Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chisos Lodge Restaurant
(Lodge Dining Room; Chisos Mountains Lodge; 7-10am, 11am-4pm & 5-8pm) Talk about a captive audi-
ence: it's a 45-minute drive to the next-closest restaurants in Study Butte and Terlingua.
Still, the food here is decent, there are plenty of options, and the staff, for the most part, is
surprisingly cheery and attentive. Try to get a window table, since the sublime Chisos
Basin view is the best thing about this place.
AMERICAN $$
Orientation
Park headquarters and the main visitor center ( 432-477-2251; 8am-6pm) are at Panther Junc-
tion, which is on the main road 29 miles south of the Persimmon Gap entrance and 22
miles east of the Maverick entrance near Study Butte. A Chevron station offers fuel, re-
pairs and a small stock of snacks and beverages.
From Panther Junction, it's a (relatively) short 10-mile drive to the Chisos Basin. Sharp
curves and steep grades make Basin Rd unsuitable for recreational vehicles longer than
24ft and trailers longer than 20ft.
Another major road leads 20 miles southeast to Rio Grande Village, where you can find
the only other fuel pumps within the park (good to know because you're a long way from
anywhere).
Two other principal roads, the 7-mile Basin Rd and 30-mile Ross Maxwell Scenic Dr,
take off from the main park road west of Panther Junction.
Information
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
Big Bend National Park is one of the most remote spots in North America, set amid wild
country with all kinds of potential hazards. This doesn't mean it's an inherently dangerous
place, but it does mean precautions should be taken.
Don't take the heat for granted; this is the desert, after all. Drink lots of water, and take
plenty with you when you hike. To protect against sunburn, wear a hat, sunscreen, long
pants and a long-sleeved shirt. And take a cue from the animals: do your hiking early in
the morning or in the evening, not at midday when the unrelenting sun turns Big Bend in-
to one big Easy-Bake Oven.
Big Bend's poisonous snakes and tarantulas won't attack unless provoked. Simple rule
of thumb? Don't provoke them. Most snakes keep a low profile in daylight, when you're
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