Massive Bend Nationwide Park is likely 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 loads 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 verify I made probably 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 realized and skilled so you’ll be able to benefit from your Massive Bend Nationwide Park journey.
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Attending to Massive Bend Nationwide Park
For those who take a look at a map you’ll see that Massive 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 automobile! There is no such thing as a public transportation to or inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park, so that you’ll must drive your self.
Flying in
For those who’re flying in, I like to recommend the El Paso airport. It’s not the closest one (Midland/Odessa is barely nearer), however it is going to have higher flight choices and you may simply hire a automobile in El Paso.
Driving to Massive Bend
Irrespective of the place you’re coming from, attending to Massive Bend Nationwide Park isn’t fast or simple. This was really one of many greatest issues that shocked me – it’s a very distant park! Right here are some things I realized from my drive to Massive Bend:
A visit to Massive Bend Nationwide Park requires loads of preparation – however the remoteness of the park is precisely why it must be in your record of locations to go to!
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When to Go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park
Spring
Spring, for my part, is the very best time to go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park. I visited in April and the temperatures had been delicate and sunshine was plentiful. I additionally acquired to see the desert in bloom with stunning spring wildflowers.
However, spring can also be the busiest time of 12 months in Massive Bend. March is the most well-liked month to go to, so preserve that in thoughts when planning your tip. I did share the paths with just a few different hikers throughout my go to within the spring, however Massive Bend is on no account as busy because the extra widespread 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 very best time to go to. Summer time temps may be above 100 levels on the desert ground.
That being mentioned, the Chisos Mountains are sometimes 10-20 levels cooler, so should 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 remember is that Might-September is the wet season. Massive Bend can expertise intense thunderstorms and flash floods, so preserve your eye on the forecast earlier than you go to.
Fall
Fall can also be a superb time to go to Massive 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 might be inexperienced and exquisite.
Winter
Winter is considered one of my favourite occasions of the 12 months to go to Nationwide Parks. Sometimes crowds are manner 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 beneath freezing (one thing to think about in case you are tenting).
Snow is uncommon in Massive Bend, however that being mentioned, there have been two massive snowstorms in 2021 that shut down the park for a number of days.
The Structure of the Park
As I used to be doing analysis on Massive Bend and planning out my journey, I noticed how huge 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 facet to Santa Elena Canyon on the west facet. Chisos Basin sits virtually straight 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 manner you’ll be able to lower down on driving. You probably have restricted time, I appreciated Chisos Basin and Santa Elena Canyon the very best – you may 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 Massive Bend together with tenting and inns. I do suggest making a plan forward of time, although – over the previous few years, Massive Bend has change into more and more widespread and campsites do e book out.
Massive Bend Nationwide Park Tenting
There are 4 established campgrounds positioned inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park. There are additionally primitive backcountry dispersed tenting spots and a number of 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 prematurely. There is no such thing as a first come, first serve tenting in Massive 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’ aren’t really useful 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 bogs, water, grills, and a dump station.
- Rio Grande Village Campground: positioned on the far east facet of the park, this campground is ready alongside the Rio Grande River amongst a big grove of timber. There are flush bogs, water, grills, and a camp retailer with a fuel station, showers, and a laundromat hooked up.
- Rio Grande Village RV Park: That is the one campground with full hookups in Massive 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 have to 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 turbines allowed. Pit bogs, grills, and water can be found at this campground.
Dispersed Tenting in Massive Bend Nationwide Park
Massive Bend affords the distinctive choice to automobile camp at primitive roadside spots or you’ll be able to go away your automobile behind and backpack into the desert wilderness to camp.
Primitive roadside spots are positioned on backcountry roads – most require a automobile 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 choose a website that might accommodate my van.
