First-Timers Information – Bearfoot Idea

Massive Bend Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the most distant Nationwide Parks in the USA. It lies within the coronary heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, stretching throughout West Texas on the border of the USA and Mexico.

I’d heard a variety of nice issues about Massive Bend earlier than I visited, however I wasn’t fairly ready for its magnificence and remoteness. Between the spectacular Chisos Mountains, the towering canyon partitions of the Rio Grande River, and its wealthy organic variety, Massive Bend Nationwide Park left me in awe.

As a result of Massive Bend is so distant and expansive, although, I spent extra time planning my journey than I usually do after I go to Nationwide Parks. I wished to ensure I made essentially the most of my week there.

I’m so glad I did as a result of the sheer measurement of the park is a bit overwhelming! That will help you plan your journey to Massive Bend Nationwide Park, I’ve put collectively this information based mostly on what I discovered and skilled so you possibly can benefit from your Massive Bend Nationwide Park journey.

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Attending to Massive Bend Nationwide Park

Should you take a look at a map you’ll see that Massive Bend is situated in a really distant a part of West Texas. The closest main metropolis is El Paso, which is 4.5 hours away by automobile! There isn’t any public transportation to or inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park, so that you’ll have to drive your self.

Flying in

Should you’re flying in, I like to recommend the El Paso airport. It’s not the closest one (Midland/Odessa is barely nearer), however it should have higher flight choices and you’ll simply lease a automobile in El Paso.

Driving to Massive Bend

Regardless of the place you’re coming from, attending to Massive Bend Nationwide Park isn’t fast or straightforward. This was truly one of many greatest issues that stunned me – it’s a very distant park! Right here are some things I discovered from my drive to Massive Bend:

A visit to Massive Bend Nationwide Park requires a variety of preparation – however the remoteness of the park is precisely why it ought to be in your listing of locations to go to!

When to Go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park

Spring

Spring, for my part, is the most effective time to go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park. I visited in April and the temperatures had been delicate and sunshine was plentiful. I additionally received to see the desert in bloom with stunning spring wildflowers.

However, spring can be the busiest time of 12 months in Massive Bend. March is the most well-liked month to go to, so hold that in thoughts when planning your tip. I did share the paths with a couple of different hikers throughout my go to within the spring, however Massive Bend is not at all as busy because the extra fashionable Nationwide Parks like Yosemite and Grand Tetons.

Summer time

Massive Bend Nationwide Park is open year-round, nonetheless, as you might need guessed, summer season is just not the most effective time to go to. Summer time temps might be above 100 levels on the desert ground.

That being stated, the Chisos Mountains are sometimes 10-20 levels cooler, so when you do go to throughout the summer season I like to recommend sticking to the upper elevations to keep away from excessive warmth.

One other factor to bear in mind is that Might-September is the wet season. Massive Bend can expertise intense thunderstorms and flash floods, so hold your eye on the forecast earlier than you go to.

Fall

Fall can be an excellent time to go to Massive Bend. The temperatures begin to quiet down round late September after the summer season warmth and if it’s been a wet summer season, areas of the park will probably be inexperienced and exquisite.

Winter

Winter is certainly one of my favourite instances of the 12 months to go to Nationwide Parks. Sometimes crowds are approach fewer and I benefit from the quiet and peacefulness of the low season. Massive Bend is a good Nationwide Park to go to between December and February. The daytime temperatures are usually fairly delicate (within the 60s) whereas at night time the temps can drop under freezing (one thing to contemplate if you’re tenting).

Snow is uncommon in Massive Bend, however that being stated, there have been two giant snowstorms in 2021 that shut down the park for a number of days.

The Format of the Park

As I used to be doing analysis on Massive Bend and planning out my journey, I spotted how large the park is! Massive Bend Nationwide Park covers over 800,000 sq. miles. It takes about an hour and a half to drive from Boquillas Canyon on the east aspect to Santa Elena Canyon on the west aspect. Chisos Basin sits nearly straight within the center.

