Two Days in Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is one of the most beautiful parts of Texas. Pull out your hiking shoes and check out our guide below to help plan out your visit to Big Bend.
When to go?
There is never a bad time to go to Big Bend National Park, however the weather is likely going to be what determines when you go.
The summer in Big Bend is hot. Temperatures soar above 100 degrees regularly and the dry climate will make you feel even more dehydrated during the heat of the day. The winter is mild to cold, some days dropping below freezing, but never too cold to enjoy. On coldest days, bundle up and you should be fine. Fall and spring provide the best temperatures and usually the best chances of seeing wildlife.
Travel during school breaks and long holiday weekends tend to lend to the busiest time in the park. Regular weekends during the spring and fall are not too busy, but definitely make your reservations for lodging in advance as the lodge and campgrounds may fill up more than a few months in advance.
How do you get to the Park
Getting to Big Bend is probably the most difficult part of your whole trip. Driving is the cheapest and most functional method for getting to the park. The closest large airport cities however are El Paso (5 hours), San Antonio (7 hours), and Austin (7 hours). There are other smaller airports that you can fly into that are much closer, but you will pay a price for both the smaller airport and the lack of rental cars.
We drove to Big Bend from our home in Austin. The drive is mostly rolling desert and dry landscapes, with occasional pockets of trees. There are not very many towns to stop in for gas, so make sure you are fill up before leaving Austin, San Antonio, or El Paso. You can also fill up in Fort Stockton, Alpine or Marathon on your way into Big Bend National Park.
Be aware there is no gas within Big Bend, however there is a small town just west of the park called Terlingua. You can usually find gas there, but they may run low during peak season.
Where to stay in and around the park?
As with all national parks, we highly recommend staying within the park itself. This allows you to stay later, arrive earlier, and spend more time within the park. There are two ways you can stay in Big Bend – camping or in a lodge.
For camping locations you can contact the national park service website for availability and locations. For the best location within the park, we highly recommend checking out the Chisos campground areas. This location offers the best starting point for each day of your visit.
For those that like to stay in the lodges, the Chisos Mountain Lodge offers options for individuals, couples, groups, or families. The location also includes a restaurant and small shop.
If you are not fond of staying within the park, there are hotels that range from cheap and minimal to famous within Alpine, Marathon, and Terlingua.
Day 1 – Dinosaurs and Hot Springs
As you are heading into Big Bend, take the entrance via Marathon on US 385. At the entrance of the park, there is a small visitors center to use the restroom and fill up on water. Along this entrance road into the park, there is a turn out for a fossil discovery exhibit. The exhibit is very well done, informational and offers some good picture opportunities for the family or groups. We spent about an hour checking out the exhibits and the small hike up the hill.
After visiting the dino exhibit check into your lodging or campground. Grab a bite to eat and fill up your water. About 4-5 hours before sunset, head out east to the Rio Grande Village area.
From the Chisos mountain lodge area the drive is about 45 minutes. There are some pull outs and exhibits along the way discussing everything from history to animals in the area. Follow the signs to the Daniels Ranch campground and follow the road all the way to the end. There will be a small abandoned building at the end of the road to park at.
Hiking – Hot Springs Trail
From here, follow the signs for the Hot Springs trail. The trail is a moderate 6 mile round trip, with some elevation changes, but for the most part very easy. The trail is almost entirely open to the sun, so make sure you have lots of water and sunscreen. If you have a lot of time, you can actually enjoy the hot springs for a bit. The views from this hike are amazing and offer splendid views of the Rio Grande river at various points.
The trail took us about 3 hours round trip, with about 20 minutes to check out the hot springs and taking pictures along the way.
Boquillas Canyon Overlook
About 45 minutes before sunset head east to the Boquillas Canyon Overlook. The drive from the Hot Springs trail to the overlook takes about 15 minutes. The road is narrow and windy, so watch for animals as you make your way there.
At 30 minutes before sunset, the canyons start to glow a shade of orange and will continue to brighten until they are a bright red/orange color. If you are lucky the moon will be rising just above the canyon creating an even more amazing view. There is a small parking lot here to hang out and wait for the sunset views.
After enjoying the sunset, head back to your lodging and grab some dinner for the night. Be very careful driving through the park at night and watch for animals. Deer and rabbits tend to be seen on the roads often. Occasionally you might get lucky and spot a black bear or mountain lion along the road. Watch for glowing eyes in the darkness for signs of animals.
Day 2 – Mountain and Canyon Views
On Day 2 start your day depending on the weather. If it is colder outside wait until mid morning to start your day, however if it is going to be a hot day, hit the trails early.
