re: big bend in two weeks- review page 2

Take Zappas advice. I think FM 2810 to Pinto Canyon Road is well worth the extra time. You said solitude, Pinto Canyon will give you that for sure. In Alpine, as of now Harrys is closed. Old Gringo is open for food and drinks. Ole Crystal Bar is open with limited hours but the Tacos AB trailer is there. Everthing is hit and miss with hours right now.
Ole Crystal Bar Old Gringo
Creekside
Spicewood
Tri la bite Food Truck

ETA to add popular food truck

Yes still here when I see Big Bend topics and have anything to add.

Chinati is amazing! I love that place. Have a great time!

Is it crazy busy the week before thanksgiving?

Weather sounds perfect. Might just have to put up with a few people.

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Might just have to put up with a few people.

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It's usually near impossible to find accommodations this late for thanksgiving week. May be easier this year though.

Went in June, and the hot springs were closed. However, after we did the South Rim Loop, we went to the Boquillas Canyon and just soaked in the river there which was nice. Also have the Santa Elena Canyon on the other side of the park which is very similar. Pretty short hikes to get to the water. All the Chisos Basin trails are great. After South Rim, the window was my favorite

alpine also a very cool place.
Lefty you are lucky to be able to live here

trip review:

i'm not going to post a bunch of pix (everyone knows what big bend looks like, plus the pix disappear after a while), this will be more "news you can use" if planning a trip out there. it was wonderful

easy flights MSY/ELP on southwest, no issues. rented a jeep wrangler 4 door at ELP and hit the road after picking up our hiking gear at the UPS store.

day 1: ELP to marfa.
stayed at the lincoln hotel, highest recommendation.
most F&B places were closed, we drank and ate at the lone horse for dinner, then at the waterstop for lunch, both excellent. marfa is OK, not really my thing.

day 2: marfa to chinati hot springs
drove the pinto canyon road to chinati. do not pass an opportunity to stay here, it was a trip highlight. bring ice and groceries, theres a huge communal kitchen with everything you need. great hiking around the resort, and of course the hot spring. very laid back, very much my scene.

day 3: chinati to terlingua
thru ruidosa and presidio on the river road, and thru BBR state park. Beautiful drive, presidio is a cool place. make sure to stop at fort leaton it will blow your mind. my first look at the rio grande. stayed in an off-grid cabin in study butte (everything was booked after we got booted from the park lodge), do not recommend this place but i wont trash it (water ran out, it was a shite hole but the views were incredible). tons of great places to stay in the area though. dinner and plenty of beers at the starlight theater, great meal and a really good time. terlingua/study butte is no frills unless you have a luxury place to stay. great place to visit and cut up though.

day 4: big bend
we got to the trailhead at chisos lodge about 930AM and hit the trail. packs were 38#'s and 25#s respectively, mostly water. we each packed (3) 2.5L water bladders, which turned out to be exactly enough. to do the loop we took pinnacles trail up, not gonna lie it was strenuous especially with a pack. we took a long break at emory then toughed it out to the south rim, got to SR4 campsite about 4PM. that was as far as i wanted to go anyway, we were spent. recommend this campsite, shaded, almost exactly halfway, very close to the vault toilet and a short walk to the rim.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Alpine really is great little town. Friendly we are out here in Alpine. I agree with you on Marfa, not my thing either.