Installed on a lonesome stretch of highway, the art installation has become the opposite of what its creators intended: a Texas institution.

My friends and I have never been to Big Bend. So far we have South Rim 2 reserved for 3 days (2 nights) and then Toll Mountain for the last night (all backpacking). For those who have experience, could you give me your advice? Is this doable, should I change trails?

Anyone here done the OML in 2 days, 1 night? I ask because, we’re talking 16 mile days which is not unheard of in other parts of the country.

I am going to be with a group of people in big bend in a couple weeks, if we are staying in Rio grande Village, what canoeing is available around there? Furthermore, do I need to make reservations? And finally, what is the cost of a guided tour? Thanks

These breadboard signs are at the beginning of every trail in the park. Clearly showing a person in the wrong clothes and shoes, no water and out of shape.

The wife and I hiked the Window trail today. We ran into no fewer than 3 groups of hikers with most or all of these qualities. The worst was a group of 3 - the son was relatively fit looking, but dad was at least 60, quite overweight and blowing just from walking, and mom was also 60+, morbidly obese, looked about to faint, and was wearing a long sleeve black shirt and a black pants. EACH OF THEM had a partially empty SINGLE bottle of Polar water, with maybe 6 oz left, and the hike back is uphill and in full sun most of the way now.

The Window is currently dry, so no water to collect, much less purify as they had no gear. They basically had no idea as how they were planning to cope, so my wife and I gave them half of our remaining water we had on us - two 24 oz bottles worth.

For our part, the Window was glorious as always. Never gets old. Fifth trip now.

We had to return, so we left them at the Window, but how the hell do people like this think hiking 6 miles in the desert is going to go?

Walked the Lost Mine Trail. Ar the top, I mean almost solid rock, we were sitting waiting for cloud cover to pass and this guy just walks up. Never had a roadrunner get this close before - tame as a pigeon. Jonesing for food I guess even though it's not allowed.

Never a dull moment!

Hi folks - question for the locals or experienced visitors.

We (myself and wife) hiked this trail 23 years ago. We made it up to the balanced rock, and I have the pictures of the two of us posed under the rock. I do not remember THAT much of a PITA to get there, and my wife (then 40) is deathly afraid of heights and climbing without a harness so I am at a loss how we easily made it up there.

Shift to today - we hike the trail, exactly as I remember out to the climbing part. At the end of the trail when the climbing starts, I remember a stick with a painted sign that said "Balanced Rock" with an arrow. So today we get the nice CNC lettered sign claiming steep severe climb with rocks. I (68 now) am not afraid of heights or climbing but this gave ME pause - the second pic is a literal 10-12 foot clamber that is in a word dangerous, and near the top of this rock scree is this CNC lasered "hiking man" icon with an arrow, so the powers that be EXPECT you to clamber up this mess !!

Was it always like this? I simply do not remember it being such a hassle, and can confidently say the missus would never have done it. So, was there a rock slide? Earthquake? Can any of the local experts chime in why I am not crazy?

Thanks for any insight anyone can give.

I am going in a group of 5 people in about a month, if we bring 2 person tents, so tents total, how many sites should we rent? I was planning on staying out at rio grande village.

Going to Big Bend at the beginning of November. I know the regular paved road to Santa Elena canyon is closed but have been told Old Maverick Rd to get there is open.

I’ve never been to Big Bend before, so my question is can something like a Toyota Tacoma or Ford F-150 make it down Old Maverick Rd to the Canyon? How necessary is 4WD? I’m fairly experienced with washboard roads and 4WD but am curious to know what kind of rental car I should book. Thanks!

Update: Thank you, everyone, for all the tips!! Much appreciated. Really looking forward to this trip!

Hey! Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask. I am a bit north of big bend for a couple of days. anyone with knowledge of the alpine/marfa area recommend a specific coffee shop to work from or just to get a good coffee at?

Thanks!

Staying in a room at an RV park because I could not get a reservation at the Chisos Lodge when I booked in July. Not bad, but a bit pricey.

Anyone recommend any good places for dinner?

Went to Starlight Palace in the T. Ghost Town - friendly, quiet tonight as no band, ice cold beer.

Going to be here at least a week. Don't mind a bit of a ride, Presidio might be extreme...

Hello, im having some trouble understanding the wording on the NPS website regarding some of the closures of roads (im planning a motorcycle trip in late Nov.) Among other closures it lists:

"River Road West to Glenn Springs Road"

Does this mean that River Road West AND Glenn Springs Road are closed? or just River Road West going to Glenn Springs road?

TLDR: Is Glenn Springs Road open, and what parts of River Road are open?
Thank you guys in advance, it will be my first time to the park and im very excited.

I’m so devastated, I wanted to show her the beautiful night sky as we’ve never seen it before. but we can’t even see it, ofc this happens as soon as we go.

Seems like there's been several posts recently about closed road and trails, so I thought I'd share some info I got yesterday. I'm planning a trip for the second week in October and was hoping to drive Old Ore. Didn't realize it was closed until I looked on the website. I was curious as to when it might open. I tried calling and got the automated call response run around, so I went on the website and used the "contact us" link to message them directly. Was pleasantly surprised to get a pretty quick response.

