Who here has been backpacking in Big Bend National Park?

I've been to Big Bend and it is great. The Basin is crowded as is the main campground on the river, but that place is huge. It has pretty much every kind of ecosystem on earth. If you are a self-reliant outdoors person, you can get real remote and alone, and see a real night sky.

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yes, but you can also get away form the crowds

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I assume that if you backback the backcountry, you will be away from the crowds...here is a page I found on backpacking at Big Bend:

LINK

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Chisos Mountains Backcountry Campsites
Backpackers in the Chisos Mountains can choose from forty-two designated campsites.

Outer Mountain Loop, Mesa de Anguila, and Marufo Vega Trail
The most remote areas of Big Bend National Park are best left to experienced backpackers. Each year, park rangers respond to desert emergencies when hikers are not prepared for the heat and extreme conditions of the desert.

Due to the complex topography and vague trails, detailed 7.5 minute topographical maps and a compass are necessary for most hikes.

Outer Mountain Loop
Mesa de Anguila
Marufo Vega Trail

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If you stay on trails for multiple days at a time, how easy is getting water

I'd be going late May

Planning something for that time period. This place is an option

Chicken, that is a repeated question in this thread. Please read more diligently.....

Loaded up from faucets at the campground to start. I left w/ 15(+) lbs of fluid in my pack. 4 one liter bottles and a 3 liter Platypus. Found a good water source the first afternoon/evening in the mountains. Filled up then, and again in the morning. Down into the desert on Day 2 and couldn't find a drop (but started the day w/ 7 liters) Picked up my cache (3-1/2gal) mid-morning of the next day (Day 3), and spent a second night in the desert. Back into the mountains on Day 4 and was out of water by the time I climbed up. Found water that night, hiked out Day 5.

I can't emphasize how much the low humidity dries you out. (Or me at least!) I was drinking btwn 1-1/2 and 2 gallons of fluid a day, of which about 40 or 50% was Gatorade mix, and was still feeling dehydrated at times. I think the total loop was only like 31 or 33 miles, with about 3,500-4,000' of elevation loss and gain. It wasn't like I was hiking 20 miles a day, but the climate sucks it out of you. No shade to be found in the desert and a spot to put a tent was hard to come by. Sticky things everywhere!

That having been said, it's a beautiful place and you should check it out. I've never seen a night sky like I did in Big Bend (with the possible exception of Alaska). Just plan carefully and you'll be fine.

There is no water in most of the park. If you have a four wheel jeep you can jeep camp in some of the remote grassland/dessert, and haul all of the water you will need plus at least 10 or more extra gallons in case you break down. When we hiked and overnight camped in the back country areas, we carried all of the water we would need. There were no reliable sources of water in the back country. I used a 5 liter franzia wine bladder filled with water in my backpack and always had enough for myself on the overnights. We alternated back country camping and our base camp at the river and loved it. We did not do an extended back country packing trip.

i don't have a ton of personal experience i can share with you, but i can tell you that big bend is the least visited national park in the lower 48, due to its location. i have come across several that have been there and have never heard an unkind word about it. if you plan on doing any back country camping, you will need to secure a permit.

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if you plan on doing any back country camping, you will need to secure a permit.

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yeah, looks like you need to secure a permit within 24 hours of your trip...and you can only do it in person.