big Bend is SO LARGE! It was about an hour and a half drive each day to get to any of the sites or trailheads that we actually wanted to go to. So instead of the 18-20 minutes to the entrance of the park, we had to plan for about 1.5 hours. If you are not rushed on your trip and have plenty of time to see the park, I definitely don’t think it would be a huge deal!
As far as the experiences that are comparable to this one, I am not sure that there are closer or better options though. This may be one of the best options for glamping around Big Bend National Park. Our tent and outdoor sitting area were perfect for viewing the stars… when the clouds would let them peak out!
If you are looking for simple accommodations, resort-style, or tent camping there are plenty of options in and around Big Bend. Of course, your preference and what you are comfortable with should determine where you stay.
Other Tips & Advice:
- If you have the option or even plan to rent a vehicle for your trip, I highly recommend something that is 4WD/ AWD with high clearance. This is not necessarily required, but it could allow you into some places that would not be accessible without this type of vehicle. There’s a possibility for it to enhance your trip, so if there is an option I would say bring that vehicle to be safe.
- Some places, such as the complete access to the Hot Springs Historic Area in the park, do not allow vans, RVs, etc… past a certain point, making it more difficult to access such a great area (not impossible, but difficult). If you don’t have to bring drive one, then don’t.
- Check the weather and for washouts. Some roads or trails may become washed out and either difficult to access or inaccessible if it rains. We experienced this with the Santa Elena Canyon Trail. We had read recent comments from All Trails from either a couple of days before or that week which helped inform our decisions. We decided it would be more work that morning than we were up for and decided to do something else before heading back home.
- Check how long it will take to get to each destination/ site in the park you plan to go to. Be prepared for long drives through the park.