Roadside websites are small, flat gravel patches with no bogs, water, shade, or different facilities, however they provide superb views and complete solitude within the park. For those who plan to disperse camp in Massive Bend Nationwide Park, please notice you have to 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 may be reserved on-line as much as 6 months prematurely right here. There are a handful of roadside websites which can be solely accessible to e book in-person at both Panther Junction or Chisos Basin Customer Heart. I selected this feature 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 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 manner out of the Nationwide Park and the campground I selected was almost empty on a Saturday night time.
Terlingua, Examine Butte, and Lajitas additionally provide non-public campgrounds inside an hour exterior the park. A roundup of all lodging/tenting choices exterior of Massive Bend Nationwide Park may be discovered right here.
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Massive Bend Nationwide Park Lodging
Chisos Mountain Lodge
There is just one lodge in Massive Bend Nationwide Park – the Chisos Mountain Lodge. It’s a fairly fundamental lodge (nothing fancy), nevertheless it does have nice views and good entry to climbing trails within the Chisos Mountains.
Situated within the coronary heart of the park at 5,400ft elevation, Chisos Mountain Lodge affords quite a lot of rooms and cottages with 360-degree mountain views. As the one non-camping choice within the park, reservations are extraordinarily restricted and it’s worthwhile to e book nicely prematurely.
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 well 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 stay music, and Espresso y Poco Mas is a good breakfast spot.
Finest 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 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
Massive Bend Nationwide Park has three distinct climbing areas: desert, mountains, and river. Elevation modifications 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 can be below 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 finest 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 highway the place I used to be in a position to cease and get out for a hike.
If you’re up for journey and have a automobile with good clearance, think about taking Previous Maverick Street again to the Western Park entrance. This highway is just 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’ll be able to go to the small city of Boquillas, Mexico throughout your journey to Massive Bend. The border crossing is positioned on the east facet of the park, near Boquillas Canyon.
You’ll be able to cross by rowboat ($5/individual roundtrip) or by wading by the river if the water stage is low sufficient. There are numerous eating places, meals stalls, and distributors promoting native handicrafts. I didn’t have time to go to Boquillas, nevertheless 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 forex is accepted in Boquillas so no must trade cash forward of time.
Paddle the Rio Grande River
Guided or self-guided journeys on the Rio Grande River are a good way to see Massive Bend Nationwide Park from a unique perspective. The river marks the border between the US and Mexico and you may select floats from half-day to multi-day excursions. For those who plan to do an impartial river journey, you’ll want to learn the regulation and allow info.
Go to the Scorching Springs Historic District
Situated alongside the Rio Grande on the east facet of the park, the Scorching Springs Historic District is a step again in time. Right here, you’ll be able to see and study concerning the human historical past of the realm relationship again 1000’s of years.
I loved rock artwork on the limestone cliffs, studying concerning the Langford household that inhabited the realm within the early 1900s, and soaking in pure sizzling springs that circulate proper subsequent to the river.
Security Ideas for Visiting Massive Bend
As a result of Massive Bend Nationwide Park is so distant and has a harsh desert local weather, it’s vital to be ready to your journey. I made positive to fill up on all the pieces I wanted earlier than I made my manner into the park.
Listed here are just a few security suggestions to remember when planning your journey:
Massive Bend Nationwide Park FAQs
Entry into Massive Bend Nationwide Park is $30 per automobile. This go is legitimate for 7 days. For those who’ll be visiting extra Nationwide Parks all year long, I like to recommend getting the Annual Nationwide Parks Cross which, for $80, offers you entry to all Nationwide Parks across the US.
Tenting charges range relying on the campground.
Cell service is fairly spotty in Massive Bend Nationwide Park. Areas the place there’s dependable service are the Chisos Basin space and Panther Junction.
That is determined by how a lot you need to see and do! I like to recommend spending a minimum of three days exploring Massive Bend. If you wish to actually get to know the park or to exit on a multi-day tour, 5-7 days is good.
Sure, Massive Bend is open year-round. Nevertheless, summers may be extraordinarily sizzling.
Extra Southwest Nationwide Parks
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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 beneath!