Big Bend is the 40th-most-visited National Park in the US, which means, that while it sees 500k-ish visitors annually, it’s still a bit of a mystery to a lot of people thinking of taking their first trip there. After two visits to Big Bend, and covering a lot of ground, we decided to compile a list of things to know before visiting Big Bend National Park in West Texas.
It’s Remote, Like, Really Remote
There’s only one town (Terlingua) with a gas station and grocery store that is less than an hour away. In fact, if you’re staying down here, this is likely where you’ll make home base if you’re not staying in the lodge inside the National Park. You can get basic things, including gas, within the park, but Terlingua’s prices are better. Terlingua will brag that it’s minutes from the border of the national park, which is true, but it’s minutes to the remote part of the park without trails. Just as a heads up – expect at least an hour drive to get out and do one of the popular hikes.
Get Gas When You See It Available, Especially Outside of the Park
This is especially important when traveling to and from the park. Because it is so remote, there are times that you could very easily run out of gas. So, don’t push it leaving the park or even within the park. We liked to get just go ahead and fill up between a quarter and half a tank.
This is A Park That is Truly Most Enjoyed On Foot
There are parks that you could spend several days in just driving through and taking on a couple easy paved trails (think Yosemite & Yellowstone), but I don’t think I would call Big Bend one of those parks. It’s one you could still visit for a trip like that for a couple of days, but this is a park where many of the best views and experiences come at the end of hiking trails.
The Summers Here are Unbearably Hot
In summers temps skyrocket down here. The late mornings are often already 100+ degrees. The National Park Service recommends that people stay off trails in the afternoons. It’s truly brutal down there. The recommended time to visit is October-April. I’ve been in February and in March and they were both beautiful, but still remember to drink plenty of water!
Prepare for A Lot of Sun Exposure
Speaking of heat, even in the cooler, peak season, it can be easy to get a sunburn or even heat exhaustion from overexposure to the sun. It’s mostly desert, after all, which means that there are several expanses of just hot sandy landscapes. Even when there are canyons or mountains, the sun has to be just right to have shade even in these areas. So, be prepared with plenty of water and a sunhat!
These Are the Darkest Skies in the Continental US
The stars at night are indeed big and bright deep in the heart of Texas, especially in far west Texas. Truly, these are the darkest skies in the Continental US. If you’re interested in peeping the Milky Way or constellations, this is the perfect place to do it! Some things to think of bringing with you if you want to see or capture them are: a red light headlamp or a red light flashlight, a camp chair of some sort (we have standard or rocker ones for near our camper or a folding one if you’re going for a hike) and a tripod.
Be Wildlife Aware: Mountain Lions, Snakes and Bears, Oh My!
I’m one who likes to be prepared for wildlife that could be potentially harmful. I want to know what I could come upon on a hike. In Big Bend animals that could harm you are mountain lions, bears, copperheads, Western diamondback rattlesnake, Mojave rattlesnake, black-tailed rattlesnake, and mottled rock rattlesnake are the biggest and most dangerous threats to humans while hiking and exploring Big Bend. Coyotes and bobcats are present and can attack, and peccary are often territorial but these threats are less. Now, to be clear, I’ve never seen any of these animals on trails – we did have a coyote in out campground – but they’re good to be aware of and how to react if you see them or are attacked or bitten.
Be Sure To Book Your Accommodation in Advance
Because most people visit Big Bend between October and April and there aren’t many towns nearby, accommodation can really book up during these times. So, I would try to book accommodation as soon as you know you want to visit. Within the park, options are limited and there are no walk-in sites – all require a reservation. Even back country sites are said to fill up quickly.
If You Want to Cross the Border Into Mexico, You Will Need a Passport
Crossing into Mexico does indeed require a valid passport, even if you’re only popping over for the day. And a passport for everyone is required. There is a border patrol on either side, but if you’re looking forward to getting a stamp in your passport, they’re no longer stamping them – a huge bummer for us because this was our kids’ first time out of the country.
AND The Boquillas del Carmen Border Isn’t Open Daily
You’re not able to pass into Mexico to Boquillas del Carmen every day. In the peak winter season (November 2nd – April 28th) the border is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. If you’re there outside of this window, it’s only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9am to 4pm. If this is part of your plan for your visit to Big Bend – which we recommend – be sure to plan the timing of your trip around their opening hours.
The Landscapes Here Are Shockingly Diverse
While it is true that a lot of the land here is desert, it’s more than just flat, sandy desertscape. There are mountains, there are deep and shallow canyons, washes and pour offs, the Rio Grande itself and the Hot Spring it holds. There is just so much to see here! Check out our Top 10 Things to See in Big Bend!
And The Wildlife Is Diverse Too
In addition to the landscapes being diverse, there are also several species of different animals. Big horn sheep, roadrunners, coyotes… you never know what you’re going to come across within the park. Luckily, not all of them are potentially harmful (like the ones I mentioned above), but each one is unique. So, keep your eyes open!
Cell Service is Scarce
Don’t bank on cell service. Be prepared for hikes, especially in the backcountry or if you’re hiking solo. Just last year a hiker went missing (and was luckily found 10 days later) on a popular day hike that I’ve personally done twice. Matt just bought me a Garmin inReach this year for our anniversary because I’ve bene doing a lot more solo hiking trips and it gives me so much peace of mind.
The High Clearance Road Here are Intense
You’ll not only want to have a high clearance vehicle, but you’ll probably want some decent off road shocks and tires. We tried taking our Chevy Silverado 2500 (standard tires) and it was so rough we turned around after a couple of miles and decided against a hiking trail that required multiple miles on a road because we felt beat up after less than 5 miles.
Gear We Highly Recommend For a Trip to Big Bend National Park
Water is the most important thing to pack with you on hikes, even in the cooler temps of the higher elevation – and don’t just carry it, drink it. We love our Nalgene bottles with the wide mouth because they’re super easy to clean. It’s important to pack snacks to keep fueled up too! Our go-to hiking snacks are slim jims or beef jerky, granola bars, M&Ms, gummy pouches, nuts and fresh fruit. Always remember to leave no trace by packing it in and pack it out – even fruit peels, pits, seeds and cores.
Now let’s talk about what footwear we wore in Big Bend National Park. We both love our Merrell hiking boots (men’s option & women’s option) and wore them the majority of the time in the park. We’re also both obsessed with these Merrell hiking socks – they’re unisex and come in sizes S/M and M/L. I did wear my Teva Hurricanes one morning hiking because I knew we were going to the Hot Spring and I wanted to be able to easily take my shoes off and put them on without socks sticking to them.
These are the hiking sticks I’ve used in the past and my parents still use! I love that they’re easy to fold down and com in several different colors. As far as backpacks go, I’m obsessed with my Osprey Daylite daypack when I’m not carrying the kiddos. It has plenty of space or a day hike but is super lightweight. If we’re carrying kids, I can’t recommend the Deuter Kid Comforts enough. Read more about why we love them in this post.
I hope that these tips help to make your time in Big Bend National Park more fun, have you feeling more prepared and get you excited about your own adventure in far west Texas!
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