So, once you’re planning out your journey, I like to recommend selecting your actions and tenting or lodging based mostly on every area of the park. That approach you possibly can reduce down on driving. You probably have restricted time, I preferred Chisos Basin and Santa Elena Canyon the most effective – you would skip Boquillas Canyon if you’re quick on time.

The place to Keep

There are a number of choices for the place to remain in Massive Bend together with tenting and motels. I do advocate making a plan forward of time, although – over the previous couple of years, Massive Bend has develop into more and more fashionable and campsites do guide out.

Massive Bend Nationwide Park Tenting

There are 4 established campgrounds situated inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park. There are additionally primitive backcountry dispersed tenting spots and several other tenting choices exterior the park.

Campgrounds inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park

All established campgrounds require superior reservations that may be made as much as 6 months upfront. There isn’t any first come, first serve tenting in Massive Bend’s established campgrounds. 

• Chisos Basin Campground: that is essentially the most centrally situated campground within the park, nonetheless trailers over 20’ and RVs over 24’ usually are not really useful as a result of the street is slender and campsites are small. No hookups can be found at Chisos Basin Campground, however there are flush bathrooms, water, grills, and a dump station.
• Rio Grande Village Campground: situated on the far east aspect of the park, this campground is ready alongside the Rio Grande River amongst a big grove of timber. There are flush bathrooms, water, grills, and a camp retailer with a fuel station, showers, and a laundromat connected.
• Rio Grande Village RV Park: That is the one campground with full hookups in Massive Bend. Websites can be found by cellphone reservation solely (432-477-2293). Websites are situated in a paved lot subsequent to the camp retailer (and adjoining to the campground). Pets are allowed however should be leashed always.
• Cottonwood Campground: situated on the far west aspect of the park, this campground is a quiet, desert oasis close to the favored Santa Elena Canyon. That is essentially the most distant campground within the park with no hookups, no dump station, and no turbines allowed. Pit bathrooms, grills, and water can be found at this campground.

Dispersed Tenting in Massive Bend Nationwide Park

Massive Bend presents the distinctive choice to automobile camp at primitive roadside spots or you possibly can depart your automobile behind and backpack into the desert wilderness to camp.

Primitive roadside spots are situated on backcountry roads – most require a car with good clearance and/or 4×4. I drive a 2WD Ford van and had no points attending to my roadside spot. The ranger on the Customer Heart was capable of assist me choose a web site that may accommodate my van.

Roadside websites are small, flat gravel patches with no bathrooms, water, shade, or different facilities, however they provide superb views and whole solitude within the park. Should you plan to disperse camp in Massive Bend Nationwide Park, please word you will want to pack out all trash, know methods to correctly go to the lavatory exterior, and Depart No Hint.

A $10/night time allow is required for all primitive roadside and backcountry tenting websites. Most websites might be reserved on-line as much as 6 months upfront right here. There are a handful of roadside websites which are solely out there to guide in-person at both Panther Junction or Chisos Basin Customer Heart. I selected this selection throughout my journey and was capable of safe a spot by arriving at opening time (8:30am). This isn’t all the time the case, although, particularly on weekends or anytime throughout the busy season.

Tenting Exterior of Massive Bend Nationwide Park

If you’re unable to safe a campsite inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park, Massive Bend Ranch State Park is shut by and has a handful of campgrounds. I stayed right here on my approach out of the Nationwide Park and the campground I selected was practically empty on a Saturday night time.

Terlingua, Research Butte, and Lajitas additionally supply personal campgrounds inside an hour exterior the park. A roundup of all lodging/tenting choices exterior of Massive Bend Nationwide Park might be discovered right here.

Massive Bend Nationwide Park Lodging

Chisos Mountain Lodge

There is just one resort in Massive Bend Nationwide Park – the Chisos Mountain Lodge. It’s a reasonably primary resort (nothing fancy), but it surely does have nice views and good entry to mountaineering trails within the Chisos Mountains.