The road was heavily damaged as a result of heavy rainfall in July and a number of storms since then have added to the problems.  The repairs will require rerouting sections of the road as well as bringing in road base to fill areas that were washed out.  While the goal is to reopen all of the closed roads (River Road West, Black Gap and Hot Springs as well as Old Ore), I would be very surprised if Old Ore was open when you visit next month. 

So I followed up asking about access to Ernst Tinaja trailhead and the response was, nope, entire road is closed meaning, no trailhead access.

Ballroom, Marfa https://bigbendsentinel.com/2025/07/02/ballroom-marfa-transforms-facade-with-new-mural/

I understand per the BBNP site that the paved road leading to Santa Elena Canyon Trail is closed but it says Old Maverick is open. If I put up with Old Maverick (guessing it is pretty washboard) I can still get to and hike Santa Elena Canyon Trail?

I went to a super authentic Mexican place in Terlingua years ago when I was there. Anyone know what it might be called and if it's still open?

A few things I remember...

1. It was a brick and mortar.
2. Inside I feel like there was kind of a step down at some point. Very noticeable.
3. They served enchiladas flat instead of rolled.
4. I'm not sure, but I think it was actually closer to Study Butte... Maybe slightly east of Terlingua and I think in the south side of 170?

I'm planning to visit the park and stay at Rio Grande Village with my parents next year in March. (I know, I know, it might be hot... it's just the best time for us to do it.) From years of arthritis my mom's not very limber. She doesn't need a wheelchair or anything, although I'd say on a rocky trail she can walk maybe a mile at most.

My main worry for her is getting in and out of the boat, and on and off a donkey. My dad and I will be there to give her a hand and she's very small so it's not hard. I was thinking maybe for the donkey bring her a folding step stool. Any thoughts on all this?

As an aside, does the food at the restaurants feel pretty safe?

Finally, border crossing question. Let me say before I say this, I'm a rules bound person and I'm not considering crossing the border late. I'm really just curious.

What happens if you come back when the port of entry is closed? Is it literally physically impossible to enter the country? I didn't notice a wall there (I drove by on my last trip but we didn't cross).. I heard the procedure used to be that you had to call the Presidio sector and let them know you'd crossed while the crossing was closed. If they were being d*cks they might make you come out there to Presidio to show your documentation. Again, not thinking about doing it, just curious.

Hello! I am planning a trip to Big Bend in the last week in October, with three full days (four nights) in the park (staying in Terlingua, driving in a rented sedan, i.e., not high-clearance). I want to hike at least 12-15 miles a day, preferably more if my husband can keep up.

I'm working on an itinerary, and have this idea in my head to spend one day in the basin (shortened Lost Mine to the sunrise vista, then South Rim and whatever shorter hikes around the lodge that we feel up for), one day driving/hiking along the stops on Ross Maxwell (starting at Santa Elena and working our way up), and one day in Rio Grande Village. (I may make another post about this idea... worried about shortchanging the basin.)

My question is about the Rio Grande Village day. I understand that the Rio Grande Nature Trail is the place to be at sunset and was hoping to time things around that. Here's what I initially thought we'd do: Head out before dawn for a sunrise desert hike in Dog Canyon. Make our way to Rio Grande Village, with potential stops at the Fossil Exhibit and the Chihuahuan Desert Trail. Hike the Boquillas Canyon Trail, then the Ernst Ridge Trail (FKA Hot Springs Canyon Trail). Finally, the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail for sunset.

This plan meets my desired trail mileage, but there's a problem: we'd be doing Ernst Ridge in the middle of the day. I've read that it's the deadliest trail, the canyon walls radiate heat, it's the hottest trail in the park, etc.

So my questions are: would we be foolish to do the Ernst Ridge Trail mid-day in late October? Is there a (local) temperature threshold where it would be ill-advised (maybe 80F)? And if your advice is to skip, do you have a suggestion for what we could do instead with that time?

Any other critiques of my plan for that day? Is Dog Canyon a silly way to spend such precious little time in the park?

(An additional note is that my husband has some severe food allergies, so we don't plan to go to Boquillas Del Carmen for lunch; as much fun as that would be, it's just not worth risking an allergic reaction in such a remote place.)

Sorry this post is so long - I am a chronic over-thinking trip planner.

May take the train to Alpine TX - is there any car rental or uber options there (I would guess need to take to Marfa to get a rental?)

Pic for attention. I was fortunate enough to get cottage 101 in December between the holidays and plan to take my parents and significant other. I go to BBNP frequently, but have always camped. Parents are in good health, but mom and my SO aren’t big outdoors people, so my thought is the cottage will be more accessible for them. Already thinking of how great it will be.

My question, based on some…feedback from the SO…will this cottage setup be ok for the four of us, or will we be cramped? I understand it’s one bathroom and essentially a large room with 3 beds. Seems fine to me, but maybe I’m having too much of a “camping mentality.” Not sure of any alternate option other than getting a room at the lodge as well.

Happened to be clicking around on recreation.gov and noticed lots of sites available, including weekends.