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 a number 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 sometimes do once I go to Nationwide Parks. I wished to ensure I made probably 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 can assist 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 may take advantage of your Massive Bend Nationwide Park journey.
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Attending to Massive Bend Nationwide Park
If you happen to take 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
If you happen to’re flying in, I like to recommend the El Paso airport. It’s not the closest one (Midland/Odessa is barely nearer), however it should have higher flight choices and you’ll simply lease 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 straightforward. 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:
Distances between cities in West Texas are huge. Make sure you might be highway trip-ready with fuel, meals, water, and all of the tenting provides you want. There are 4 comfort shops and a couple of fuel stations situated inside the park, nonetheless, they are often restricted in provides so don’t depend on them. The closest cities to top off earlier than heading into Massive Bend are Alpine (coming from El Paso) and Fort Stockton (coming from Midland).
A visit to Massive Bend Nationwide Park requires a number of preparation – however the remoteness of the park is strictly why it needs to be in your checklist of locations to go to!
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When to Go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park
Spring
Spring, for my part, is the most effective time to go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park. I visited in April and the temperatures have been gentle and sunshine was plentiful. I additionally received to see the desert in bloom with lovely spring wildflowers.
However, spring can also be the busiest time of 12 months in Massive Bend. March is the preferred month to go to, so maintain 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 certainly not as busy because the extra widespread Nationwide Parks like Yosemite and Grand Tetons.
Driving into Massive Bend within the spring, there was some dusting of snow on the mountains | Picture: Courtney Stephenson
Summer season
Massive Bend Nationwide Park is open year-round, nonetheless, as you may need guessed, summer season will not be the most effective time to go to. Summer season temps could be above 100 levels on the desert flooring.
That being mentioned, the Chisos Mountains are sometimes 10-20 levels cooler, so in the event you do go to in the course of the summer season I like to recommend sticking to the upper elevations to keep away from excessive warmth.
One other factor to bear in mind is that Might-September is the wet season. Massive Bend can expertise intense thunderstorms and flash floods, so maintain your eye on the forecast earlier than you go to.
Fall
Fall can also be an excellent 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 will probably be inexperienced and exquisite.
Winter
Winter is one in every of my favourite occasions of the 12 months to go to Nationwide Parks. Sometimes crowds are means 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 sometimes fairly gentle (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.
Picture: Courtney Stephenson
The Structure of the Park
As I used to be doing analysis on Massive Bend and planning out my journey, I spotted how large 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 aspect to Santa Elena Canyon on the west aspect. Chisos Basin sits virtually immediately within the center.
So, while 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 means you may minimize down on driving. When you have restricted time, I preferred Chisos Basin and Santa Elena Canyon the most effective – you possibly can skip Boquillas Canyon in case you are quick on time.
Massive Bend Nationwide Park could be divided into three areas: Santa Elena Canyon, Chisos Basin, and Boquillas Canyon. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive throughout the Park. The place to Keep
There are a number of choices for the place to remain in Massive Bend together with tenting and lodges. I do advocate 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 situated inside Massive Bend Nationwide Park. There are additionally primitive backcountry dispersed tenting spots and a number of 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 trailers over 20’ and RVs over 24’ aren’t advisable 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 bathrooms, water, grills, and a dump station.Rio Grande Village Campground 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 situated in a paved lot subsequent to the camp retailer (and adjoining to the campground). Pets are allowed however should be leashed always.Cottonwood Campground
Dispersed Tenting in Massive Bend Nationwide Park
Massive Bend provides the distinctive choice to automobile camp at primitive roadside spots or you may go away 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 Heart was capable of assist me decide a website that might accommodate my van.
Roadside websites are small, flat gravel patches with no bathrooms, water, shade, or different facilities, however they provide superb views and complete solitude within the park. If you happen to plan to disperse camp in Massive Bend Nationwide Park, please notice you will have to pack out all trash, know learn how to correctly go to the toilet outdoors , and Go away No Hint .
A $10/night time allow is required for all primitive roadside and backcountry tenting websites. Most websites could be reserved on-line as much as 6 months upfront right here. There are a handful of roadside websites which can be solely obtainable to e-book in-person at both Panther Junction or Chisos Basin Customer Heart. 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 in the course of the busy season.
I camped in my van at a dispersed roadside website with unbelievable views! | Picture: Courtney Stephenson
Tenting Outdoors 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 means out of the Nationwide Park and the campground I selected was almost empty on a Saturday night time.
Terlingua, Research Butte, and Lajitas additionally provide non-public campgrounds inside an hour outdoors the park. A roundup of all lodging/tenting choices outdoors of Massive Bend Nationwide Park could be discovered right here .
