Big Bend NP 2017
Our Texas trip started in 28 Nov, 2017 when I picked Rena up at the El Paso airport in the Eurovan. I had just finished a 4-day Black Canyon mountain bike ride near Phoenix with friends. Rena and I spent about 2 weeks exploring the Big Bend area.
Highlights of the trip were:
-Visiting Davis Mountain State Park and Alpine, which are located about 100 miles north of Big Bend NP. My cousin Don has a second home there and we spent time with him and his family.
-The 2-day South Rim Backpack in the Big Bend National Park was world class. Much of the hike is along a 2,000 foot escarpment with great views of everything South. We also climbed Emery Peak.
-There are many interesting short hikes in the park.
-We really enjoyed Rio Grande Hot Springs which are practically in the Rio Grande River.
-We also liked the short hikes around Rio Grande Village.
-The Castolon area was less visited. We had a great time talking to the caretakers in the Visitors Center and did some short hikes. It rained couple of days of rain which limited our hiking.
-Apache Canyon was a real find. The rock colors are red and orange and we saw an old stone coral and house. We had to walk through the snow to get there.
-Terlingua has lots of western history.
-We drove the River road along the Rio Grande from Terlingua to Marfa which has great scenery.
-Marfa is filled with art. The Donald Judd exhibit is world class. Our stay at the old railway station was great.
-It is a long way from Big Bend to Redondo Beach.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Pick up Rena in El Paso, sleep at Davis Mt State Park
Day 2 - Visit park, sleep at Alaskan RV Park in Alpine
Day 3 - Visit cousin Don and family in Alpine, drive to Big Bend NP, sleep at Grapevine Road camp
Day 4 - Drive to Chisos Basin, hike Windows trail, sleep at Chisos cg
Day 5 - Start 2-day backpack of South Rim, sleep at SE4 camp
Day 6 - Climb Emery Peak and finish backpack, dinner with Don and family, sleep at Chisos cg
Day 7 - Hike Lost Mine Trail, sleep in Chisos cg
Day 8 - Drive to Rio Grande village, visit Hot Springs, hike Boquillas Canyon, hike Nature trail, sleep in Rio Grande cg
Day 9 - Visit Boquillas Mexico, eat at Falcons, visit Sam Nail ranch, drive to Castolon, sleep at Castolon cg
Day 10 - Hike Santa Elena Canyon, Subletts Ruin, Tuff Canyon, visit Visitors Center, sleep at Castolon cg
Day 11 - Visit Apache Canyon in snow, sleep at Study Buttes RV park
Day 12 - Visit Terlingua, Barton-Warnock Visitors Center, Drive River Road, sleep at Arenosa camp in Big Bend State Park
Day 13 - Drive through Presidio to Marfa, visit Chinati Gallery, other galleries, look for Marfa lights, sleep at old train station (airbnb)
Day 14 - Judd Foundation tour, drive toward home, sleep at AZ/NM border
Day 15 - Drive 630 miles, all the way home
Read MoreHighlights of the trip were:
-Visiting Davis Mountain State Park and Alpine, which are located about 100 miles north of Big Bend NP. My cousin Don has a second home there and we spent time with him and his family.
-The 2-day South Rim Backpack in the Big Bend National Park was world class. Much of the hike is along a 2,000 foot escarpment with great views of everything South. We also climbed Emery Peak.
-There are many interesting short hikes in the park.
-We really enjoyed Rio Grande Hot Springs which are practically in the Rio Grande River.
-We also liked the short hikes around Rio Grande Village.
-The Castolon area was less visited. We had a great time talking to the caretakers in the Visitors Center and did some short hikes. It rained couple of days of rain which limited our hiking.
-Apache Canyon was a real find. The rock colors are red and orange and we saw an old stone coral and house. We had to walk through the snow to get there.
-Terlingua has lots of western history.
-We drove the River road along the Rio Grande from Terlingua to Marfa which has great scenery.
-Marfa is filled with art. The Donald Judd exhibit is world class. Our stay at the old railway station was great.
-It is a long way from Big Bend to Redondo Beach.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Pick up Rena in El Paso, sleep at Davis Mt State Park
Day 2 - Visit park, sleep at Alaskan RV Park in Alpine
Day 3 - Visit cousin Don and family in Alpine, drive to Big Bend NP, sleep at Grapevine Road camp
Day 4 - Drive to Chisos Basin, hike Windows trail, sleep at Chisos cg
Day 5 - Start 2-day backpack of South Rim, sleep at SE4 camp
Day 6 - Climb Emery Peak and finish backpack, dinner with Don and family, sleep at Chisos cg
Day 7 - Hike Lost Mine Trail, sleep in Chisos cg
Day 8 - Drive to Rio Grande village, visit Hot Springs, hike Boquillas Canyon, hike Nature trail, sleep in Rio Grande cg
Day 9 - Visit Boquillas Mexico, eat at Falcons, visit Sam Nail ranch, drive to Castolon, sleep at Castolon cg
Day 10 - Hike Santa Elena Canyon, Subletts Ruin, Tuff Canyon, visit Visitors Center, sleep at Castolon cg
Day 11 - Visit Apache Canyon in snow, sleep at Study Buttes RV park
Day 12 - Visit Terlingua, Barton-Warnock Visitors Center, Drive River Road, sleep at Arenosa camp in Big Bend State Park
Day 13 - Drive through Presidio to Marfa, visit Chinati Gallery, other galleries, look for Marfa lights, sleep at old train station (airbnb)
Day 14 - Judd Foundation tour, drive toward home, sleep at AZ/NM border
Day 15 - Drive 630 miles, all the way home
