Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HIKING BIG BEND
With over 200 miles of trails to explore, it's no wonder hiking is big in Big Bend. Here are some of the most pop-
ular hikes; get specifics from the visitor center or pick up the
Hiker's Guide to Trails of Big Bend National Park
($1.95 at park visitor centers) for more choices.
Chisos Mountains Hikes
Window View Trail (0.3 miles)
The absolute lowest amount of commitment is this short trail that leaves from
behind the basin's convenience store. It's paved and wheelchair-accessible - perfect for nonhikers or for anyone
who wants to watch the sunset over the Window.
Chisos Basin Loop Trail (1.6 miles)
Also leaving from the basin store, this trail offers nice views of the basin
and a relatively large amount of shade provided by the Mexican piñons and alligator junipers.
Window Trail (4.4 miles)
This popular trail has a great payoff: after descending into scrub brush, you enter a
shady canyon and scramble around on some rocks, then the trail suddenly ends with a narrowed pass and a 200ft
drop-off. Leave from the campground trailhead to shave more than a mile off the hike. The return is steep and un-
shaded; this trail is best done in the morning.
Lost Mine Trail (4.8 miles)
Another really popular trail, this one is all about views, which just get better and bet-
ter as you climb over 1000ft in elevation. If you're not up for the full climb, which ends with a series of switch-
backs, you can get a pretty good payoff with impressive views just a mile in.
Emory Peak (9 miles)
Sturdy hikers can bag the highest peak at Big Bend on the 9-mile portion of the Pinnacles
Trail complex. Be prepared to climb at the finish: it ends with a short scramble up a sheer rock wall.
South Rim (13 to 14.5 miles)
Many serious hikers say this is their favorite trek, mainly because of the view at
the end: from the South Rim, the vista includes Santa Elena Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen. Consult with the
visitor center for your best plan of attack.
Desert Hikes
Grapevine Hills Trail (2.2 miles)
The highlight of this fascinating desert hike near Panther Junction is Balanced
Rock, a much-photographed formation of three acrobatic boulders that form an inverted-triangle 'window.' After
hiking almost a mile in, you'll climb a quarter of a mile over some rocks to reach the window.
Mule Ears Spring (3.8 miles)
Bring your hat for this pretty desert hike that crosses several arroyos before lead-
ing you to a small spring, a rock corral and a small adobe house.
The Chimneys (4.8 miles)
With no shade, the sun can be brutal, but the trail is mercifully flat. Your reward is
rock formations and Native American pictographs and petroglyphs.
Riverside Hikes
Rio Grande Village Nature Trail (0.75 miles)
Beginning at campsite 18 at the Rio Grande Village campground,
the trail passes through dense vegetation before emerging into the desert for a view of the Rio Grande. This is a
good short trail for birding and photography.
Hot Springs Historic Walk (1 mile)
On the way to the hot springs - a stone tub brimming with 105°F spring wa-
ter at the river's edge - you'll pass historic buildings and Native American pictographs painted on rock walls.
Boquillas Canyon Trail (1.4 miles)
After a short climb, you'll descend a sandy path to the river. Leave time to
play on the sand slide and enjoy the sunlight dancing on the canyon walls.