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Massive Bend Nationwide Park Lodging
Chisos Mountain Lodge
There is just one resort in Massive Bend Nationwide Park – the Chisos Mountain Lodge . It’s a fairly fundamental resort (nothing fancy), but it surely does have nice views and good entry to mountain climbing trails within the Chisos Mountains.
Positioned within the coronary heart of the park at 5,400ft elevation, Chisos Mountain Lodge provides 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 essential to e-book properly upfront.
Motels 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 widely 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 identified for its annual chili cookoff and frequent stay music, and Espresso y Poco Mas is a good breakfast spot.
Greatest 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 mountain climbing trails, paddling alternatives on the Rio Grande River, scenic drives, and historic landmarks to go to – it actually has one thing for everybody!
Go mountain climbing
Massive Bend Nationwide Park has three distinct mountain climbing areas: desert, mountains, and river. Elevation adjustments between these areas imply that you could select your personal journey based mostly on what terrain you like 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 have been:
Window View Path (0.3 miles roundtrip, paved)Santa Elena Canyon (1.7 miles roundtrip)Balanced Rock Path (1.9 miles roundtrip)South Rim Path (12-14.5 miles roundtrip)
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 highway the place I used to be capable of cease and get out for a hike.
If you’re up for journey and have a automobile with good clearance, contemplate taking Previous Maverick Highway again to the Western Park entrance. This highway is simply 14 miles however plan on a one-hour drive as a result of it’s fairly bumpy!
The views have been hazy the day I did the Ross Maxwell Drive, however nonetheless lovely | Picture: Courtney Stephenson
Go to Mexico by way of the Boquillas Crossing
Massive Bend is the one Nationwide Park with a Port of Entry location. When you have a sound passport, you may go to the small city of Boquillas, Mexico throughout your journey to Massive Bend. The border crossing is situated on the east aspect of the park, near Boquillas Canyon.
You’ll be able to cross by rowboat ($5/individual roundtrip) or by wading by means of the river if the water degree is low sufficient. There are lots of eating places, meals stalls, and distributors promoting native handicrafts. I didn’t have time to go to Boquillas, but it surely’s such a novel alternative to do whereas visiting a Nationwide Park, and I can’t wait to return to test it out.
Tip: US foreign money 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 an effective way to see Massive Bend Nationwide Park from a unique perspective. The river marks the border between the US and Mexico and you’ll select floats from half-day to multi-day excursions. If you happen to plan to do an impartial river journey, be sure you learn the regulation and allow data .
Go to the Sizzling Springs Historic District
Positioned alongside the Rio Grande on the east aspect of the park, the Sizzling Springs Historic District is a step again in time. Right here, you may see and study concerning the human historical past of the world relationship again 1000’s of years.
I loved rock artwork on the limestone cliffs, studying concerning the Langford household that inhabited the world within the early 1900s, and soaking in pure scorching springs that circulation proper subsequent to the river.
The Sizzling Springs Historic District has pure scorching springs you may soak in 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 necessary to be ready on your journey. I made certain to top off on the whole lot I wanted earlier than I made my means into the park.
Listed below are just a few security ideas to bear in mind when planning your journey:
Carry loads of solar safety and gown for the desert setting . Massive Bend can get extremely scorching and there’s little or no shade. If you happen to plan on mountain climbing, carry a day pack that may carry a minimum of 3L of water. Pack your mountain climbing necessities . Keep knowledgeable by checking the climate forecast and park alerts. Plan forward – you need to be sure to carry the whole lot you want with you (together with water in case your automobile breaks down) as a result of there are only a few companies obtainable when you get contained in the park. Look ahead to rattlesnakes. Massive Bend Nationwide Park is residence to a number of species of rattlesnakes. Watch your step and keep away from climbing round on rocks.
Be ready on your hikes in Massive Bend with loads of solar safety – there’s little or no shade | Picture: Courtney Stephenson
Massive Bend Nationwide Park FAQs
How a lot does it value to go to Massive Bend Nationwide Park?
Entry into Massive Bend Nationwide Park is $30 per automobile. This cross is legitimate for 7 days. If you happen to’ll be visiting extra Nationwide Parks all year long, I like to recommend getting the Annual Nationwide Parks Move which, for $80, offers you entry to all Nationwide Parks across the US.
Tenting charges range relying on the campground.
Is there cell service in Massive Bend Nationwide Park?
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.
What number of days do I want in Massive Bend Nationwide Park?
That will depend on 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.
Is Massive Bend Nationwide Park open year-round?
Sure, Massive Bend is open year-round. Nonetheless, summers could be extraordinarily scorching.
The Chisos Mountains at sundown | Picture: Courtney Stephenson
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