Positioned within the coronary heart of the park at 5,400ft elevation, Chisos Mountain Lodge presents quite a lot of rooms and cottages with 360-degree mountain views. As the one non-camping possibility within the park, reservations are extraordinarily restricted and it’s essential guide effectively upfront.

Motels in Terlingua

Terlingua is a small city situated about an hour from the park that has the largest lodging choice exterior of the park. Terlingua is a well known ghost city with a real previous Western really feel – I like to recommend checking it out whether or not or not you intend to remain there.

The Starlight Theatre is a well-known native watering gap recognized for its annual chili cookoff and frequent reside music, and Espresso y Poco Mas is a good breakfast spot.

Greatest issues to do in Massive Bend Nationwide Park

I had a good time exploring all that Massive Bend Nationwide Park has to supply. There are lots of of miles of mountaineering trails, paddling alternatives on the Rio Grande River, scenic drives, and historic landmarks to go to – it really has one thing for everybody!

Go mountaineering

Massive Bend Nationwide Park has three distinct mountaineering areas: desert, mountains, and river. Elevation adjustments between these areas imply that you could select your personal journey based mostly on what terrain you like or what season you’re visiting.

Trails within the park vary from quick, paved paths which are underneath a mile to full-day –  and even multi-day hikes.

My favourite hikes had been:

For more information on these hikes plus different path choices, head to our full roundup of the greatest hikes in Massive Bend Nationwide Park.

Drive the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

This 30-mile drive was one of many highlights of my journey. It showcases nice views of the Chisos mountains and the huge Chihuahuan desert and ends on the stunning Santa Elena Canyon. There are a number of overlooks alongside the street the place I used to be capable of cease and get out for a hike.

If you’re up for journey and have a car with good clearance, contemplate taking Previous Maverick Highway again to the Western Park entrance. This street is barely 14 miles however plan on a one-hour drive as a result of it’s fairly bumpy!

Go to Mexico through the Boquillas Crossing

Massive Bend is the one Nationwide Park with a Port of Entry location. You probably have a legitimate passport, you possibly can go to the small city of Boquillas, Mexico throughout your journey to Massive Bend. The border crossing is situated on the east aspect of the park, near Boquillas Canyon.

You possibly can cross by rowboat ($5/individual roundtrip) or by wading by way of the river if the water degree is low sufficient. There are lots of eating places, meals stalls, and distributors promoting native handicrafts. I didn’t have time to go to Boquillas, but it surely’s such a singular alternative to do whereas visiting a Nationwide Park, and I can’t wait to return to test it out.

Tip: US forex is accepted in Boquillas so no have to alternate cash forward of time.

Paddle the Rio Grande River

Guided or self-guided journeys on the Rio Grande River are an effective way to see Massive Bend Nationwide Park from a special perspective. The river marks the border between the US and Mexico and you’ll select floats from half-day to multi-day excursions. Should you plan to do an impartial river journey, you’ll want to learn the regulation and allow data.

Go to the Scorching Springs Historic District

Positioned alongside the Rio Grande on the east aspect of the park, the Scorching Springs Historic District is a step again in time. Right here, you possibly can see and study in regards to the human historical past of the world relationship again hundreds of years.

I loved taking a look at rock artwork on the limestone cliffs, studying in regards to the Langford household that inhabited the world within the early 1900s, and soaking in pure scorching springs that circulate proper subsequent to the river.

Security Suggestions for Visiting Massive Bend

As a result of Massive Bend Nationwide Park is so distant and has a harsh desert local weather, it’s necessary to be ready on your journey. I made positive to refill on all the pieces I wanted earlier than I made my approach into the park.

Listed here are a couple of security ideas to bear in mind when planning your journey:

Massive Bend Nationwide Park FAQs

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Have you ever been to Massive Bend Nationwide Park or are you planning a visit there? Share your questions, feedback, and experiences within the feedback under!