Visitor Area/Center
- Panther Junction Visitor Center
- Exhibits provide an overview to the complex geology, natural and cultural histories that are present at Big Bend. The Panther Path, a self-guided nature trail begins adjacent to the
- Chisos Basin Visitor Center
- Visitor Center exhibits on the peregrine falcon, black bear, and mountain lion provide more information on these species' lives in the Chisos Mountains.
Available Facilities
Big Bend Natural History Association bookstore
- Persimmon Gap Visitor Center
- Exhibits in the Persimmon Gap Visitor Center provide an orientation to the common visitor experience at Big Bend. Learn more about how to prepare for backcountry hiking and camping
- Castolon Visitor Center
- Visitor center exhibits relate the history of the Castolon area from 1901 through 1961 by way of historic photos, written narrative and hands-on items. Additional exhibits can be viewed
- Rio Grande Village Visitor Center
- Learn more about animal life along the Rio Grande; exhibits explore bats and other animals that call the Big Bend home. Find out more about the endangered Big Bend
Campground
- Rio Grande Village RV Campground
- 25 sites. This is the ONLY campground with hookups in the park. It is a concession-operated trailer park, and sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at
- Rio Grande Village Campground
- Set in a large grove of cottonwoods, the campground is adjacent to the Rio Grande. Elevation-1,850 feet.$14 per night ($7 per night for bearers of applicable passes). This 100
- Chisos Basin Campground
- The 60-site Chisos Basin Campground is rugged and hilly. The sites are small and most are not suited to recreational vehicles or trailers. The road to the Basin is
- Cottonwood Campground
- Cottonwood Campground, near the Castolon Historic District, is located near the Rio Grande. The campground has pit toilets and potable water, but no hookups or dump station. The use
Trail
- Ernst Tinaja Trail
- A short walk up a sandy wash leads to a canyon of highly-convoluted rock layers. The large natural tinaja holds water all year long. Be careful near the tinaja's
- Pine Canyon Trail
- This beautiful hike begins at the very end of the Pine Canyon primitive road. A high-clearance vehicle is necessary to reach the trailhead. The trail gradually climbs through open
- Grapevine Hills Trail
- An easy hike up a sandy wash surrounded by massive boulders. After 1 mile the trail ascends to a low saddle at the end of the drainage. Follow the
- Mariscal Canyon Rim Trail
- The drive to the trailhead is long and dusty, but once you begin to hike, the spectacular views of the Rio Grande and superlative cliff walls of Mariscal Canyon
- Boquillas Canyon Trail
- From the parking area at the end of the Boquillas Canyon Road, the trail climbs over a low limestone hill and drops to the banks of the Rio Grande
- Marufo Vega Trail
- For hikers searching for solitude and a longer loop trip, the Marufo Vega trail provides a strenuous but spectacular journey through the rugged limestone of the Dead Horse Mountains
- Ore Terminal Trail
- This strenuous day hike leads through rugged limestone desert following the remains of a 6-mile long ore tramway that once carried ore from the Mexican mines to a large
- Rio Grande Village Nature Trail
- Although a very short and easy trail, the RGV Nature Trail is very scenic and offers fantastic opportunities for wildlife viewing, especially birds. A self-guiding leaflet describes the area's
- The Window View Trail
- This paved trail begins at the Chisos Basin Trailhead area and circles the low hill to the west. Benches are located at a number of placed along the trail.
- The Window Trail
- This trail begins from the Basin Campground near site #52. This trail is unique in Big Bend in that it descends 800 feet from the trailhead for two miles.
