Trip Highlights
- Hike the South Rim Trail, the Window Trail, Santa Elena Canyon, and other iconic Big Bend Trails.
- Descend from the "sky island" of the Chisos Mountains down to the Chihuahuan Desert floor.
- Explore one of the largest and most remote National Parks.
- Stargaze in the Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, the world's largest Dark Sky Place.
Activities
This trip is rated Moderate. You should be capable of hiking with a daypack of up to 12 miles with elevation gains/losses of up to 2,100'. Trails comprise packed dirt, sand, and large and/or loose rocks, with steep sections and exposed overlooks. Trip members should have some previous hiking experience and be physically healthy. You should be capable of hiking up to 8 hours a day for five consecutive days.
Gear we Provide
- Trekking Poles
- Emergency Communication Device(s)
- Company-issued first-aid Kit
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Our adventure begins in the multi-cultural border city of El Paso. Following introductions, we begin the three-hour journey to our first hike at the Fort Davis National Historic Site. The park is one of the finest examples of a frontier military post in the American Southwest, with trails that offer sweeping panoramic views of the Fort and nearby Davis Mountains. During our visit, we'll learn how the fort served as a key military encampment during western expansion and hear stories about legendary residents such as the Buffalo Soldiers. We then continue to Alpine, the Gateway to the Big Bend. There is time for a stroll along Alpine's Mural Mile, a brisk hike up Hancock Hill, or to relax at our lodgings before we gather for dinner. Lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at TBD
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We set out for Big Bend National Park and our first hike at Persimmon Gap Draw. This often-overlooked treasure features outstanding views of the oldest exposed geology in the park. We visit the park's Fossil Bone Exhibit, which celebrates 120 million years of paleontological history, and the Panther Junction Visitor Center. Then, traveling the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, our afternoon hike on Burro Mesa is a Chihuahuan Desert classic through a series of narrow gorges leading to a dramatic pour-off. Afterward, we head for Terlingua Ghost Town, where the day ends at our accommodation in a restored mansion, once the stately home of the local mining magnate - our home for the next four nights. Dinner tonight is at the famed Starlight Theatre. All meals included
Overnight Snake River Lodge or Similar.
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NPS Photo/Cookie Ballou
Today, we discover the most famous hike in all of Texas: the South Rim Trail. The biological diversity and geologic history add to the grandeur of the Chisos—an actual "sky island" surrounded by an 'ocean' of the Chihuahuan Desert. This is the only mountain range in the U.S. that is fully contained within the boundaries of a national park. Throughout the day, we are rewarded with countless dramatic viewpoints, including those from the South Rim, which spans miles into the distant Sierra del Carmen Mountains of Mexico and thousands of feet below the Chihuahuan Desert floor. Returning to Terlingua, we dine and then relax at the Perry Mansion. As part of the Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, the world's largest IDA-certified Dark Sky Place, Terlingua is also ideal for stargazing afterward. All meals included.
NPS/L. Bartsch
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NPS Photo/Cookie Ballou
Today, we experience a "triple treat" and explore Big Bend's mountains, desert, and river ecosystems - all in one day. We begin hiking on the Window Trail, which descends through a canyon between majestic mountain peaks. Photo opportunities abound as we leave the Chisos Basin and onto the desert floor via the picturesque Oak Springs Trail. Utilizing a trail not found on maps, we picnic under the shady trees of a desert oasis. Next, we continue down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to Santa Elena Canyon. A short hike showcases sheer limestone walls that tower 1500' above both sides of the Rio Grande. Back in Terlingua, we dine at another favorite locale.
All meals included.
NPS/Mark Schuler -
NPS Photo/Ann Wildermuth
The Mesa de Anguila Trail is a hidden gem seldom explored by Big Bend National Park visitors. The mesa sits high atop Santa Elena Canyon and marks the park's western border. Our hike provides fantastic views of the bends of the Rio Grande, a brilliant example of how the park got its name. We visit the Barton Warnock Center to learn more about the region's incredible natural history and then drive along the Camino del Rio. The road twists and winds with the Rio Grande, crossing arroyos, climbing mountains, and hugging canyon walls. Reaching Big Bend Ranch State Park, we discover the beauty and diversity of this massive 311,000-acre park. Returning to Terlingua, we have free time to explore Ghost Town before we gather for a farewell dinner at the iconic Starlight Theatre. All meals included.
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This morning, we begin our return journey to El Paso, but not before we explore another secret treasure of Big Bend National Park on our hike at Indian Head Mountain. Marvel at ancient petroglyphs, pictographs, and other remnants of the Big Bend's early inhabitants, hidden amongst the mountain's striking volcanic formations. Then, we travel the Texas Mountain Trail back through Alpine to Marfa for a scrumptious lunch at a favorite eatery. Afterward, discover the iconic cultural phenomena of Marfa itself - where West Texas ranching life and modern art collide - on a walking tour at the world-famous Chinati Foundation. There, you can witness the minimalist art of Donald Judd and other well-known international artists. Following, we transfer to El Paso with a planned arrival time of 5:30 pm. Breakfast and lunch are included.
