{"id":138455,"date":"2020-02-12T10:52:44","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T18:52:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=138455"},"modified":"2025-01-10T12:54:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T20:54:41","slug":"best-hikes-big-bend-national-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/best-hikes-big-bend-national-park","title":{"rendered":"Big Bend National Park Hiking Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">True to Texas style, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/index.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big Bend National Park<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is massive. The 800,000-acre park, located along the U.S.-Mexico border, is larger than the state of Rhode Island by some 23,000 acres. And its size is matched by its geographic diversity, which spans from the banks of the Rio Grande across the sprawling Chihuahuan Desert to the 7,000-foot summits of the Chisos Mountains. Add in the park\u2019s 200 miles of trails, and the potential for exploration is practically boundless. You can\u2019t go wrong with any of these seven hikes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Hot Springs Trail<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 4.9 miles from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Rio+Grande+Village+Visitor+Center\/@29.1852637,-102.9621965,15z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xfc182f37212b1eb8!8m2!3d29.1852637!4d-102.9621965\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rio Grande Village Visitor Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 0.6-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Hot springs, history and views<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/planyourvisit\/soakinthesprings.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Langford Hot Springs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are plenty enticing, this hike offers far more than a pleasant, riverside soak. First, the trail winds through buildings from the early 1900s, including a post office, store and motel. Next, look for the petroglyphs and pictographs that dot the cliffs along the Rio Grande below, with the Chisos and Del Carmen mountain ranges looming in the distance. The trail is one of the best known and most accessible in the park, so don\u2019t expect a solo soak when you arrive. Visit at sunrise to warm up on a chilly morning or at sunset for a taste of Big Bend\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/planyourvisit\/stargazing.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">renowned stargazing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.earthtrekkers.com\/hike-ernst-tinaja-trail-big-bend-national-park\/\"><b>Ernst Tinaja<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location: 6.9 miles from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Rio+Grande+Village+Visitor+Center\/@29.1852637,-102.9621965,15z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xfc182f37212b1eb8!8m2!3d29.1852637!4d-102.9621965\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rio Grande Village Visitor Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Length: 1.3-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty: Easy\/intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best for: Marveling at Big Bend\u2019s geology\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though short, this 1.3-mile hike showcases some of Big Bend&#8217;s most impressive geological features. Beginning in an open wash, the route soon enters an increasingly narrow canyon where exposed rock is stacked in layers of yellow, orange and pink. When the ground abruptly changes from sand to solid stone, you\u2019ll know you\u2019re about to reach the trail&#8217;s namesake tinaja, a basin formed in bedrock by water and wind erosion. Ernst Tinaja is the largest of its kind in the region, and the pool\u2019s edge is smooth and slippery meaning it\u2019s easy to fall in and virtually impossible to climb out, so be sure to keep a safe distance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americansouthwest.net\/texas\/big_bend\/upper-burro-mesa-pouroff-trail.html\"><b>Upper Burro Mesa Pour-Off Trail<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 19.5 miles from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Panther+Junction+Visitor+Center\/@29.3278389,-103.2080836,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x86f2183afdd58f83:0x7cdaedc4bb97de0d!8m2!3d29.3278389!4d-103.2058949\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panther Junction Visitor Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 3.8-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy\/intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Canyon scrambling and exploring<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big Bend\u2019s big views are great, but for a far more tactile experience, head to the Upper Burro Mesa Pour-off Trail. You\u2019ll traverse Javelina Wash, passing over boulders, through a slot canyon and past a rock arch, to reach the trail&#8217;s namesake pour-off: an abrupt, 100-foot cliff that becomes a waterfall during rainstorms. (Flash floods are a definite possibility, so check <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/planyourvisit\/weather.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the weather<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/planyourvisit\/conditions.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trail alerts and conditions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before heading out.) Tread carefully\u2014a misstep near the edge could result in a disastrous fall. If the view from the top of the pour-off isn\u2019t enough, the shorter, more popular <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lower Burro Mesa Pour-Off Trail<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> climbs up the lower half of the wash for a view of the cliff from below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/www.texashiking.com\/Locations\/ShowLocation.aspx?LocationID=1405\"><b>Santa Elena Canyon Trail<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 8.5 miles from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Castolon+Visitor+Center\/@29.133605,-103.516365,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x86f20aee0fb2d751:0xf00cd70f1b50a7d3!8m2!3d29.133605!4d-103.5141763\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Castolon Visitor Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 1.0-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy\/intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A quick hike to Big Bend\u2019s largest canyon<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the best way to experience Santa Elena Canyon is from a raft on the Rio Grande, this hike is the next best option. From the trailhead, cross shallow Terlingua Creek and follow the well-marked route to the river\u2019s edge. Linger by the water below the 1,500-foot red rock cliffs or climb a series of steep switchbacks to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an overlook<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with views into the canyon, across the border into Mexico and over the desert toward the Chisos Mountains. The trail might be short, but it\u2019s the only way into the canyon on foot. Plus, it\u2019s a great excuse to explore the farthest reaches of the park along the spectacular <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/planyourvisit\/ross-maxwell-scenic-drive.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_138503\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138503\" class=\"size-article_body wp-image-138503\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/bibe-Santa-Elena-Canyon.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\" alt=\"People standing on a riverbank next to canoes and a river below canyon walls during the daytime.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-138503\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">People stand on the shore of the Rio Grande at the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon (Photo Credit: Jonathan Cutrer under CC BY 2.0).