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Big Bend National Park Hiking Tour

Hike the high country of the Chisos Mountains, experience the Chihuahuan Desert environment, and enjoy the breathtaking gorges carved by the Rio Grande. A bonus day of boating on the Rio Grande is included.

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Double Booking TBD

Single Booking TBD

Roommate Rebate TBD

Trip Type

Hiking

Difficulty Level

2

Trip Length

6 Days, 5 Nights

Distance

38 Miles
61.2 Kilometers

Meeting Time

Hotel: 8 am

Drop-off Time

6 pm

Assembly Point

Odessa, TX

Inclusions

Timberline van shuttle is provided between Odessa and Big Bend N.P. prior to and following tour. Not included: Airline service to Midland International Air and Space Port, TX, Guide Gratuity.

Have questions? We’re here to help! Call us at 303-664-8388 or reach out online.

Contact For Details

Join Our Big Bend National Park Hiking Tour

Nestled in the southwest corner of Texas, Big Bend National Park is situated along a 107-mile stretch of the Rio Grande, including the point where the river turns sharply to the north (hence, its name, “Big Bend”). This section of the Rio Grande is protected as a Wild and Scenic River and the spectacular limestone gorges through which the river flows are among the astonishing, varied natural features contained within the park’s boundaries. The vast Chihuahuan Desert, extending northward from Mexico, dominates a considerable expanse of the park, but standing in stark contrast to the desert lowlands are the rugged, forested Chisos Mountains, whose peaks approach an elevation of 8,000′. Without a doubt, Big Bend offers some of the wildest and unspoiled land remaining in the “lower 48”. This is the setting for our Big Bend National Park Hiking Tour.

Spring is an exciting season in this desert environment and one of the best times to visit this park. With an estimated 1,100 plant species, 450 species of birds and a wide range of other wildlife, including gray fox, Mexican black bear, mountain lion, and mule deer, Big Bend National Park is alive with activity, but still offers comfortable temperatures for exploration.

Experience the Chihuahuan Desert Landscapes

We’ve structured this hiking trip in a manner that will provide the varied experiences that are the essence of Big Bend National Park. We’ll hike the high country of the Chisos, explore the dramatic landscapes shaped by erosion, experience the Chihuahuan Desert environment, and enjoy the breathtaking gorges carved by the Rio Grande.  A boating journey on the Rio Grande within the park is another bonus feature of this program.

ITINERARY

Day 1: The Windows Trail. (approx 500 ft elevation gain),

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Distance: 5 miles

Pickup on Day 1 of our tour is in the Midland – Odesssa area where you will find the nearest airport to Big Bend. Part of the allure of the national park is its remoteness, which will be apparent as we take 4 hours to get to the entrance! We’ll have time to stop at the visitor center for a picnic lunch and time to enjoy the displays, then we continue our journey on the scenic drive to our first day’s hike. The Windows Trail descends through Oak Creek Canyon to the Window pour-off which frames panoramic desert vistas. After our hike we will retire to our accommodations for the first three nights at Chisos Mountain Lodge.

Day 2: The South Rim Loop: Pinnacles, Boot Canyon, Northeast/Southeast Rims, South Rim, Laguna Meadows

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Distance: 13 miles

Early the following morning on Day 2 we’ll head into the heart of the Chisos mountains on the South Rim trail. This is the quintessential mountain hike in Big Bend, and the views from the trail across much of the Big Bend country extending into Mexico are unsurpassed (13 miles).

Day 3: Lost Mine, (1,100-foot elevation gain), overnight at Chisos Mountain Lodge

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Distance: 7 miles

Day 3 is relatively moderate hike to Lost Mine in the Chisos highlands (4.8 miles). If possible, we’ll travel the Grapevine Hills Road to view Balanced Rock with great photo opportunities. We should have a relaxing evening in the Chisos Basin as the drive is not far today.

Day 4: Raft Trip (or canoe in low-water conditions)

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On Day 4, we’ll join Big Bend River Tours for a day of canoeing or rafting, depending on river flow, on the Rio Grande, riding the border between Mexico and the United States. Our exact itinerary will depend on conditions at the time. After boating we head to the ghost town of Terlingua for our final two nights.

Day 5: Mule Ears Peaks, Santa Elena Canyon (approx 2,000-ft elevation gain)

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Distance: 9 miles

Our Day 5 hike to the views of Mule Ears Peaks will showcase the incredible beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert at a time when the Chihuahuan well may be in full spring bloom. The variety of cacti, yucca, ocotillo and other desert plants along the trail is truly amazing (6.5 miles). Following our Mule Ears hike, we’ll drive to the end of the Ross Maxwell Road and hike along the Rio Grande into the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon (2.5 miles). Tonight we’ll have time to explore the Terlingua Ghost Town, with it’s old mining camp past, before an awesome dinner at the Starlight Theater.

Day 6: Burro Mesa Pour-off (approx 500-foot elevation differential) , return to Midland

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Distance: 4 miles

After a final night in Terlingua, we have one more unique hike showcasing the geology of the area. This is a downhill hike through the narrowing canyon atop Burro Mesa to the spectacular pour-off at the mesa’s southern edge (4 miles). We still have a long drive back to Odessa, which we will break up with a stop in Marathon, before our Big Bend National Park Hiking Tour concludes.

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