Big Bend National Park Tours

1/2 Day Guided Hiking Trip:

All of these tours leave our office at 9am and 1pm.

Window Trail
The trailhead for the Window is located in the Chisos Mountain Basin. The hike is of medium difficulty as we will descend 800 feet in elevation and return up the same path. On the way down to the Window, you will pass through an area of open chaparral vegetation and then traverse through beautiful Oak Creek Canyon with its small tinajas where deer can be seen watering and feeding. At the Window the canyon narrows to only 20 feet and looking out you get a panoramic view of the desert below where Terlingua Ghost Town is visible in the distance on clear days.

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 4 + HOURS
DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM

Lost Mine Trail
The trailhead is at Panther Pass in the Chisos Mountains and serves as an excellent introduction to the plants and animals of the high Chisos Mountains. It starts at 5600 foot elevation and goes upward along the north slope of Casa Grande Peak to the summit with it's spectacular views at an elevation of 6850.

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 4 + HOURS
ROUND-TRIP MILES: 4.6 MILES
DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM

 

Indian Head
This hike starts in Study Butte and is three miles round trip. The name comes from the Indian rock dwellings, metates, and pictographs and petroglphs that are found in the area. There is also a natural spring that runs year round. The rock formations due to wind and weathering are quite spectacular as are the views of the Chisos Mountains.

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 3 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: EASY

All Day Guided Hiking Trip:

All of thess tours leave our office at 9am.

Emory Peak
The trailhead is located in the Chisos Mountain basin. Emory Peak is the highest peak in the complex at 7853 feet. The climb up Pinnacles Trail is steep as well as the Spur Trail to the summit with the last 15 feet requiring some rock scrambling. The superb view reaches deep into Mexico with the Sierra del Carmens and El Pico highly prominent.

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 6 to 8 HOURS
ROUND-TRIP MILES: 9 MILES
DIFFICULTY: HARD

South Rim Loop
The hike starts from the Chisos Mountain basin and is strenuous. We will begin by climbing through Boulder Meadows at the base of Toll Mountain. Beyond Boulder Meadows the trail climbs a series of steep switchbacks through spires of rhyolite to an elevation of 7100 feet at Pinnacles Pass.

The South Rim can be reached by taking the East Rim trail or via a shorter route following the Boot Canyon Trail with excellent views of the "Boot". The South Rim is located on the southwestern edge of the high Chisos Mountains.

From the rim, 2500 feet above the desert floor, you can see Santa Elena Canyon 20 miles to the west and on a clear day you can see the peaks south in Mexico that are more than 80 airplane miles away. The trip then goes through Laguna Meadows, an ancient marchy area where Indians once camped.

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 9 + HOURS
ROUND-TRIP MILES: 14.5 MILES
DIFFICULTY: HARD

Mesa De Anguilla
This hike starts in Lajitas at the base of the mesa. The first hour is a strenuous climb through the "saddle" but once on top you will have a beautiful view of the mountains of Mexico and the river meandering far below as you gaze into Santa Elena Canyon. Enjoy time relaxing at Tinaja Blanco.

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 8 + HOURS
ROUND-TRIP MILES: 14 MILES
DIFFICULTY: HARD

On both half days and full days hiking trips it is required that you bring a backpack, canteen, water (1/2 gallon per person on half days, 1 gallon per person on all days), personal snacks, binoculars, a camera, and sunscreen.

Cattail Falls
This hike starts from a spur road off the Ross Maxwell Scenic drive at the base of the Chisos Mountains. Cattail falls has water year round and is a unique and fragile ecosystem abundant in trees, ferns, cattails and spring and summer flowers. This is one of the few places to see long stemmed Yellow Columbine in the Big Bend. Very lush and very quiet. Butterflies and birds abound in this desert oasis.

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 3 + HOURS
ROUND-TRIP MILES: 3 MILES
DIFFICULTY: EASY

All Day National Park Guided Backroad Trip:

On half day trips we will bring a snack and on full day trips a lunch will be served. Sufficient drinking water is a gallon per person per day. On hotter days you may need even more than this...be sure to bring enough!!!

Visit the magnificent Santa Elena Canyon via the old Maverick Road (dirt) where we'll stop at Luca's Jacal, an old homestead. Once at the canyon, we can stroll to the banks of the Rio Grande, with an option of hiking a quarter mile into the canyon for some spectacular scenery. We'll leave Santa Elena Canyon and travel the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive passing through one of the most diverse regions in the park. There are many opportunities for stopping at different locations to view and learn a little of the history of the area. Lunch will be served at one of the scenic campgrounds in the park.

After lunch we will visit the Chisos Basin where we can take a leisurely stroll to the windows overlook, explore the Basin, visit the ranger station or the gift shop for souvenirs and then it's down the mountains and a trip to the eastern edge of the park to Rio Grande Village and perhaps a short hike to the mouth of Boquillas Canyon. On the way back to Terlingua, we can spend an hour or so at the Rio Grande Hot Springs. (bring a bathing suit and towel)

Day Trips:
On all one day trips lunch is served with selections of deli meats, chips and dips, crackers and cookies, fruit, etc.  For those who have special dietary needs, preferences, etc. arrangements can be offered to accommodate you. 

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 9AM to 5PM

Sunset National Park Trip:

Your journey begins at 6PM from our office where we will load into vans for a trip to Santa Elena Canyon via the old Maverick road.

After a short hike into the canyon, we'll travel the scenic Ross Maxwell Drive to the historic area of Castalon, and then on for a short hike in Tuff Canyon, formed by volcanic ash that covered this area millions of years ago.

Then it's on to Sotol Visita for spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and desert vistas where we all watch the sun go down and toast the magic of the Big Bend with champagne and cheese cake. (Non-alcoholic champagne available for non drinkers and children.)

APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF TRIP: 3 Hour Trip; Start times vary with sunset times.
The time of our sunset tours varies due to the time of the year and daylight saving.

For prices see our price list.

If you enjoy your trip, gratuities for your guide are always appreciated.