First-Timers Information – Bearfoot Concept

Large Bend Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the most distant Nationwide Parks in the US. 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 number of nice issues about Large 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, Large Bend Nationwide Park left me in awe.

As a result of Large 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 verify I made probably the most of my week there.

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

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Attending to Large Bend Nationwide Park

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

Flying in

When 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 would have higher flight choices and you may simply hire a automotive in El Paso.

Driving to Large Bend

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

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

When to Go to Large Bend Nationwide Park

Spring

Spring, in my view, is one of the best time to go to Large Bend Nationwide Park. I visited in April and the temperatures have been gentle and sunshine was plentiful. I additionally received to see the desert in bloom with lovely spring wildflowers.

However, spring can be the busiest time of 12 months in Large Bend. March is the preferred month to go to, so maintain 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 Large Bend is in no way as busy because the extra standard Nationwide Parks like Yosemite and Grand Tetons.

Summer season

Large Bend Nationwide Park is open year-round, nonetheless, as you may need guessed, summer season just isn’t one of the best time to go to. Summer season temps may be above 100 levels on the desert ground.

That being mentioned, the Chisos Mountains are sometimes 10-20 levels cooler, so in the event you do go to through 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. Large Bend can expertise intense thunderstorms and flash floods, so maintain your eye on the forecast earlier than you go to.

Fall

Fall can be a very good time to go to Large Bend. The temperatures begin to calm down round late September after the summer season warmth and if it’s been a wet summer season, areas of the park will likely be inexperienced and exquisite.

Winter

Winter is one among my favourite occasions of the 12 months to go to Nationwide Parks. Usually crowds are method fewer and I benefit from the quiet and peacefulness of the low season. Large Bend is a superb Nationwide Park to go to between December and February. The daytime temperatures are usually fairly gentle (within the 60s) whereas at evening the temps can drop under freezing (one thing to think about in case you are tenting).

Snow is uncommon in Large Bend, however that being mentioned, there have been two massive 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 Large Bend and planning out my journey, I noticed how massive the park is! Large 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 facet to Santa Elena Canyon on the west facet. Chisos Basin sits nearly immediately within the center.

So, whenever 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 method you possibly can lower down on driving. You probably have restricted time, I preferred Chisos Basin and Santa Elena Canyon one of the best – you might skip Boquillas Canyon in case you are quick on time.

The place to Keep

There are a number of choices for the place to remain in Large Bend together with tenting and motels. I do advocate making a plan forward of time, although – over the previous couple of years, Large Bend has turn out to be more and more standard and campsites do e book out.

Large Bend Nationwide Park Tenting

There are 4 established campgrounds positioned inside Large Bend Nationwide Park. There are additionally primitive backcountry dispersed tenting spots and a number of other tenting choices exterior the park.

Campgrounds inside Large Bend Nationwide Park

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

• Chisos Basin Campground: that is probably the most centrally positioned campground within the park, nonetheless trailers over 20’ and RVs over 24’ will not be really helpful as a result of the highway 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: positioned on the far east facet of the park, this campground is about alongside the Rio Grande River amongst a big grove of bushes. There are flush bathrooms, water, grills, and a camp retailer with a gasoline station, showers, and a laundromat connected.
• Rio Grande Village RV Park: That is the one campground with full hookups in Large Bend. Websites can be found by telephone reservation solely (432-477-2293). Websites are positioned in a paved lot subsequent to the camp retailer (and adjoining to the campground). Pets are allowed however should be leashed always.
• Cottonwood Campground: positioned on the far west facet of the park, this campground is a quiet, desert oasis close to the favored Santa Elena Canyon. That is probably the most distant campground within the park with no hookups, no dump station, and no mills allowed. Pit bathrooms, grills, and water can be found at this campground.

Dispersed Tenting in Large Bend Nationwide Park

Large Bend gives the distinctive choice to automotive camp at primitive roadside spots or you possibly can depart your automotive behind and backpack into the desert wilderness to camp.

Primitive roadside spots are positioned 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 in a position to assist me decide a web site that might accommodate my van.

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

A $10/evening allow is required for all primitive roadside and backcountry tenting websites. Most websites may 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 e book in-person at both Panther Junction or Chisos Basin Customer Heart. I selected this selection throughout my journey and was in a position to safe a spot by arriving at opening time (8:30am). This isn’t at all times the case, although, particularly on weekends or anytime through the busy season.

Tenting Outdoors of Large Bend Nationwide Park

In case you are unable to safe a campsite inside Large Bend Nationwide Park, Large Bend Ranch State Park is shut by and has a handful of campgrounds. I stayed right here on my method out of the Nationwide Park and the campground I selected was practically empty on a Saturday evening.

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

Large Bend Nationwide Park Lodging

Chisos Mountain Lodge

There is just one resort in Large Bend Nationwide Park – the Chisos Mountain Lodge. It’s a fairly fundamental resort (nothing fancy), however it does have nice views and good entry to climbing trails within the Chisos Mountains.

Positioned within the coronary heart of the park at 5,400ft elevation, Chisos Mountain Lodge gives a wide range of rooms and cottages with 360-degree mountain views. As the one non-camping possibility within the park, reservations are extraordinarily restricted and you’ll want to e book effectively upfront.

Motels in Terlingua

Terlingua is a small city positioned about an hour from the park that has the largest lodging choice exterior of the park. Terlingua is a widely known ghost city with a real outdated 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 dwell music, and Espresso y Poco Mas is a superb breakfast spot.

Finest issues to do in Large Bend Nationwide Park

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

Go climbing

Large Bend Nationwide Park has three distinct climbing areas: desert, mountains, and river. Elevation adjustments between these areas imply that you would be able to select your individual journey based mostly on what terrain you favor 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 have been:

For more information on these hikes plus different path choices, head to our full roundup of the greatest hikes in Large 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 lovely Santa Elena Canyon. There are a number of overlooks alongside the highway the place I used to be in a position to cease and get out for a hike.

In case you are up for journey and have a car with good clearance, think about taking Outdated Maverick Highway again to the Western Park entrance. This highway is simply 14 miles however plan on a one-hour drive as a result of it’s fairly bumpy!

Go to Mexico by way of the Boquillas Crossing

Large 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 Large Bend. The border crossing is positioned on the east facet of the park, near Boquillas Canyon.

You possibly can cross by rowboat ($5/particular person roundtrip) or by wading by way of the river if the water degree is low sufficient. There are various eating places, meals stalls, and distributors promoting native handicrafts. I didn’t have time to go to Boquillas, however it’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 foreign money is accepted in Boquillas so no have to trade 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 Large Bend Nationwide Park from a special perspective. The river marks the border between the US and Mexico and you may select floats from half-day to multi-day excursions. When you plan to do an unbiased river journey, you’ll want to learn the regulation and allow data.

Go to the Sizzling Springs Historic District

Positioned alongside the Rio Grande on the east facet of the park, the Sizzling 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 realm courting again 1000’s of years.

I loved rock artwork on the limestone cliffs, studying in regards to the Langford household that inhabited the realm within the early 1900s, and soaking in pure sizzling springs that move proper subsequent to the river.

Security Ideas for Visiting Large Bend

As a result of Large Bend Nationwide Park is so distant and has a harsh desert local weather, it’s necessary to be ready to your journey. I made certain to top off on every part I wanted earlier than I made my method into the park.

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

Large Bend Nationwide Park FAQs

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