Highlights From a Week in Big Bend NP

Scott Chandler

Wildness is a necessity- John Muir
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
1,099
When if came to working this winter, Organ Pipe Cactus NM was not my first choice. I was most excited for the opportunity to apply for positions in Big Bend NP. It's a place I had always heard great things about and seemed right up my alley. It is also the type of place that is out of the way enough that I would likely not visit it any time soon. So I was actually pretty crestfallen when that fell through.

Alas, some good fortune did happen! My friends Daniel and Whitney from Katmai had worked things out to volunteer at Big Bend for a few months this winter and were completely open to visitors. With me having to move south anyways, I decided it was reasonable to detour to Texas before swinging to Arizona.

Big Bend completely lived up to my expectations and a good ways beyond. While it has a few of those "grand" spots that everyone loves in the parks, it's a place of much more subtle beauty. The Chihuahuan Desert varies easily across topography and is vibrant with wildlife. Open vistas abound. Roads and trails aren't your nice park service fare, you feel you have to work in Big Bend. Nearly a week was enough to see a lot, but barely scratches the surface. Like any good park experience.

No not bore you with too many details I'll condense this a lot.

Day 1: The Window Trail in the Chisos Mountains.

This was a nice jaunt down from the basin of the Chisos (yeah, a big basin in a mountain range, I didn't expect it) down to a crack that spills off into the valleys below. It was not only a great way to see towerin mountain cliffs but also a great spot to see a riparian environment in the desert. Life was lush and nice here, not quite so pokey as everywhere else. After the Window, I bumped up another trail to get above the crack and get the full view.

Big Bend-3.jpg Big Bend-10.jpg Big Bend-14.jpg Big Bend-28.jpg Big Bend-33.jpg Big Bend-40.jpg Big Bend-45.jpg Big Bend-46.jpg Big Bend-57.jpg Big Bend-60.jpg Big Bend-62.jpg

Day 2: Boquillas Canyon and Boquillas, Mexico, then some Hot Springs

On the second day of my trip, we went down to the US/MX border to check out an interesting situation of border politics. Before 9/11 there were multiple communities that fairly benignly crossed the border and thrived off the tourist industry. Then the border closed and most of these communities disappeared. With a lot of work, one crossing has opened up for tourists to visit the small town of Boquillas. It probably helps that you have to cross in a boat and are multiple hours from any large populace center. This is a tourist spot, pure and simple. We visited a large canyon beforehand to properly time some lunchtime tacos and afterward went to some hot springs back in the park. I didn't picture the springs because they were a funhouse with the Thanksgiving crowds, but I highly recommend sitting in them for a while. Perfect temps.

Big Bend-98.jpg Big Bend-101.jpg Big Bend-111.jpg Big Bend-117.jpg Big Bend-127.jpg Big Bend-129.jpg Big Bend-130.jpg Big Bend-137.jpg Big Bend-140.jpg

Day 3: Mariscal Mountains and Mine

On my third day, we ventured onto the dirt roads of the park and visited the Mariscal Mountain Range south of the Chisos. We didn't really plan this day well so our hike ended up simply being a pleasant stroll in the desert looking at all the blooming Living Rock Cacti. These things are neat, definitely one of the coolest plants I've ever seen. After our fill of flower gawking and sweating our butts off, we went north to the Mariscal Mine, a historic quicksilver, mine. This may be one of the coolest modern historic structures I've seen in the States. It was very ominous, and large, like a movie villain hangout. I'm very happy we got out to it.

Big Bend-149.jpg Big Bend-153.jpg Big Bend-154.jpg Big Bend-158.jpg Big Bend-162.jpg Big Bend-157.jpg Big Bend-166.jpg Big Bend-169.jpg Big Bend-176.jpg Big Bend-178.jpg Big Bend-180.jpg Big Bend-196.jpg Big Bend-199.jpg

Day 4: Santa Elena Canyon

Our fourth day was a mellow day. After Daniel and Whitney went for a trail run we bumped down the the terminus of Santa Elena Canyon. Very big, definitely can see how it was in a park. It was also crawling with people. They were simply everywhere. They made it fun when a rattlesnake decided to hide out in a crevice right by the trail.

