Interested in visiting Big Bend National Park? Here are 5 things to consider before planning your trip.
1. Big Bend is in a very desolate area
Gas stations and grocery stores are far and few in this part of Texas. Stock up on supplies ahead of time - this means gas, water, food, propane - anything you consider to be essential while on the road. Having extra fuel containers, a water bladder (we have a 5 gallon military jug), and an electric cooler made a big difference for us.
Poor cellphone reception is something you want to be prepared for as well. We always carry a satellite radio when traveling in case of emergencies, and you should always make sure to pick up a free map when you enter national and state parks. We also like to use an app called onX Off-road when exploring off-road trails because there’s a feature that lets you download trail maps ahead of time to use even when you lose service.
2. There is a heavy Border Patrol Presence
Big Bend shares the border with Mexico for 118 miles. With that being said, you can expect to see more border patrol agents than park rangers throughout this park. If you plan to travel the unpaved sections of Big Bend, keep in mind some of these trails bring you close enough to the border that you can walk across, so be sure to stay aware of your surroundings.
If you are visiting from a green friendly state where marijuana is legal, beware that weed is still very illegal in Texas. You can expect to encounter Border Patrol Checkpoints with K-9 units when traveling to and from this park. The agents at these checkpoints have the right to remove you from and search your vehicle if their dogs or equipment alert to anything being in your possession. Ask me how we know.
3. A large portion of Big Bend is unpaved
Although 4x4 isn’t required to visit this park, we highly recommend it to get the full experience out of everything Big Bend has to offer. If 4x4 isn’t an option, another way to make these unpaved roads more enjoyable is by lowering your tire pressure and refilling your air at a gas station when you’re done for the day.
Another tip if you’re planning to explore the unpaved trails at Big Bend is to start your day early in the morning. It takes much longer to travel unpaved roads than paved roads so make sure to factor in extra time for that.
4. Allow 3-5 days for visiting
Over 800,000 acres of land make up Big Bend National Park. There is so much park here to explore that we suggest giving yourself at least 3-5 full days here to see everything. Make a plan for each day and again, start your days early - some trails ended up taking so long that we had to turn around before finishing so we could make it back before dark.
Whether you’re driving, biking, or hiking, come prepared! Packing a lunch and bringing plenty of water and snacks helped us get the most out of our days in the park because we were able to continue on our journey without having to backtrack to one of the few places in the park that sell concessions.
5. The experience at Big Bend varies by season
Peak visiting season for Big Bend is from November to April, and we visited during the first week of January. With the signs we saw on the sides of the road, it’s clear that a large portion of the unpaved trails we explored are completely closed off during other times of the year due to streams and waterways making the trails un-passable. Mid-July to October is considered flooding season in Big Bend.
While there was no water anywhere when we went to Big Bend in January, they offer a variety of ‘River Trips’ during seasons when water is plentiful and flowing. Permits required, these trips include half-day floats as well as multi-day excursions down the Rio Grande.