After completing the Balanced Rock Trail, we ventured to the eastern side of Big Bend National Park. We passed the Panther Junction visitor center – one of two places in the park to purchase gasoline. Then we drove about 20 miles to Boquillas Canyon.
Even though we had seen the Rio Grande at Santa Elena Canyon the previous day, this area was completely different. Instead of being surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs, this area was more open and the river seemed to flow faster. Additionally, we could see people on the other side in Mexico riding horses.
The 1.4-mile (round-trip) trail was easy. Soon, it curved towards the left and we entered the canyon. While there, we skipped rocks and I attempted to climb a large sand dune. Although different from Santa Elena Canyon, it was no less inspiring.
We then drove to the Hot Springs via another gravel road. By this time everyone was getting tired. Fortunately the springs were only a short walk from the parking area. I was amazed not only by the number of people enjoying the springs, but that people were swimming in the Rio Grande. What was even more interesting was that people were swimming in the Rio Grande.
Back at the parking lot, we passed by the old bathhouse when the area was a resort in the early 1900s.
Backtracking to Panther Junction, we had a decision to make. We could leave the park the easiest way to Marathon and see the Gage Hotel or we could go completely back to Terlingua and then down 20 miles to Lajitas Resort through Big Bend Ranch State Park and up to Marfa. When I posed this question to the ranger, she immediately said we should drive through the state park and gave us a map.
I’m so glad we did this longer drive. The drive (RR 171) winds along the Rio Grande and the park is very low key. There were no stops but the scenery was vivid.
At Presidio, we went north to Marfa for dinner at a wine bar. Since we still had about four hours to go before our hotel at Sonora, so we didn’t stay as long as we’d like. However, we did pass the courthouse all lit up for Christmas.
