Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park encompasses more than 800,000 acres in southwest Texas. For more than 1,000 miles, the Rio Grande forms the international boundary between Mexico and the United States; Big Bend National Park administers approximately one-quarter of that boundary. Within the 118 twisting miles that also define the park’s southern boundary, the river’s southeasterly flow changes abruptly to the northeast and forms the “big bend” of the Rio Grande.
Big Bend National Park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States. Few areas exceed the park’s value for the protection and study of geologic and paleontologic resources. Cretaceous and Tertiary fossil organisms exist in variety and abundance. Archeologists have discovered artifacts estimated to be 9,000 years old, and historic buildings and landscapes offer graphic illustration of life along the international border at the turn of the century Big Bend, which was established as a national park in 1935, includes mountain, desert, and river environments. An hour’s drive can take you from the banks of the Rio Grande to a mountain basin nearly a mile high. Here, you can explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the United States, and experience unmatched sights, sounds, and solitude.
One hundred million years ago the Big Bend region was an ocean, and 65 million years ago dinosaurs roamed the land. The park invites you to explore it many areas with 201 miles of trails, 100 miles of paved roads and about 170 miles of dirt roads. Here visitors will see more than 1200 variety of plants, more than 450 spcies of birds, and desert wildlife such as deer, coyotes, javelinas, gray fox, skunks racoons, and jackrabbits. Occasionally spotted are also ringtail cats, black bears, beavers and mountain lions.
Things to Do:
Visitor Centers:
Their are several Visitor Centers within the park . One is located in the lobby of Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. The Center is open 8:00A.M.-6:00P.M. year round. The center at Chiso Basin is open 8:30A.M.-4:00P.M. , Persimmon Gap is open 9:00A.M.-4:00 P.M. and Rio Grande ville is open November through April 8:30A.M.-4:00P.Pm. The Castoln Visitors Center is open 10:00A.M.-5:00P.M. from November through April. At these vistors center you can get park information, maps, literature and enjoy exhibits of the park and surrounding area.
Lodging:
Chisos Mountains Lodge
The Chisos Mountains Lodge, operated by Forever Resorts, Inc., is located in the Chisos Basin at 5,400 feet elevation. The lodge offers a variety of rooms and cottages, plus a gift shop and dining room. The lodge is open year-round.
Lodge Reservations Online
Lodge Reservations By Phone
(877) 386-4383 or (432) 477 2291
Camping:
The National Park Service operates three developed frontcountry campgrounds at Rio Grande Village, the Chisos Basin, and the Cottonwood campground, near Castolon. The cost is $14.00 per night for a site. A concession-operated full hook-up RV campground is also available at Rio Grande Village. Big Bend National Park is a great winter camping destination as the weather is not so hot as in the summer making it an ideal destination for a winter camping experience.
Rio Grande Village
100 sites: the Rio Grande Village campground is the largest developed campground in Big Bend.
Reservable Campsites
Reservations for 43 sites may be made November 15 to April 15. Reservations can be made through recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
Group Camping
The Rio Grande Village Campground has four group camp sites that are available only by advance reservation. The total overnight occupancy for the Rio Grande Village group campground is 120 persons. All sites in this campground have a minimum occupancy of 9 persons. Sites A and B comprise the area on the east side of the comfort station. Maximum occupancy for each site is 20 persons. Sites C and D comprise the area on the west side of the comfort station. Maximum occupancy for each site is 40 persons. This group campground is walk-in tent camping only. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area.
Campground Overview Elevation: 1,850 feet
100 campsites
Restrooms
Dump Station
Great Wildlife& birding
Store, fuel, laundromat and showers nearby
CAMPING FEES:
$14.00 per night per family type campsite
$ 7.00 per night with applicable passes per family type site.
$ 3.00
per person, per night for the Group campsite (by reservation only)
Site Selection and Reservation Information Valid for the reservation season (November 15 – April 15)
IF YOU DO HAVE A RESERVATION:
Please check the attached map to locate your campsite. Forty-three (43) sites are on the reservation system and are highlighted in a triangle on the map.
