First time OR Big Bend?

As posted earlier, new here! I have a '23 sr5 with the TRD off road package and was looking for yalls insight on what I should feel comfortable with doing in it. Looking at getting into some easy trails at Big Bend - any recommendations for trails/campsites/etc would be appreciated. Hoping to plan a weekend trip with some hiking too next spring. Honestly not sure how to plan OR trips, always wanted to get into it and now learning how i suppose

 

Been to Big Bend(BBNP) many times, it is my favorite NP. It feels so vast and you really can feel like you have it yourself at times.

1.Old Maverick immediately on the right after you enter from the west entrance. Great views and about 12ish miles until you get to Santa Elena Canyon where you can do about 1.5 miles into the Canyon on Foot for some spectacular views and a break from the last hour of rutted washboard road. You can also do a Boomerang trip into the canyon with kayak/canoe, but you need to get a permit first or be with a guide. Makes for a very cool day.

If you need a break in between Lunas Jacal is about midway between the park entrance and Santa Elena Canyon.

You can go back the way you came, or if you want to leave on Pavement after that, you can then take Ross Maxwell out. It is one the best drives in the NPS system, great stops all the way back to Panther Junction (center of park).

2. Grapevine Springs off of Panther Junction/Gano Springs near the Panther Junction visitor center is another good rutted road/trail to to do its about 6.5 miles out and back to the balanced Rock Trailhead, gets just a little sketchy last 1/2 mile. From there, you can hike about 1 mile out and 1 back to balanced rock. This has some spectacular views, and the last 1/4 mile is fairly uphill and requires some modest rock scramble ability. Another great way to spend a day.

The back trails/roads at Big Bend are really for a more sophisticated offroader, think Rubicon and up.

3. I would stop in at the Visitor Center on FM170 for Big Bend Ranch State Park(BBRSP). It is about 40% the size of Big Bend and some trails that are magnificent. Let the Rangers know your vehicle and they will do you right for recommendations. This is also where I would camp if you want some seclusion. It's about 15 minutes from Big Bend Ranch State Park to Big Bend National Park. In between is the town of Lajitas and the Terlingua Study Butte are. Terlingua ghost town is fantastic. I'm not as big of a fan of Starlight Theatre as some of the other area restaurants, but it is worth checking out. If you want to be closer to the park and near Cottonwood Grocery (the only one for 80 miles), Road Runner RV park right on FM170 has some tent/truck camper sites. Very nice place with Bee Mountain in the background, just a cool place to be.

4. Do not miss the drive on FM170 through BBRSP. A few years ago BBNP only averaged about 350k visitors per year, now it's closing in on 500k. Still feels so empty at times it's wonderful. BBRSP only gets about 10% that number and it is bigger than all the 90(+) other Texas state parks combined. My opinion I would say the only drives in America that Compete with FM170 through BBRSP are Going to the Sun Road, Utah 12, Teton Scenic Highway and Beartooth/Chief Joseph Highway. I would rank this higher than any portion of Blue Ridge/Skyline, better than PCH/Big Sur.

It's a different atmosphere down there, literally and figuratively. Oh yeah, and if you have a passport and are there during border crossing days, I think that Wednesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm this time of year, the border crossing right in the national park to the town of Boquilles del Carmen is a must do for lunch. One of my favorite areas of the country, our young adult kids keep wanting my wife and I to get a place in Terlingua. We would, but just worry going there too often would ruin it for us. Once every year or two seems perfect.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

Thank you so much for this, definitely a ton of great info.

 

Agree w/ @szabo101, it’s one of my favorite national parks as well. I’ve always enjoyed west Texas from the college summers I spent working in the oil patch.

I went to the Chisos Basin area on Memorial Day weekend 2017, campgrounds were full so I just slept in the bed of the truck in the parking lot. I’m glad I did because the basin was a good 15-20 degrees cooler than the surrounding desert. I would recommend it for that but it’s likely the most popular/crowded area in the park.

 

I just went in September and will go again in January. I drive a 23 Limited TRD OR with a heavy back end. I drove Old Maverick to Ran River Rd one day and Old Ore Rd the next day without a problem, other than a minor dent in the factory running board on Old Ore. It's quickly becoming a favorite destination.

Camping can be challenging. Backroad camps are first come in the park, first served, and the campsites fill up quickly. I stay on a friend's property outside Terlingua, but there are many Hipcamps, etc.

Also, go before May if you want to see the Chisos Basin, the lodge, the visitor center, and hikes. The Bassin area will be closed for up to 2 years for various construction projects.

 

Be sure to make visit to Boquillas!! I haven’t been back to Boquillas since my family left there (pre 9-11), but it is still about the same, just need a passport now. From what I know, it’s a little more “touristy” now, and I believe they finally got some electrical service. I miss the Park Bar. Many good times there with cold Carta Blanca out of a propane cooler and a shot of warm mezcal.

 

Ugh, that’s a bummer about the Basin. There are some awesome hikes up there, and the best wildlife diversity in the park. When I first started working at the Basin store I had to stay in a CCC cabin (oh the horror) until I could get into the housing at PJ. My most memorable hike was from Boquillas to Boquillas Canyon. I would highly discourage that now, especially if the “locals” aren’t familiar with you. Nothing beats the Federales rolling up on you in a HMMWV in some arroyo in the middle of nowhere..

 

Black Gap Road FTW

 

I second this as long as you're ok with pinstriping your truck. My last one was wrapped, so I didn't care. I'm not quite ready to take my new Tundra through that. Watching this thread for Post #2 next time I'm in BBNP.

 

I pinstriped mine on Old Ore and River. That's just the nature of dessert/West Texas off-roading