<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/visitbigbend.com\/lost-mine-trail-experience-low-barrier-entry-high-pay\/\"><b>Lost Mine Trail<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 1.2 miles from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Chisos+Basin+Visitor+Center\/@29.2755049,-103.3037707,14z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x5e704fb6135a52bd!8m2!3d29.2704056!4d-103.3004147?shorturl=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chisos Basin Visitor Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 4.6-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If you only have time for a single hike, this is the one to do<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Chisos Mountains classic delivers expansive views without an all-day effort. After a mile of steep climbing through oak and pine trees (accompanied by interpretive signs explaining the area\u2019s plant and animal life), the trail crests a ridgeline revealing the route\u2019s first unobstructed vista. And the views\u2014which include the entire Chisos Basin, the V-shaped notch known as The Window, the fortress-like outcropping of Casa Grande and the vast Chihuahuan Desert\u2014only get better from there.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_138508\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138508\" class=\"size-article_body wp-image-138508\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/bibe-Lost-Mine-Trail.jpg?resize=1024%2C686\" alt=\"A person stands at the edge of a cliff overlooking a valley surrounded by mountains.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-138508\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Overlooking the Chisos Basin (Photo Credit: Adam Baker under CC BY 2.0).<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/planyourvisit\/chisos-mountains-backpacking-trails-map.htm\"><b>Chisos Mountain Loop<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 0.3 miles from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Chisos+Basin+Visitor+Center\/@29.2690988,-103.302376,18z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x5e704fb6135a52bd!8m2!3d29.2704056!4d-103.3004147\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chisos Basin Visitor Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 16.6-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate\/difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: An epic loop in the Chisos Mountains<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Link together four fantastic day-hikes into a single, challenging outing for the ultimate Chisos tour. Beginning deep in the basin, this loop ascends through mixed pine, oak and juniper until the vegetation thins, unveiling the surrounding peaks, buttresses and pinnacles. As you traverse the South Rim\u2014the sheer, 2,000-foot drop that spans the southern border of the Chisos Mountains\u2014you can take in sweeping vistas of the entire southern portion of the park. Then top out on 7,825-foot Emory Peak, Big Bend\u2019s tallest mountain, for unobstructed views of the entire range. If the full loop sounds like too much for a single day, get a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/bibe\/planyourvisit\/backcountry-main.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">backpacking permit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and spend the night at one of the backcountry campsites along the South Rim.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_138509\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138509\" class=\"wp-image-138509 size-article_body\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/bibe-South-Rim.jpg?resize=1024%2C682\" alt=\"Various desert plants growing on the edge of a cliff with hills and a desert landscape in the background during sunset.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-138509\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Overlooking the Chihuahuan Desert from the South Rim during sunset (Photo Credit: daveynin under CC BY 2.0).<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americansouthwest.net\/texas\/big_bend\/oak-spring-trail.html\"><b>Oak Springs Trail and The Window<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 16.0 miles from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Panther+Junction+Visitor+Center\/@29.3278389,-103.2080836,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x86f2183afdd58f83:0x7cdaedc4bb97de0d!8m2!3d29.3278389!4d-103.2058949\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panther Junction Visitor Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 7.8-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate\/difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Less crowded access to a famous landmark<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the Window, a water-carved, V-shaped notch in the ridge that rings Chisos Basin, is one of Big Bend\u2019s most famous destinations, it\u2019s crowds are infamous. Avoid (most of) them on the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oak Springs Trail<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Though the wide and exposed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Window Trail<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the typical path used by most visitors, the Oak Springs route climbs up from the desert, winding along the mountainside beneath the Window, and drops into a ravine where a set of rocky steps ascends to the lip of notch. Not only are the views better, but the trail also moves between the park\u2019s desert and mountain ecosystems\u2014a rare combination in Big Bend. Back at the trailhead, consider checking out nearby <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sam Nail Ranch Trail<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a bit of history and bird watching before departing along Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>True to Texas style, Big Bend National Park is massive. The 800,000-acre park, located along the U.S.-Mexico border, is larger than the state of Rhode Island by some 23,000 acres. And its size is matched by its geographic diversity, which spans from the banks of the Rio Grande across the sprawling Chihuahuan Desert to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":193852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[1724,707,1542,239],"internal-tag":[1442],"class_list":["post-138455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","tag-big-bend-national-park","tag-hiking","tag-south","tag-texas","internal-tag-seo"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/best-hikes-big-bend-national-park","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Big Bend National Park Hiking Guide","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/best-hikes-big-bend-national-park","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/best-hikes-big-bend-national-park"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/02\/BB8_091619_69126.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/02\/BB8_091619_69126.jpg?fit=1280%2C960"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["big bend national park","hiking","south","texas"],"dateCreated":"2020-02-12T18:52:44Z","datePublished":"2020-02-12T18:52:44Z","dateModified":"2025-01-10T20:54:41Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Big Bend National Park Hiking Guide\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/best-hikes-big-bend-national-park\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/best-hikes-big-bend-national-park\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2020\\\/02\\\/BB8_091619_69126.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2020\\\/02\\\/BB8_091619_69126.jpg?fit=1280%2C960\"},\"articleSection\":\"Hike\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Michelle Flandreau\"}],\"creator\":[\"Michelle Flandreau\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"big bend national park\",\"hiking\",\"south\",\"texas\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2020-02-12T18:52:44Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-02-12T18:52:44Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-10T20:54:41Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/02\/BB8_091619_69126.jpg?fit=1280%2C960","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138455"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":198689,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138455\/revisions\/198689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138455"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=138455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}