Fifty-five (55) sites are first-come-first-served (see below).
Reserved sites have a “Reserved” sign post with your name, arrival and departure dates posted on it. All group campground sites are reserved.
Please camp only in your confirmed reserved site.
No-shows will forfeit their campsite if it is not occupied within 24 hours of the arrival date.
Check with the Campground Hosts for information and for a refund/cancellation form. Big Bend Nation- al Park does not give refunds on reservations. BBNP only forwards your completed form to ReserveUSA.
Find and occupy an open campsite. All family type campsites are first-come, first-serve during the non-reservation season.
Fill out the fee envelope. Place your money, check, or credit card slip in the envelope and seal it. Make checks payable to the National Park Service.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A RESERVATION:
You may camp in any available NON-RESERVED site or, if there is no reservation information posted on a”Reserved” sign and you don’t have a reservation, you may use the site for 1 night. If a longer stay is desired, contact the Campground Host first.
If you have no reservation and all the non-reserved sites are filled—please check with a Ranger or the Campground Host.
Big Bend National Park does not make reservations.
For reservations, call ReserveUSA at 1-877-444-6777 or go to the website www.ReserveUSA.com.
Reservations must be made at least 4 days prior to arrival date.
Keep the stub, fill out all blanks completely, and place it on the campsite post. Remove stub upon departure.
Place fee envelope in the pipe safe at the registration area within 30 minutes of occupying site.
No refunds – pay only for the nights you know you are staying. CHECK OUT TIME – 12 noon
CAMPING LIMITS
Calendar year park-wide limit is 28 nights
February-April: 14 night camping limit park-wide
May-January: 14 night camping limit per campground
Campground Rules and Regulations
Campsite Limit: 8 people per site (if more than 8 are present, additional campsites must be occupied and paid for). In addition, you may have only 1-RV per site with a tow vehicle and 1-tent; or 4-tents plus 2-pas- senger vehicles or 4-motorcycles. Smaller sites may not have room for 8 people or multiple tents/vehicles. (Group Campground limits are specified, but no less than 10 people present per site. All group campsites must be reserved in advance.)
Reserving or holding of campsites operating under a “first-come-first-served” basis is prohibited. Camp- sites may not be held or paid for prior to an occupant’s arrival.
Wood and ground fires are prohibited (including pressed wood logs or wood chips). Charcoal grills and gas grills are permissible, provided they are attended at all times. Do not place charcoal grills on tables.
Food items should be stored inside your vehicle or in an animal-proof food locker. Animals consider tooth- paste, soap, deodorant, and trash as food. Javelinas will destroy a tent to get at them. Do not place coolers or food boxes on the ground when your campsite is unattended.
Dispose of trash in animal-proof dumpsters. Do not hang bags of trash from structures or vegetation. Birds, especially ravens and vultures, tear plastic bags open and spill the contents. Cigarette butts, etc., are considered trash and should not be deposited on the ground. Such items must be completely extinguished and properly disposed of.
Do not feed the wildlife, including birds. This is unhealthy for wild animals and invites human/animal confrontations.
Weather may change quickly, be prepared for sudden gusty winds by ensuring that tents and other items that may be damaged or scattered are properly se- cured at all times.
Prevent injury to your pets by keeping them on a leash or otherwise restrained at all times. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, on trails, in the backcoun- try, or on the river. Pets may
not be left unattended. Check at a visitor center for local kennels, if needed.
Pet owners are required to immediately remove and properly dispose of fecal matter deposited by their pets. Deposit bag of fecal matter in dumpster.
Protect your park. Do not destroy, injure, deface, dig, collect or otherwise disturb any park resources, including plants and animals (dead or alive), fossils, rocks, or artifacts. It is a violation of park rules to possess park resources. Metal detectors are not al- lowed in any National Park. Please report any illegal activities to a ranger.
