🥾 Santa Elena Canyon (1.7 miles, 213 feet elev. gain): The Santa Elena Canyon is the park’s most iconic feature, and you’d be remiss to skip it. The trail is impassable when Terlingua Creek floods, unless you’re brave enough to cross the muddy water with a long stick as your guide.
🥾 South Rim w/ Emory Peak (15.2 miles, 3,185 feet elev. gain): This all-day or multi-day hike is incredibly rewarding for those with the endurance and motivation. This hike combines the best parts of several shorter trails in the Chisos Mountains area, including Laguna Meadow, Boot Canyon, Pinnacles, and Emory Peak. Check out this map to study the trail layout in the Chisos Mountains.
🥾 Lost Mine (4.8 miles, 1,131 feet elev. gain): This out-and-back trail is a great introduction to the Chisos Mountains area of Big Bend and provides some great views of the area.
🥾 Grapevine Hills Trail to Balanced Rock (2.2 miles, 246 feet elev. gain): This relatively short trail takes hikers to an iconic feature of the park: Balanced Rock. NPS recommends not attempting to reach this trail with a standard 2WD passenger vehicle or large vehicle (e.g., RV), but instead with a high-clearance AWD vehicle.

🏙️ Boquillas, Mexico: In non-COVID times, visiting Boquillas from the Rio Grande Village area is an experience that makes visits to the park especially memorable. Don’t forget your passport.
🦖 Fossil Discovery Exhibit: This award-winning exhibit takes visitors through the geological history of the park, enhanced by real and replica fossils of species that once roamed the area.
🚗 Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive: This beautiful drive takes you to the Santa Elena Canyon. Have your passenger keep their camera ready.
🚣‍♂️ Float the Rio Grande: While I have not personally done this, I’d certainly consider a kayak, canoe, or rafting trip next time I visit. Visit the info page on the subject to learn more.
⛺ Camping: The park houses several campgrounds, but I recommend the Chisos Basin Campground due to its central location in the park. Book campsites in advance, especially during peak season. Other options include Cottonwood Campground and Rio Grande Village Campground.
🔭 Stargazing: Big Bend is one of the most remote spots in the contiguous 48 states. So, it has almost zero light pollution and is an International Dark Sky Park.

🏞️ Big Bend Ranch State Park: Located about 20 miles west of Big Bend National Park, this desert park provides some spectacular views and interesting hikes.
🚗 The River Road: FM170 through Big Bend Ranch State Park is known as “The River Road,” and is one of the most scenic drives in the country. Beautiful views of the Rio Grande and surrounding terrain will make your jaw drop. Closed Canyon Trail (1.4 miles) and Hoodoos and Balanced Rocks Trail (1.2 miles) are short, fun hikes that are easy to access from the road. Consider doing this drive early in the morning, when light from the sunrise creates dramatic shadows and colors.

📅 When to Visit: Big Bend’s weather is the most mild from November through April, and therefore sees the most visitors during this time. If you visit during this popular time window, plan in advance. Big Bend has had a large uptick in visitors in recent years, so during peak season be sure to book campgrounds in advance and get your days in the park started early. If you’re willing to brave the summer heat, you’ll get the park largely to yourself, but will have to exercise caution in the heat. Also note that the wet season runs from May through September: afternoon thunderstorms can help cool the desert.
⌚ How Long to Visit: I recommend spending 2-4 days in the park to enjoy it as fully as possible. You can easily spend a full week here.
🚗 How to Get There: Big Bend is far away from… everything. The closest major city – El Paso – is about 4.5 hours away, with San Antonio next closest at about 5.5 hours. If you are visiting from afar, consider flying into either of these cities and renting a car. Or, you can take a road trip to the park from wherever you live.
🛏️ Where to Stay: Due to its remoteness, you won’t find a hotel or Airbnb around the park. Instead, plan to stay at one of the park’s reservation-based campgrounds. I recommend Chisos Basin, and Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood are other options. You can also consider staying at the Chisos Mountain Lodge in Chisos Basin.
🧳 What to Bring: Bring as many water containers as you own, since you’ll be drinking lots of it. The general rule is 1 liter for every 2 hours of hiking you do: bring more than that in Big Bend. For reference: I drank over 8 liters during a 9-hour hike on the South Rim Trail loop. Bring your usual hiking, backpacking, or camping gear, and bring some bear spray too.

✅ DO carry plenty of water with you while in the park, no matter how long you expect to be away from a water source.
✅ DO fill up your car with gas as you get close to the park. While there is a gas station inside the park, it’s more expensive there than it is outside the park.
❌ DON’T underestimate the heat in the park, especially during the summer.
❌ DON’T leave food or scented items unattended. While this is true in any outdoor spot, Big Bend has bears… you don’t want them searching your stuff.