Massive Bend Nationwide Park is among 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 numerous 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 once I go to Nationwide Parks. I needed to verify I made essentially 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 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’ll be able to take advantage of your Massive Bend Nationwide Park journey.
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Attending to Massive Bend Nationwide Park
Should you have 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 a public transportation to or inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park, so that you’ll must 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 would have higher flight choices and you may 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 simple. This was really one of many greatest issues that shocked 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 numerous preparation – however the remoteness of the park is precisely why it must be in your listing of locations to go to!
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When to Go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park
Spring
Spring, in my view, 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 obtained to see the desert in bloom with lovely spring wildflowers.
However, spring can be the busiest time of yr in Massive Bend. March is the preferred 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 on no account as busy because the extra fashionable Nationwide Parks like Yosemite and Grand Tetons.
Summer time
Massive Bend Nationwide Park is open year-round, nevertheless, as you might need guessed, summer season shouldn’t be the very best time to go to. Summer time temps will be above 100 levels on the desert flooring.
That being mentioned, the Chisos Mountains are sometimes 10-20 levels cooler, so in case 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 hold your eye on the forecast earlier than you go to.
Fall
Fall can be a great 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 shall be inexperienced and exquisite.
Winter
Winter is certainly one of my favourite instances of the yr to go to Nationwide Parks. Usually 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 under 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 massive 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 nearly straight within the center.
So, if 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 minimize down on driving. When you’ve got restricted time, I favored Chisos Basin and Santa Elena Canyon the very best – you can 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 resorts. I do suggest 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 e book 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 outdoors 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 a 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, nevertheless trailers over 20’ and RVs over 24’ will not be advisable as a result of the street is slim 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: situated 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 gasoline 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 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 have to be leashed always.
- Cottonwood Campground: situated on the far west facet 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 mills allowed. Pit bogs, grills, and water can be found at this campground.
Dispersed Tenting in Massive Bend Nationwide Park
Massive Bend provides the distinctive choice to automobile camp at primitive roadside spots or you’ll be able to depart your automobile behind and backpack into the desert wilderness to camp.
Primitive roadside spots are situated 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 Middle was capable of assist me decide a website that will accommodate my van.
Roadside websites are small, flat gravel patches with no bogs, water, shade, or different facilities, however they provide wonderful views and whole solitude within the park. Should you plan to disperse camp in Massive Bend Nationwide Park, please notice you will have to pack out all trash, know correctly go to the lavatory outdoors, and Depart No Hint.
A $10/night time allow is required for all primitive roadside and backcountry tenting websites. Most websites will be reserved on-line as much as 6 months upfront right here. There are a handful of roadside websites which are solely obtainable to e book in-person at both Panther Junction or Chisos Basin Customer Middle. 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 through the busy season.
Tenting Outdoors of Massive Bend Nationwide Park
In case you are 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 practically empty on a Saturday night time.
Terlingua, Research Butte, and Lajitas additionally supply personal campgrounds inside an hour outdoors the park. A roundup of all lodging/tenting choices outdoors of Massive Bend Nationwide Park will 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 primary lodge (nothing fancy), nevertheless it does have nice views and good entry to mountain climbing trails within the Chisos Mountains.
Situated within the coronary heart of the park at 5,400ft elevation, Chisos Mountain Lodge provides a wide range of rooms and cottages with 360-degree mountain views. As the one non-camping choice within the park, reservations are extraordinarily restricted and you could e book effectively upfront.
Resorts in Terlingua
Terlingua is a small city situated about an hour from the park that has the largest lodging choice outdoors 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 dwell 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 lots of of miles of mountain 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 mountain climbing
Massive Bend Nationwide Park has three distinct mountain climbing areas: desert, mountains, and river. Elevation modifications between these areas imply that you could 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 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 lovely 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.
In case you are up for journey and have a automobile with good clearance, contemplate taking Previous Maverick Street 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 by way of the Boquillas Crossing
Massive Bend is the one Nationwide Park with a Port of Entry location. When you’ve got 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 situated on the east facet of the park, near Boquillas Canyon.
You’ll be able to cross by rowboat ($5/particular person roundtrip) or by wading by means of the river if the water stage is low sufficient. There are a lot of 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 change 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 distinct perspective. The river marks the border between the US and Mexico and you may select floats from half-day to multi-day excursions. Should you plan to do an unbiased river journey, make sure you learn the regulation and allow data.
Go to the Sizzling Springs Historic District
Situated 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’ll be able to see and study concerning the human historical past of the realm courting 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 movement 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 on your journey. I made positive to refill on all the pieces I wanted earlier than I made my manner into the park.
Listed here are a couple of security ideas to remember when planning your journey:
Massive Bend Nationwide Park FAQs
Entry into Massive Bend Nationwide Park is $30 per automobile. This move is legitimate for 7 days. Should you’ll be visiting extra Nationwide Parks all year long, I like to recommend getting the Annual Nationwide Parks Move which, for $80, provides 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 wish to see and do! I like to recommend spending at the very least 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 right.
Sure, Massive Bend is open year-round. Nevertheless, summers will 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 under!