Desert plants are fragile, do not drive or park off the paved or graveled areas.
Be considerate of your fellow campers by observing quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Generator use is permitted in designated areas between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Idling vehicle engines are considered generators in this regard. No generators are allowed at Cottonwood Campground.
Property left unattended longer than 24 hours will be impounded and the campsite forfeited, regardless of whether or not it is reservable or non-reservable.
Camp only in designated sites. All vehicles (includ- ing trailers and motorcycles) must remain on pave- ment or designated areas, do not put any vehicle on grass or behind parking barriers, rock or otherwise. Do not move parking barriers. No digging or trench- ing is allowed at campsites.
Bicycles and street legal motorcycles are allowed only on designated roadways, not on trails or off- road. Use of any all-terrain vehicles (ATVs with 3 or more wheels) or non-street legal motorcycles in Big Bend National Park is prohibited.
Carry a flashlight and use caution when walking at night on trails, campground paths, or roads. There are many trip hazards in mountain and desert coun- try as well as spiny plants and venomous animals. Footwear other than flip-flops and sandals is recom- mended. Rattlesnakes may be prevalent anywhere in the park on warm to moderate evenings. BBNP skunks are talented at using their noses to unzip tents. Make sure your tent is secure, especially if you are in it at night.
Water is precious To conserve water and prevent groundwater con- tamination, PLEASE NOTE:
Washing of vehicles is prohibited.
Do not connect hoses to water spigots. This can contaminate our water supply and inconvenience other campers/visitors.
Dispose of gray water in service sinks, not on the ground. An RV Dump Station is located between the Rio Grande Village store and the campground.
Wash dishes or clothing at your site or in designated service sinks, not at water spigots or restrooms. Protect our staff and campers/visitors by removing clotheslines at night or when not in use.
Coin-operated showers are located at the Rio Grande Village Store.
Numerous scenic drives are available within the park. These include roads suitable for all vehicles and also rough, primitive scenic dirt roads that are only safe for 4 wheel high clearance vehicles.
Scenic Drives, River Trips, Biking, Climbing, Birding and Stargazing are all available at the park. All river trips require a permit. Check at the visitors center for more information.
Restaurant:
The Mountain View Restaurant in the Chisos Mountains Lodge offers the only full-service dining inside the park.
Safety:
Driving
Most visitor injuries and accidental deaths in Big Bend result from car accidents. While driving is a great way to see the park, it can also be dangerous, particularly if you are tired or are going too fast. Drive within the speed limit, 45 mph maximum in the park, and watch for javelina, deer, and rabbits grazing along road shoulders, especially at night. Remember, too, that you share the road with bicyclists and pedestrians. Some park roads, such as the road into the Chisos Mountains Basin, are steep and winding and require extra caution. The Basin Road is not recommended for RVs over 24 feet or trailers over 20 feet. Finally, always select a designated driver before drinking alcoholic beverages.
Heat
Desert heat can kill you. Carry plenty of water (at least one gallon per person, per day) and wear a hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and sun screen when hiking. Springs are unreliable and often dry up for a portion of the year, despite what maps indicate. Avoid hiking during mid-day in summer; travel as wild animals do, in the early morning or late evening hours rather than during the heat of the day.
Hiking
There are over 150 miles of hiking trails within the park ranging from very easy to extremely strenuous with remote and wilderness trails that are seldom traveled.
Exploring this desert and mountain country on foot requires both mental and physical preparation. Trails vary from well maintained in the Chisos to primitive and barely visible in the desert. Plan hikes within your ability. Take along a map and compass and know how to use them. Flash floods may occur following thunderstorms so avoid narrow canyons or dry washes. Stay low and avoid ridges during thunderstorms. Carry a flashlight and a first aid kit. Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return. If you get hurt or lost, stay in one place to conserve water and energy. Signal for help; three blasts on a whistle is a well-recognized distress call. In remote areas, a large “X” marked on the ground by any means visible from the air will signify that help is needed. Carry a signal mirror. Remember to obtain a free backcountry use permit before heading out overnight.