- The Lost Mine Trail
- This moderately difficult trail begins at mile marker 5 along the Basin Road. With it's accompanying trail guide (available at the trailhead), this is an excellent introduction to the
- Mule Ears Spring Trail
- This trail starts at the Mule Ears Overlook parking area at milepost 15 on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Always in sight of the prominent "mule ears" peaks, the
- Santa Elena Canyon Trail
- This trail begins at the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Although a short trail, it is one of the grandest spectacles in the park. After crossing Terlingua
- The Chimneys Trail
- A relatively easy hike to a series of prominent volcanic dike formations in the scenic western end of the park. The "chimneys" have always been an important landmark and
- Upper Burro Mesa Pour-off Trail
- An awesome primitive trail that winds through a narrow, rocky gorge to the very top of the Burro Mesa Pouroff. From the trailhead 6.9 miles south on the Ross
- Ward Spring Trail
- A pleasant, rarely-used desert hike leading to a tiny backcountry spring. Enjoy the great desert views and interesting vegetation. The trailhead is along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive at
- Tuff Canyon Trail
- Located along the southern end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, these two landmarks are worthy of in-depth exploration. Tuff Canyon was carved out of soft volcanic tuff (compressed
- Dagger Flat Auto Trail
- Park near the junction of the paved road and the Dagger Flat Auto Trail. This route is fairly flat, with a gentle uphill on the way out. Watch for
- Paint Gap Road
- Park at the junction of the paved road and the Paint Gap Road. The road has a variety of substrates including sand and rocks, and is especially rough near
- Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail
- Located 6 miles east of Panther Junction on the road to Rio Grande Village (Dugout Wells Picnic Area), the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail is a 0.5 mile flat hike.
- Chisos Basin Loop
- Located at the Chisos Basin trailhead within the Chisos Mountains, the Chisos Basin Loop trail climbs 350 ft in elevation. The trail connects the Pinnacles and Laguna Meadow trails.
- Devil's Den
- Explore a dramatic limestone slot canyon in the northern backcountry of Big Bend NP. Begin this hike from the park road 3.5 miles south of the Persimmon Gap visitor
- Dog Canyon Trail
- This medium-difficulty trail offers a glimpse into a narrow canyon cut between massive layers of limestone. Begin this hike from the park road 3.5 miles south of the Persimmon
Scenic
- The Mesa de Anguila
- The mesa forms the right hand (U.S.) side of Santa Elena Canyon. It is a high uplift that extends well into Mexico. This area is for experienced hikers/backpackers only.
- The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
- The thirty-mile Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive leads to the Castolon Historic District and Santa Elena Canyon. Along the way the road showcases some of the historic and geologic features
- Emory Peak Trail
- This is a 9 mile roundtrip hike to the highest point in Big Bend National Park (7,832'). The last 25 feet require a scramble up a sheer rock wall,
- The South Rim Trail
- The South Rim is located at the extreme southern edge of the Chisos Mountains. At the rim, the desert floor lies 2,500 feet below you and vast panoramas of
- The Sam Nail Ranch
- One of the many homesteads that once dotted the Big Bend, the Sam Nail Ranch now provides shade and water for desert wildlife. A windmill still pumps water and
- Blue Creek Ranch Overlook
- This overlooks provides a view of the headquarters of the Homer Wilson Ranch, one of the largest in the region prior to the establishment of the park. A short
- Sotol Vista Overlook
- Located along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Sotol Vista shouldn't be missed! From the viewpoint you are rewarded with unparalleled views of the entire western side of Big Bend
- Burro Mesa Pouroff
- Take the 1.5 mile side road to the base of the colorful cliffs that make up Burro Mesa. A 1/2 mile trail takes you into a hidden box canyon
- Mule Ears Viewpoint
- A beautiful viewpoint along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. From the parking area, the Mule Ears Peaks dominate the view. A 2-mile long trail will take you to a
- Old Maverick Road
- This 13 mile improved dirt road connects Santa Elena Canyon to the Maverick entrance station. While passable to most vehicles most of the time, this road tends to be
Other
- Hot Springs Historic Area Trail
- Big Bend National park is a hiker's paradise containing the largest expanse of roadless public lands in Texas. More than 150 miles of trails offer opportunities for day hikes
- Red Rocks (Blue Creek) Canyon
- A hike up a large canyon, past an old ranching property, to some of the most colorful rock formations in Big Bend National Park. Begin at the Homer Wilson
General Interest
- Dugout Wells
- A picnic area and half mile nature trail are located at this former ranch community site, six miles south of Panther Junction.
Headquarters & Visitor Information
432-477-2251
Weather Information
Historic
- Castolon Historic District
- Established as a cavalry camp in the early Twentieth Century, Castolon later served as the headquarters of the La Harmonia Company. A visitor center and camper store are located
Forest/Natural Area
- Chisos Mountains
- The piñon-oak-juniper woodland found in the higher elevation Chisos Mountains and their foothills attract many species of birds that would not otherwise be found in Big Bend National Park.
