Big Bend National Park, Texas
 

Anyone been, it seems out of the way, but then that means less people!

Where did you stay?

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/

Spent 4 days there in January 2000: two nights outside the park in Study Butte and two nights inside at the lodge. The lodging outside the park isn't that great, and I'd recommend staying inside for you entire visit.

It does take forever to get to -- the nearest decent airport is ELP, 300 miles away. So you have to really want to go there, and the effort required means you want to spend some time while you arrive. Fortunately, the drive on the way in (Texas 118) is one of the more interesting roads I've been on.

If you hike there are plenty of ways to spend 5-6 days, but otherwise you might get bored sooner. There ain't much in the way of dining options; one restaurant inside the park and a diner-type place or two outside. Big Bend is NOT like a lot of parks that have miles of crass commercialism right outside the gate, for better and for worse.

Peak time is March and April, when kids are on break, desert flowers are blooming and the weather is ideal. The lodge fills up two years in advance for the spring, but the rest of the year should be quite uncrowded. Summer is too hot, but the January I went had perfect hiking weather.

Definitely worth visiting if you want to make the committment. I can be more specific as to hikes and other activities if you want.

yes please as my wife and I are hikers. I was going to email you but...

Sorry about that; YHM

Discover Chisos Mountain Lodge at Big Bend National Park, in Texas. Two nights lodging, breakfast buffet and a 3 hour jeep tour, all for $275 for two people. Good through September 30, 2004
http://www.ChisosMountainsLodge.com

My sister was just at Big Bend NP last weekend and loved it. She went with a few of her high school friends. They flew into Midland (MAF), drove down through Fort Stockton for a, "final meal," then stayed at the lodge in the park. They did a halfday kayaking trip on the Rio Grande, and a bit of hiking, and just driving around.

I've been wanting to do a trip to Big Bend, and a side trip to Balmorhea State Park for years....hearing about her trip is making me think. I might whip something together.

I did something very similar in October 2022 and even took in a high school football game in Fort Stockton. Big Bend is a gem.

Any concerns with illegal border crossing within the park boundaries? Or is this patrolled heavily here?

I follow several Big Bend groups on Reddit, and people regularly comment how they see Border Patrol Agents regularly.