Big Bend-213.jpg Big Bend-220.jpg Big Bend-225.jpg

Day 5: Emory Peak and the Chisos Rim

Daniel and Whitney had to work on my fifth visiting day, so I decided to go overboard and put in a lot of miles in the Chisos. How could I visit for so long and not hike to the top of the high point in the park: Emory Peak? So I did that, sorta. The last pitch was doable but more than I felt would yield better views. Someday Ill go up rock pitches willy nilly. The views were pretty spectacular from the bub peak nearby. From there I decided to go to the South Rim of the range. On this stretch I had a bear encounter that was far more threatening than anything I had in Katmai. A black bear sow scratched a tree and hissed at me. My nice, "not bothering you" talk turned pretty indignant. But my bear skills worked, she simply moved on with her babes when she realized she was the big girl. The South Rim was neat, as if the Grand Canyon had no canyon on the other side. Big views. Looping around I made it back to the basin just in time to see if sunlight played well off the rocks.

Big Bend-236.jpg Big Bend-241.jpg Big Bend-244.jpg Big Bend-248.jpg Big Bend-246.jpg Big Bend-259.jpg Big Bend-262.jpg Big Bend-266.jpg Big Bend-268.jpg Big Bend-269.jpg Big Bend-270.jpg Big Bend-274.jpg Big Bend-277.jpg Big Bend-281.jpg Big Bend-285.jpg Big Bend-287.jpg Big Bend-299.jpg Big Bend-303.jpg Big Bend-304.jpg Big Bend-311.jpg

Day 6: Ernst Tinaja and Hot Springs Canyon Overlook

Day 6, my final day, Thanksgiving. We had big dinner plans for the folks not hanging out with family tonight so I didn't want to do anything too crazy, yet had to still see some of the park. I drove out to a spot I'd seen neat pictures of, the Ernst Tinaja. Apparently down south, potholes are called tinajas. I like it more honestly. This one was especially cool because it sat in a canyon that had been worked on by geological forces very well. All I will say is "LINES!" After wandering in that canyon a bit I bumped around to the eastern end of Hot Springs Canyon to take one final look at the Rio Grande, the border river. Pretty neat that this natural feature separates two countries.

Big Bend-317.jpg Big Bend-318.jpg Big Bend-322.jpg Big Bend-320.jpg Big Bend-325.jpg Big Bend-336.jpg Big Bend-343.jpg Big Bend-349.jpg Big Bend-353.jpg Big Bend-363.jpg Big Bend-365.jpg Big Bend-366.jpg Big Bend-369.jpg Big Bend-370.jpg

More glorious times in national parks, our lands that we decide the federal government can manage. Love em and I'll get back to Big Bend one day. There's still a lot more there to see.
 

Attachments

  • Big Bend-1.jpg
    Big Bend-1.jpg
    52.4 KB · Views: 42
I did many of the same hikes over Thanksgiving (The Window, Santa Elena Canyon, Ernst Tinaja, plus a big loop in the Chisos up Pinnacle Peak to the south and northeast rims). The park hadn't really been on my radar, but a friend pulled together a small group on short notice and I was available to join.

Ernst Tinaja was by far my favorite. We spent an exorbitant amount of time gawking at the folds and faults near the tinaja, then went up the dryfall in your picture and over a few other fun obstacles until the canyon opened back up.
 
Ernst Tinaja was by far my favorite. We spent an exorbitant amount of time gawking at the folds and faults near the tinaja, then went up the dryfall in your picture and over a few other fun obstacles until the canyon opened back up.

Isn't that spot amazing!?!? The forces of rocky Earth are so visible there. And all the colors!
 
Interesting stuff. Are there many bears as far down as Texas, New Mexico and Arizona?

Sorta, yes and yes. Black bears have very healthy and stable populations in AZ and NM as far as I know. Smokey the Bear is from NM.

Texas is another matter. Black bears were actually exterminated and pushed from the area before Big Bend became a park. With ranching quelled, roaming bears from Mexico repopulated the Chisos Mtns. According to my friends there are about 30 bears in the Chisos, a lot for the space. It may be a story I look farther into once I'm fairly settled on what I need to know at my new monument.

No infamous Mexican Grizzlies though. :( Gone are those days.
 
Love the Chisos. One of my favorite places to visit when the season makes most of the rest of the Rockies pretty inaccessible. Next time you go, be sure and check out the Grapevine Hills trail, and Dagger Flats. All of those dagger yucca plants made it feel like you'd almost expect a dinosaur to be lurking right around the corner.