Hiking – Lost Mine Trail
The Lost Mine Trail is located off the road leading to the Chisos Mountain Lodge. You will see a small parking lot and sign noting the trail location. This is one of the more moderately difficult hikes in the area. Parking is very limited, so getting here early is ideal to beat the crowds. If the parking lot is full, hit up one of the other hikes below first, and check back later for parking. You can also park and walk up the road, just be very careful of other drivers and animals.
The Lost Mine Trail is just under 5 miles round trip with a pretty high elevation change. The trail is mostly smooth and easy to walk, however there are some steep switchbacks and some rockier areas you have to hike through. From about halfway to the top, you are rewarded with some amazing views of the valley basin below.
Before the switchbacks start you also have some stunning views of the peaks and valleys around Big Bend. At the top of the hike though is the true reward, a sweeping view of the park mountains and valleys. The area is very wide, so even if there are a lot of people at the top, you can find your own space to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.
The entire trail took us just over two hours from start to finish. Going up will take a lot longer than coming down, but keep an eye out for black bears and other wildlife. If you do run across a black bear or mountain lion give them distance and act big and threatening, never turn and run.
Hiking – Chisos Mountain Lodge Trails (Options)
After hiking the Lost Mine Trail, head down to the Chisos Mountain Lodge and check out the optional hikes from the lodge area. Below are details about the hikes from the Chisos Mountain Lodge.
The easy hike can be done anytime, but the more moderate or difficult hikes should be done earlier or later in the day. During the summer, the hikes can get very hot, so bring lots of water and apply plenty of sunscreen.
- Window View Trail – Easy – About 0.3 miles round trip. This is one of the few wheelchair accessible hikes in the park. It is an easy little hike with some great views.
- Chisos Basin Loop Trail – Moderate – Around 2 miles round trip. The signs are not real clear where this hike starts, but the hike is the starting route for a few other hikes with a connecting path about a half mile up each trail. This trail did have a lot of elevation change and a very rocky terrain for hiking.
- Emory Peak – Difficult – Around 11 miles round trip. This hike is difficult with a lot of elevation change. You can see Emory Peak from the base of the trail, to get an idea of how far you are hiking. This is a difficult hike, so plan to bring a lot of water.
- Window Trail – Moderate to Difficult – 5.6 miles round trip. This hike leads to you some amazing views out across the park basin, and the hike to the end is the easy part. You will slowly descend to the end of the hike, so the return hike is the more difficult portion. Bring lots of water.
After you have enjoyed your morning hikes, head to the lodge for some lunch and a bit of rest.
Santa Elena Canyon Area
After enjoying lunch and some relaxing time head out towards the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook. Give yourself time to stop at the pull outs or visitors centers along the way to enjoy the views.
From the Chisos Mountain Lodge, the drive to Santa Elena Canyon Overlook takes around an hour. Make sure you do have at least 3 hours before sunset to dedicate to the Santa Elena area. Along the way, we recommend stopping at the Sotol Vista overlook. The views from the overlook are amazing on both sides. You will get a great view of the Santa Elena Canyon from afar, and of the mountains behind you.
Hiking – Santa Elena Canyon Overlook
The Santa Elena Canyon Overlook trail is under 2 miles and mostly easy. There is a moderate switchback area you need to hike up to access the canyon and you may need to walk or wade across a small creek to reach the entrance point to the trail. If the water is higher than your knees, do not take this trail. Most of the trail is within the base of the canyon and will be flooded. The views of the canyon are amazing so give yourself some time to enjoy from inside at outside of the canyon.
If you can stick around until sunset, the views here are just as amazing as other parts of the park. From the top of the trail in the canyon you get stunning views of the mountains at sunset from afar.
If you have the time, head back to the Sotol Overlook for sunset to get the best views and photos. The drive from the canyon overlook to the Sotol Overlook is roughly 20 minutes, but be aware of animals as they start to come out at dusk.
After a long day hiking and exploring Big Bend, head back to your lodging for the evening. Be careful at night, animals come out and will be on the roads.
Other Activities in Big Bend
There are a handful of other activities in the area around Big Bend and within Big Bend National Park itself. Check out Marathon, Alpine, Marfa, or Terlingua for activities and outfitters that offer things such as river rafting down the Rio Grande, horseback rides, guided hikes, or photography classes.
At night you can stargaze from anywhere within the park. With little to no lights in or around the park, the sky lights up with thousands of stars. Remember that you are in a wild area, so there may be animals around. Keep a safe distance and act big and threatening if you see a mountain lion or black bear close by, never turn and run.
There are also ranger programs that are scheduled at each visitors center location. Ask for a list of programs from any of the visitors centers to check out what is being offered during your stay. Ranger programs are usually free and offer history or cultural information about the park.
Hopefully this guide gives you what you need to plan your trip but always feel free to contact us or comment below if you have any questions!
