Big Bend National Park - Anyone been?

I have wanted to go there for some time. It's been hard going getting any of my friends to commit to hiking the backcountry so close to the border.

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Have week off in early October and was thinking about running out there for a few days to get some photos. Anyone been out there? How was it?

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Rode through there back about 15 years ago. We didn't have a lot of time to take it all in though and I've always wanted to go back.

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early October

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better head up into the Chisos, it's gonna be hot in the desert

Canyon Rim trail is worth the trip

It's one of my favorite places in the world. Don't worry about being close to the mexican border. There is nothing on there side. The little village you can see rio grande campground is 14 hours from anywhere in Mexico. There not kidnapping anybody around there.

Camp in the chiso's mountains, it's wonderful and always 20 to 30 degrees colder then The desert floor. It can be windy and cold up there so be prepared.

Enjoy one of the best nighttime sky views in North America. You'll be amazed at the amount of stars. You'll see plenty of wildlife including bears. If the park service says a road is shut down or four wheel drive only then listen to them. You don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere out there. The photos that can be taken there are amazing

Do as many hikes as you can. I prefer the chiso mountain stuff but there are plenty other good hikes in the desert. I go to big bend as many times as I can and you won't find a better place in North America to feel like you are in the absolute middle of nowhere.

One of my favorite things is to set up a return car ride from rio grande village, start at the park headquarters and bicycle 30 miles down hill.

Last thing, understand that you are in the middle of now where and go prepared. There are a few little shops around terlingua, but by your food in one of the city's before you get to big bend and use the bear boxes in the chiso's. They are all around there.

Bring water and hike responsibly. People have died from overhearing there.

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in the absolute middle of nowhere.

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Yeah, it's a great place. The night sky is incredible, they say that it has the least "light pollution" in the country and the humidity is very low so the milky way can be stunning.

As others have said plan to camp up at the Chisos Basin campground in October and the hikes in the high country are the most interesting and coolest. Still, get down to the Rio Grande and take a dip in the hot spring next to the river (ask a ranger where it is but I think it's on the map).

Surprising amount of wildlife up high. There were black bears (crossed over from Mexico) around the campground and plenty of deer. There were a couple of mountain lion sightings by the lodge while we were there last time.

It's a different world and well worth the trip.

BTW, they opened the border crossing last spring so if you want you can hire a local to take you across the river for a beer in Mexico (have your passport). At times the river is so low it's really not that hard to walk across at places. Very few illegals cross though since there are only a couple of roads out and the border patrol checks everyone on them. It's far easier to cross into the US at other places on the border. Actually, Mexicans will cross at a couple of points and leave crappy art that you can buy with some money in a can. They watch from the other side of the river with binoculars. The National Park Service emphasizes how illegal it is to buy the stuff so of course I've got a wire scorpion on my desk now from the last trip.

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The ride getting there is half the fun.

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Yeah, but only so much riding you can do on that bike of yours, DS bikes open up a whole new world in Big Bend.