There's pretty fun stuff in Big Bend Ranch State park right next door, too. I really remember liking the Contrabando movie set and there's a pretty nifty slot canyon right off the main road.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Ross Photo highlights from an old Utah trip Everything Else 7
steve 2015 Winter Outdoor Retailer Show Highlights Gear 32
John Fowler Hitting the Highlights Hiking & Camping 21
S Titcomb Basin week itinerary options? Trip Planning 11
fossana A challenging week on the Escalante Overland Route Backpacking 21
Janice Wonderful Week in the Winds Backpacking 7
radioradio Sad Cowboy Traverse - A Week in Escalante Backpacking 12
dennisrodman A week in the Grand Canyon / Boucher / Hermit / Tonto Trail Trip Planning 4
Outdoor_Fool Week-long Ramble Through Southern Yellowstone Backpacking 22
Outdoor_Fool A week in the Big Belly Backpacking 20
forest dweller Invite update / edit - have off second and third week in August - wanting to backpack in Glacier, Olympic or Yellowstone, hinges on finding companions. Meet Up (Members Only) 37
J Trip first week of April 2021 Southern UT/Anywhere AZ - Death Hollow, Coyote Gulch, or other suggestions? Trip Planning 9
TrektheWorld St. George - Thanksgiving Week Everything Else 7
scatman Yellowstone Lake - A Two Week Paddle Trip - July 28, 2019 On The Water 44
RyanP Lower Death Hollow next week (late May/early June), miscellaneous questions Trip Planning 16
scatman Yellowstone Lake - 2 Week Canoe Trip - Summer 2019 Trip Planning 24
W 3-4 days in the Sawtooths, first week of June 2019 Trip Planning 16
Titans This week- Kanab, Arizona strip Trip Planning 13
Titans 3 week Arizona road trip: Tucson Desert Rain & Hiking SAGUARO NP Hiking & Camping 1
wsp_scott A week in the Sierra Nevada Backpacking 23
Glasterpiece A week between Kingman and Williams, AZ Trip Planning 0
regehr Aspen this week Trip Planning 10
Mike Jones Big Sur or Zion Next Week? Trip Planning 20
LarryBoy A week in Zion... Advice needed! Trip Planning 7
Cburton A week along the Continental Divide in Wind River Range Backpacking 20
T Water availability next week in Cedar Mesa & Escalante areas Trip Planning 5
b.stark If you had a week in Utah... Trip Planning 32
TrektheWorld Meetup in the desert Thanksgiving week? Meet Up (Members Only) 1
Tystevens Buckskin or Coyote this week? Trip Planning 3
BryanG A week on Cedar Mesa Hiking & Camping 3
regehr Rattlesnake Creek / Ashdown Gorge this week? Trip Planning 7
Tanasi 50 mile trip suggestions for 1st week of August? Trip Planning 19
T Questions about next week in White Cloud Wilderness Trip Planning 2
Scott Chandler A Week in Cedar Mesa's Canyons, Part 2 Backpacking 8
Scott Chandler A Week in Cedar Mesa's Canyons, Part 1 Hiking & Camping 1
Mike Jones 1 Week Grand Canyon trip Backpacking 2
andyjaggy Sawtooths first week of July Trip Planning 19
powderglut 2 Week Trip Paria/Vermilion, GSENM and Maybe Hanksville Trip Planning 4
hikerboy maine-100 miles wilderness- a week in the woods Backpacking 6
JoshuaDyal West Fork Blacks Fork, week of June 29th Backpacking 13
Elf Owl Southern UT: week after next Trip Planning 0
mike54704 Backpacking in Coyote Gulch the first week of March Trip Planning 26
mike54704 Anyone know how the trail to Conundrum Hot Springs in CO would be the first week of March? Trip Planning 5
Matt Price A remote week-long trip, Late-may/Early June, Utah or the Southwest Trip Planning 34
Tye Dye Twins An Epic Week and an Epic Start to 2015! Winter Sports 10
I Misery Canyon - next week (wetsuits?) Trip Planning 5
Reid First Week of June Trip - Wind River? Tetons? Trip Planning 9
M Coyote Gulch next week and footwear recommendations? Trip Planning 1
J Question? Temp in GC next week? Trip Planning 1
Nick How to spend a week in the Winds Trip Planning 6

Similar threads

Back
Top