| Mountain
Trails
Lost Mine
Trail
Distance:
5 Miles
Time Required:
3-4 Hours
Difficulty:
Moderate - Slightly Hard
Highlights:
High mountain trail with spectacular views of Juniper Canyon and the East
Rim, abundant vegetation, frequent sightings of black bear, peregrine falcons
and other birds, and (more rarely) mountain lions. The trail follows
an easy ascent along a shaded path, where at the end of the first mile
the hiker is offered one of the grandest views in the park. The trail
continues its rise, growing steeper and steeper before reaching the summit
of a high ridge. Follow the trail to the end of the ridge where the
freedom of space and the magnificent vistas are well worth the difficulty
of the last mile of the hike.
The Window
Trail & Oak Spring Spur Trail
Distance:
5-6 Miles
Time Required:
3-4 Hours
Difficulty:
Moderate - Slightly Hard
Highlights:
Mountain trail that follows the natural drainage
route from the Basin down to a narrow canyon, ending at the popular feature
called the Window, heavy in trees and shrub vegetation. A wide variety
of birds can be seen. Other sightings include white tail deer, javelina,
black bear and mountain lions. The main trail to the Window is of
moderate difficulty; but keep in mind that the trail descends out and ascends
back. The more adventurous hiker may include the trek up the Oak
Spring Spur Trail, high above the Window, where they are afforded a grand,
panoramic view of the Western section of the park. This portion of
the hike requires a bit more stamina and sure-footedness, as it ascends
steeply along a very narrow edge littered with loose rock, but is well
worth the effort.
South Rim
Trail
Distance:
11-13 Miles
Time Required:
8-10 Hours (can be done as two-day backpacking
trip)
Difficulty:
Hard
Highlights:
High mountain trails that cover a large section of the High Chisos Complex
with a wide variety of natural features, including: heavily forested canyons,
trail-side displays of volcanic make-up, desert and mountain shrubs, intermittent
springs, shaded trails and cool breezes, a wide variety of birds and animal
life, and the master of all views in the park, from the South Rim itself.
This all-day or two-day hike is the ultimate mountain excursion in Big
Bend. The trails out to the South Rim are difficult, involving over
2000 feet of ascent, and at these high elevations the atmosphere is thinner.
Only hikers in reasonably good health should attempt it. If you are
not sure, try doing the other mountain hikes listed above first to test
your stamina and build yourself up to it, before heading out a few days
later on the South Rim Trail. |
Desert
Trails
Hot Springs
Canyon Trail
Distance:
5-6 Miles*
Time Required:
3-5 Hours (allowing for time at the hot springs)
Difficulty:
Moderate
Highlights:
This is my most favorite desert hike. The trail runs the length of
the river from Rio Grande Village to the Historic Hot Springs area.
It offers an excellent introduction to the diverse and very different plantlife
of the desert and river greenbelt, showing how they share the landscape,
sometimes within only a few feet of each other. The trail meanders
to and from the river, from high above and at river level. Bring
a bathing suit (or shorts) and enjoy the soothing 102 degree temperatures
of the natural hot springs along side the Rio Grande.
*This hike can
be done as a one-way trek with transportation arranged at the far end,
making it a 3 mile hike in a much shorter time frame.
Red Rock Canyon
(on the Blue Creek Trail)
Distance:
3-4 Miles
Time Required:
2-4 Hours
Difficulty:
Moderate
Highlights:
This is one of my most favorite high desert hikes. The distance and
time frame depends on how far one might venture up the canyon. There
is a steep descent into the canyon from the overlook of the Homer Wilson
Ranch ruins, which becomes a steep ascent on the way out. Otherwise
the trail is a very moderate incline along Blue Creek as it enters into
Red Rock Canyon. Once in the red rocks area, the hiker is surrounded
by colorful hoodoos of orange and reddish tinge jutting out at varying
angles and density throughout the canyon for a good 3/4 mile or so.
There is a quiet serenity in the canyon, making this hike a very personal,
very spiritual experience.
Santa Elena
Canyon Trail
Distance:
1 Mile
Time Required:
1-2 Hours
Difficulty:
Easy
Highlights:
Except for a short, but steep ascent at the mouth of the canyon, this hike
is very easy to do, making it one of the most popular among visitors to
Big Bend. Of course, the beautiful Santa Elena Canyon, with its shear
walls rising some 1500 feet above river level, impels one to enter its
halls. The view of the canyon from a distance is enough to stir one's
senses. Hiking into it really puts things in perspective. The
trail ends where the canyon walls reach down to the surface of the river.
Sit and listen to the passing of the river, the songs of the cliff swallows
and the rustle of the wind in the river cane.
Grapevine
Hills Trail
Distance:
2 Miles
Time Required:
2 Hours
Difficulty:
Easy - Moderate
Highlights:
Seven miles via a dirt road, generally suitable for most vehicles (check
with park rangers), takes you to the trailhead of Grapevine Hills.
This short hike follows a gradual ascent into a canyon walled with boulders
of varying sizes, looking as though a giant hand sprinkled them over the
land at random. Near the end of the trail is a short, but steep ascent
to a high saddle between the canyon walls where the boulders lay out in
a spread below. Be sure to seek out the natural sculpture called
Balanced Rock, one of the most photographed features of the park.
Rio Grande
Village Nature Trail
Distance:
1 Mile (or less)
Time Required:
1-2 Hours (to really enjoy it)
Difficulty:
Easy
Highlights:
This trail is by far the best place to be around the sunset hour. Read
a detail of this trail on my Big Bend page titled
Surreal
Sunsets and Starry, Starry Nights. |
