After reading Texas Monthly for years, I’ve always wanted to visit Big Bend National Park in Texas. But it is hard to get to – and that may be the appeal for many. In fact, its one of the least visited of the National Parks.
Big Bend is located far west Texas – the part that’s under New Mexico. The park offers a place to hike, bike, fish, camp, whatever you want and it’s absolutely beautiful. But it’s 653 miles from Houston where we go to visit family. We chose to add a few days after Christmas and make the drive from Houston.
We found a reasonable room at Terlingua Ranch Lodge. Although Terlingua sits three miles from one of the park entrances, the ranch was about 30 minutes north of the park. That seems far, but in reality it was one of the closer places to stay as Alpine is an hour and a half (83 miles) and Marfa is 2 hours from the park.
Wednesday, Dec 27
Depart Houston 8 am
Lunch – Plumley’s Country Store, Junction, TX (fair)
Arrive Terlingua, TX around 6 pm
Dinner – Rio Bravo Restaurant, Terlingua
Lodging – Terlingua Ranch Lodge (Cabins, RV hookups, etc)
Thursday, Dec 28
Breakfast – Bad Rabbit Cafe (at Terlingua Ranch Lodge)
9:30 – Lost Mine Trail at Big Bend National Park (4.8 miles round trip)
Noon – Picnic lunch at Chisos Basin Visitor Center
Chisos Basin Loop Trail 1.8 miles round trip (trailhead at the Chisos Basin Visitor Center)
Afternoon – Drove Ross Maxwell Scenic Hwy to Santa Elena Canyon
Santa Elena Canyon Trail – 1.6 miles round-trip. Walk along the Rio Grande between two canyons
Dinner at Starlight Theatre – 45 minute wait but great place to watch sunset
Friday, Dec. 29
Breakfast in Terlingua at Espresso … Y Poco Mas (also ordered lunch to go for later in the park)
Balanced Rock Trail – you have to take a 6 mile gravel road to the trail head so check weather conditions first. The trail itself is only a mile one-way.
Boquillas Canyon Trail – 1.7 miles round-trip. Another walk along the Rio Grande, but different than Santa Elena. The river seemed more active here. You can also cross the border nearby to Boquillas, but we didn’t do it.
Hot Springs Historic Trail – 1 mile round trip. Even in December, people were sitting in the hot springs which are right on the Rio Grande.
Drove back to Terlingua, down to Lajitas and along the River Road FM170 through Big Bend Ranch State Park to Presidio.
Dinner – Al Campo in Marfa, TX
Long drive to Sonora, TX – lodging at Best Western Sure Stay
Saturday, Dec 30
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 – Caverns of Sonora for 90-minute Cave Tour
Afternoon – Singing Waters Vineyard in Comfort, TX to see friends of my in-laws who started the winery in their retirement
Arrived Houston 7 pm
Tips:
Don’t go in summer as it’s extremely hot and many of the visitor centers are closed.
Very little food is sold inside the park. Pack picnic lunches and bring your own water bottles.
Gasoline is in short supply so gas up often. When we stopped for gas in Ft. Stockton, TX, they only had premium gas available. My brother-in-law and family went there during Thanksgiving and Alpine had just gotten their gas shipment for the week.
Get the free Just Ahead app for Big Bend National Park at VisitBigBend.com.
