Big Bend Trail & Visitor Guide
Big Bend · United States · 801,163 acres (1,252 sq mi / 3,242 sq km) in Brewster County, southwest Texas
Why Visit Big Bend
Big Bend National Park occupies 801,163 acres of southwestern Texas where the Rio Grande makes a sweeping turn along the Mexican border. The park encompasses three distinct environments: the Chisos Mountains rising to 7,832 feet, the Chihuahuan Desert lowlands, and the deep limestone canyons of the Rio Grande. Its remoteness — the nearest city is over 300 miles away — makes it one of the least visited and most pristine parks in the system.
Free Big Bend Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Big Bend audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Santa Elena Canyon, The Window Trail, Emory Peak, plus quieter spots like Ernst Tinaja and Chisos Basin. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Santa Elena Canyon Trail1.7 mi round trip · Easy to moderate
Walks into a canyon with limestone walls up to 1,500 ft; trail crosses Terlingua Creek (can be muddy or impassable when running) and climbs concrete switchbacks before following the Rio Grande into the canyon.
- Lost Mine Trail4.8 mi round trip · Moderate, ~1,100 ft gain
Climbs in the Chisos Mountains to a ridge overlooking Juniper Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen in Mexico. Trailhead parking is very limited; arrive before 9 a.m.
- Window Trail5.6 mi round trip from Chisos Basin · Moderate; descends ~800 ft on the way out, so the climb is on the return
Ends at the Window pour-off, a V-shaped notch where the Basin drains to the desert floor. The final rock is slick; do not approach the edge.
- South Rim12-14.5 mi round trip · Strenuous, ~2,000 ft gain, full day
Chisos high country to a 2,500-ft cliff edge with views into Mexico. Sections close Feb 1-May 31 for peregrine falcon nesting.
- Hot Springs Historic Trail1 mi round trip · Easy
Reaches the 105°F spring foundation on the Rio Grande, plus historic buildings and pictographs. Access road is narrow gravel, not for RVs or trailers.
Must-See in Big Bend
- •Santa Elena Canyon — a 1.5-mile round trip into a 1,500-foot-deep limestone canyon carved by the Rio Grande
- •The Window Trail — a 5.6-mile round trip descending through the Chisos Basin to a natural window framing the desert below
- •Emory Peak — the highest point in the park at 7,832 feet with a 10.5-mile round trip through pine forest
- •Hot Springs Trail — a 1-mile round trip to natural hot springs on the banks of the Rio Grande
Best Viewpoints
- •Chisos Basin / The Window at sunset
- •Santa Elena Canyon mouth
- •Sotol Vista overlook on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
- •South Rim cliff edge
- •Rio Grande Village Nature Trail overlook
Quieter Corners of Big Bend
- •Ernst Tinaja — a short scramble to a series of deep natural pools in a narrow desert canyon
- •Chisos Basin — a mountain enclave at 5,400 feet with Colima warblers found nowhere else in the US
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$30 per private vehicle, valid 7 days; $25 motorcycle; $15 per person on foot/bike. Annual Big Bend pass $55. America the Beautiful pass $80 accepted. Pay at the Persimmon Gap (north) or Maverick Junction (west) entrance stations or via Recreation.gov.
Getting There
No public transit and no airport in the park. Nearest commercial airports are Midland (MAF) ~235 mi and El Paso (ELP) ~325 mi; both require a rental car. Park HQ at Panther Junction is ~40 mi from the west entrance near Terlingua/Study Butte and ~70 mi south of Marathon on US-385. Fill up gas before entering; the only in-park fuel is at Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village. Distances inside the park are large (30+ mi between major areas).
Where to Stay
Inside the park: Chisos Mountains Lodge (only in-park lodging, 72 rooms, reserve months ahead). NPS campgrounds: Chisos Basin, Rio Grande Village, and Cottonwood (reserve via Recreation.gov). Rio Grande Village RV Park has full hookups. Backcountry permits required for primitive sites and zone camping. Outside the park: Terlingua, Study Butte, and Lajitas to the west; Marathon to the north.
Best Time
November-April for cooler temperatures; spring (March) brings crowds and possible bluebonnet and cactus bloom. Summer is hot at low elevations but the Chisos high country stays 10-20°F cooler.
Safety
Heat and dehydration are the top hazard. Summer desert temperatures regularly exceed 100°F and can reach 110°F+; carry at least one gallon of water per person per day and avoid strenuous low-elevation hikes midday May-September. Cell service is nearly nonexistent. Flash floods can make Terlingua Creek and low crossings impassable. Watch for rattlesnakes; do not feed javelina or bears (store food in vehicle or bear boxes).
Scenic Drives
- •Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive (30 mi, west side, ends at Santa Elena Canyon)
- •Chisos Basin Road (6 mi, steep switchbacks; vehicles over 24 ft and trailers over 20 ft prohibited)
- •Rio Grande Village Drive / Boquillas area on the east side
Start Your Big Bend Park Tour
Get a trail route with narrated stories —
personalized to your interests, ready in seconds
Your personal guide in 5 seconds