Cottonwood Campground is the smallest of the improved campgrounds in Big Bend National Park. It’s located in the Southwest part of the park on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, just past Castolon Visitor’s Center. Although there are a few shade trees at this campground, it can get boiling hot during the summer due to its low […]
Big Bend National Park
Backcountry Camping – River Road West – Big Bend
River Road in Big Bend National Park is a 51 mile primitive road that runs along the Rio Grande River, from Castolon to just West of Rio Grande Village. During the hottest parts of the year, this area is probably best avoided, as it gets much hotter along the Rio Grande than the rest of […]
Big Bend National Park Hiking Trails
Big Bend National Park Hiking Trails. You can navigate hiking trails for Big Bend National Park either by using the map below, or selecting trails based on difficulty level below the map. Easy Trails Sam Nail Ranch Trail – 0.5 mile round-trip Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail – 0.5 mile loop Boquillas Hot Springs – 0.6 mile round-trip […]
Backcountry Camping – River Road East – Big Bend
River Road in Big Bend National Park is a 51 mile primitive road that runs along the Rio Grande River, from Castolon to just West of Rio Grande Village. During the hottest parts of the year, this area is probably best avoided, as it gets much hotter along the Rio Grande than the rest of […]
Backcountry Camping – Highway 385 – Big Bend
Highway 385, between the Persimmon Gap Visitor’s Center and Park Headquarters at Panther Junction, offers two spots for backcountry camping. The views aren’t the best you’ll find in Big Bend, but they are both easily accessible with low clearance vehicles. The challenge with both sites is that the entrances aren’t marked on the highway, so […]
Review: Chisos Mountain Lodge – Big Bend National Park
Chisos Mountain Lodge is a passable place to stay in Big Bend National Park if you have to be in the center of things and just aren’t interested in doing any camping. You’ll have a good restaurant within walking distance next door and mutliple trails begin in the immediate vicinity. Don’t expect luxury though. If you’re looking […]
Ward Spring Trail – Big Bend National Park
Ward Spring Trail is a modest uphill hike from the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to the base of the Chisos Mountains. The spring itself was originally used as a water source for cattle on the Homer Wilson Ranch. As you hike the trail, you’ll see the old galvanized pipe along the trail that was used to move […]
Backcountry Camping – Old Maverick Road – Big Bend
Old Maverick Road is probably the best maintained dirt road in Big Bend National Park although the park does recommend a high clearance vehicle for it. The last time we went down the road, we saw a couple of lower clearance vehicles on it. Be very careful if you do take a lower clearance vehicle, there are […]
Backcountry Camping – Juniper Canyon Road – Big Bend
Juniper Canyon Road is a great spot for some backcountry camping in Big Bend National Park. The road traffic is very light due to it being remote and the road being so rough. Just make sure that you are in a high clearance vehicle with good all-terrain tires before heading out there.
Backcountry Camping – Pine Canyon Road – Big Bend
If you want to do some backcountry camping near the base of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, but don’t want to deal with all of the traffic off of Glenn Spring Road, Pine Canyon Road or Juniper Canyon Road are good options. Pine Canyon Road is a much better quality road than […]