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Big Bend National Park
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:01 am
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:01 am
Anyone on here spent time there? Recommended?
Have some time off and thinking about driving from NOLA later this month. Anywhere decent to camp on the way to break up the drive into two days?
Have some time off and thinking about driving from NOLA later this month. Anywhere decent to camp on the way to break up the drive into two days?
16
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:02 am to zacata88
quote:
Big Bend National Park
I've heard it gets kind of rapey at night. Be on the lookout for this guy:
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:05 am to zacata88
I have been and really enjoyed it. The best two hikes are The Window and Ernst Tenaja. The restaurant on site is not bad, and there is a decent hotel within the park. Stop in San Antonio overnight to break the drive in half.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:09 am to Trout34
Camped there about 20 years ago. There was a place where you could get the local Mexicans to 'smuggle' you in a small boat across the Rio Grande for $2 each way into a poor Mexican village where you could get crafts made and drink $1 coronas. It was pretty freaking cool.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:09 am to zacata88
I enjoyed it. Its great for birdwatching. I stayed in the Cottonwood? campground IIRC. Its on the river and I was the only one there the whole time in late summer. At night there were hundreds of humming birds flying around. Also saw a family of javelina. You will be searched leaving the park though so don't bring any Mexicans or drugs back.
This post was edited on 5/5/15 at 9:11 am
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:13 am to zacata88
Been there several times and it's awesome. Always did primitive camping along the river so I have no idea about the other types of lodging. Tons of great hikes. Crossing the river to Boquillas is a fun adventure.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:21 am to Vandyrone
On my list....trying to go later this year
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:25 am to zacata88
Google "2014 dec Texas big bend trip"
An offroad group did a big trip this past December, lots of good info on this thread
An offroad group did a big trip this past December, lots of good info on this thread
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:39 am to zacata88
Big Bend is an enormous park and you can have many different types of trips.
There are areas with roads, campgrounds, amenities, food, etc. for those that are trying to have a regular/family friendly camping trip.
Or, you can paddle the river from La Linda, Mexico and hit the rapids until you reach Dryden, TX. It is literally wild country out there with no development whatsoever. The only things you will see are old candeleria spots where pioneers used to harvest plants for their oil and wax. I would not recommend taking small kids out there, as any injury will not be addressed until you make your way downriver and back to civilization. I would also recommend a satellite phone and a gun, which I would hide on the U.S. side of the river at nights.
There are areas with roads, campgrounds, amenities, food, etc. for those that are trying to have a regular/family friendly camping trip.
Or, you can paddle the river from La Linda, Mexico and hit the rapids until you reach Dryden, TX. It is literally wild country out there with no development whatsoever. The only things you will see are old candeleria spots where pioneers used to harvest plants for their oil and wax. I would not recommend taking small kids out there, as any injury will not be addressed until you make your way downriver and back to civilization. I would also recommend a satellite phone and a gun, which I would hide on the U.S. side of the river at nights.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:52 am to zacata88
I've been it's worth doing once. At night, I'd recommend heading north to Fort Davis to go to the observatory there. It was badass
Posted on 5/5/15 at 10:05 am to supadave3
quote:
There was a place where you could get the local Mexicans to 'smuggle' you in a small boat across the Rio Grande for $2 each way into a poor Mexican village where you could get crafts made and drink $1 coronas. It was pretty freaking cool.
It's an official border crossing now. And the agents have sticks up their butts; it was a lot more fun when it wasn't legal.
For camping stay in the Basin campground. It's got some elevation so it's a lot cooler than along the river. Lots of deer, several black bears at the campground; and a mountain lion was seen the day before we got there. I really enjoy camping there but I'd avoid it in the summer months. May is getting borderline. We did it in June once and it was pretty hot, even at the Basin. Along the Rio Grande it was well over 100 in June.
Awesome night sky, very low humidity and less light pollution than anywhere else in the lower 48. You can see why the Milky Way got its name.
Definitely need to stop and see Terlingua too. The Starlight Theater there is one of my favorite places to eat in the world.
For the drive San Antonio is about half way. It's two long days, though. When I've been there it's been on long road trips or I flew into San Antonio.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 10:17 am to zacata88
I was there last week on a day trip from our camp at Ft. Davis. I wish we had camped at Big Bend - Chisos Basin campground was nice. I had camped there about 40 years ago and it has changed a lot since then - but is still quite nice.
The geography around there reminds me of Black Hills, SD.
It's pretty hot there in summer months.
The geography around there reminds me of Black Hills, SD.
It's pretty hot there in summer months.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 10:24 am to zacata88
I've been three times, it is one of the gems in the National Park system IMHO. Also visit Fort Davis if you can to see the telescope, also go through Marfa in the early evening to see the Marfa lights.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 10:52 am to zacata88
I was there in January, had a great time. We rented a house in Lajitas. We did some hiking, not a ton, because of time restraints. The mayor of Lajitas is a goat, so visit the thirsty goat saloon, and also a must do is the Starlite bar and grill. Take Hwy 90, more to see, like Judge Roy Bean's place in Langtry. The speed limit is 75 on hwy 90, and while there are a few small towns to go through, you won't lose any time. Also, get supplies in Alpine, there isn't much to get down in the BB area, just bare necessities. Hope this helps. 
Posted on 5/5/15 at 11:12 am to zacata88
Went there over spring break, had a blast. Also highly recommend the Chinos Basin Campground, really cool spot up in the mountains
Also, whenever you get out of the car after driving for six plus hours, it will all be super quiet and kinda creepy. But you adjust quickly haha
Also, whenever you get out of the car after driving for six plus hours, it will all be super quiet and kinda creepy. But you adjust quickly haha
Posted on 5/5/15 at 11:25 am to Vandyrone
I want to backpack there with my son but don't know what this entails at this park...I don't really want to see other people while I am there.
From what I have read, you can camp out in the backcountry areas, but have to be a certain number of yards from the road.
Anyone have suggestions on best places to backpack and set up camp?
From what I have read, you can camp out in the backcountry areas, but have to be a certain number of yards from the road.
Anyone have suggestions on best places to backpack and set up camp?
Posted on 5/5/15 at 11:33 am to Chicken
Seems like it would be super hot already. They do a fun motorcycle gathering there around Christmas/New Years. Great park for two wheel travel.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 11:37 am to Dam Guide
We made the mistake of going in June-July for a family trip. I have never experienced heat like that in my life. Beautiful area but do NOT go during summer.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:12 pm to dragginass
It gets pretty hot on the desert floor. Would recommend staying in the chisos basin in the summer.
We went in February for 2 days of backcountry hiking... down from the chisos, across the bottom of the south rim, and then back up to the car. We had ice fog and frost on everything in the mornings and heat in the afternoons. Most of the time it was just us and the expansive desert and mountains. Saw a handful of other hikers.
Big Bend is an amazing place.
We went in February for 2 days of backcountry hiking... down from the chisos, across the bottom of the south rim, and then back up to the car. We had ice fog and frost on everything in the mornings and heat in the afternoons. Most of the time it was just us and the expansive desert and mountains. Saw a handful of other hikers.
Big Bend is an amazing place.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:33 pm to zacata88
It's cool. Depending on when you go it can get extremely hot. Know a grad student died 1/4 mile from his vehicle about 2 years ago doing thesis work out there.
Just be prepared for multiple types of climate. It can be dry and cold and wet and hot in one day.
Just be prepared for multiple types of climate. It can be dry and cold and wet and hot in one day.
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