Poisonous Animals
Venomous snakes, scorpions, spiders, and centipedes are all active during the warmer months. Inspect your shoes and sleeping bags or bedding before use and always carry a flashlight at night. While snake bites are rare, they usually occur below the knee or elbow. Pay attention to where you walk and place your hands. Consider wearing high boots or protective leggings while hiking.
Mountain Lions
Big Bend is mountain lion country, especially the Chisos Mountains. While lion attacks are rare, three have occurred in the last decade. Should you encounter an aggressive mountain lion, hold your ground, wave your arms, throw stones, and shout. Never run. Keep groups together and consider hiking elsewhere with young children if you come across a special mountain lion warning sign posted at a trailhead.
Swimming
Hot weather makes the muddy Rio Grande look very inviting, but swimming is not recommended. Water-borne micro-organisms and other waste materials can occur in the river and cause serious illness. The river can be hazardous, even in calm-looking water. Strong undercurrents, deep holes, and shallow areas with sharp rocks and large tree limbs are common and make the Rio Grande unsafe for swimming. If you do choose to swim, wear a life jacket and avoid alcohol.
Border Concerns:
Big Bend National Park shares the border with Mexico for 118 miles. This is a remote region.Visitors should be aware that drug smuggling routes pass through the park.If you see any activity which looks illegal, suspicious, or out of place, please do not intervene. Note your location. Call 911 or report it to a ranger as quickly as possible.Each year hundreds of people travel north through the park seeking to enter the United States. It is possible you could encounter an individual or small group trying to walk through the park with little or no water. Please do not stop, but instead, note your location and immediately call 911 or contact a ranger as soon as possible. Lack of water is a life-threatening emergency in the desert.
Crossings Remain Closed
As a result of a 2002 US Customs and Border Protection decision, there are NO authorized crossings in Big Bend National Park. Crossing at Boquillas, Santa Elena, or other locations along the Rio Grande is prohibited. The closest legal ports of entry are Del Rio and Presidio, Texas.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicated that it will prosecute any criminal violations regarding any illegal crossings. If you re-enter the United States at any point within Big Bend National Park, you may be liable for a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
| Park Rangers and Border Patrol Officers apprehending undocumented aliens inside the park. |
Checkpoints operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection are located on all north/south highways leading to and from the Big Bend area. These checkpoints are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Each vehicle traveling north is met at the checkpoint by a Border Patrol agent for a quick visual inspection and brief questions to determine citizenship. The process is routine, and most stops average less than a minute in duration.Foreign nationals planning to visit the Big Bend region should be sure to carry the appropriate documentation to avoid unnecessary delays, as Border Patrol agents are required to determine the immigration status of every traveler.
Since the border crossing closure of May 2002, Mexican Nationals have been known to approach visitors from across the river to purchase souvenir items (walking sticks, bracelets, crafts, etc.) at certain river locations. If you agree to look at/or purchase their items and the Mexicans cross the river, they may be arrested for being in the U.S. illegally. They will be held until deported back to Mexico through Presidio (100 miles away). Mexican merchants will be arrested for illegal commercial operations which may result in a fine and/or additional incarceration while awaiting adjudication prior to deportation.
Items purchased will be considered contraband and seized by officers when encountered. Rocks, minerals, archeological items etc. cannot be purchased, imported, or possessed in the national park.
In addition, illegal trade impacts the resources of the park in a number of negative ways, including the creation of social trails, the cutting of cane along the river, erosion of riverbanks and an increased amount of garbage and contaminants along the Rio Grande watershed. Supporting this illegal activity contributes to continued damage of the natural resources along the Rio Grande, and jeopardizes the possibility of reopening the crossings in the future.
Ed BollechMexican-made crafts, such as these walking sticks, must be purchased legally through giftshops or bookstores.
Mexican crafts now legally available in the park The Big Bend Natural History Association and Forever Resorts, Inc., and have made arrangements to sell crafts made in Boquillas, Mexico. This enables you to legally purchase goods made in one of the park’s neighboring villages. Walking sticks, copper scorpions, and other craft items are now purchased directly from craft artists in Boquillas, Mexico, processed at a legal U.S. Port of Entry, and sold in Big Bend National Park. Genuine Boquillas-made walking sticks are available at the Panther Junction visitor center. Copper scorpions, and other craft items are available at the gift shop at the Chisos Mountains Lodge, or the camp stores at Castolon, Rio Grande Village, or the Basin. All wholesale proceeds go directly to the artisans in Boquillas, Mexico.
To help maintain this legal endeavor we once again remind you not to purchase any items from individuals selling crafts along the river or at overlooks.
Periodic thefts have been known to occur from unattended vehicles left at locations along the river or in remote campsites or trailhead locations along the River Road. A few simple steps will help prevent damage to your vehicle and theft of contents.
- Secure belongings and lock your vehicle doors when away from your vehicle or the campsite for long periods of time.
- Leave nothing of value visible in your parked vehicle
ENTRANCE FEES
Entrance Passes
All federal lands passes are issued and accepted at Big Bend National Park.
Big Bend Annual Pass: $40 (good for one year)
Covers entrance fees to Big Bend National Park. Pass is available at Big Bend National Park entrance stations or the Panther Junction Visitor Center. Pass is non-transferable.
Vehicle: $20
This fee includes all occupants of a vehicle.
Individuals: $10
This fee applies to motorcycles and bicycles.
Non-commercial groups:
$20 per vehicle, vehicle capacity 15 or less.
$10 per person, vehicle capacity 16 or more. Children 15 and younger are free. Annual and lifetime passes may be used.
Commercial Groups:
$10 per client; passes may not be used. Business is required to obtain commercial use authorization.
Bus tours, 25 person capacity or greater, $200 (commercial use authorization not required).
Educational Groups:
Entrance fees are waived for educational groups, including chaperones, visiting the park as part of their course work. Entrance fee waiver must be submitted at least two weeks prior to visit.
Contact Information:
| Big Bend National Park P.O. Box 129 Big Bend National Park, TX 79834 |
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| Headquarters & Visitor Information 432-477-2251 Weather Information Hotline 432-477-1183 |
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Nearby Attractions:
The McDonald Observatory is located 140 miles northwest of Big Bend National Park on Hwy. 118. McDonald Observatory Visitors’ Information Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Visitors’ Center is the check-in point for all daytime and evening visitor activities. A one-hour guided tour of some of the telescopes is offered at various times. Star parties with night viewing through the telescopes are also offered.
The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center is located 124 miles north of Big Bend National Park on Hwy. 118. The arboretum features a living collection of trees and shrubs from throughout the region, while the greenhouse houses over 240 species of Chihuahuan Desert cacti and succulents that are propagated for research and exhibition. The Visitors’ Center contains exhibits on the natural diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert, as well as the Leapin’ Lizard Nature Shop.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, about 275 miles away from Big Bend, preserves the rugged spirit and remote wilderness of the American West. There, in the ancient mountains that tower so majestically into the Texas sky, a visitor can delight in grand views, diverse landscapes and small pleasures. Campgrounds and Visitor Centers are located at the Park Headquarters near Pine Springs, at McKittrick Canyon, and at Dog Canyon.
Davis Mountains State Park and Indian Lodge State Park are located 130 miles northwest of Big Bend on Hwy. 118. Facilities include camping for tents, full hookups for RVs and showers, as well as an interpretive center, trails for hiking, wildlife viewing areas, and picnic areas. Indian Lodge, located within Davis Mountains State Park, is a historic pueblo-style accommodation with a full-service restaurant and gift shop.
Fort Davis National Historic Site preserves one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars’ frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail. Located 128 miles north of Big Bend National park, the historic site in located in the community of Fort Davis.