Large Bend Nationwide Park is likely one of the most distant Nationwide Parks in america. 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 Large 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, Large Bend Nationwide Park left me in awe.
As a result of Large 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 verify I made essentially the most of my week there.
I’m so glad I did as a result of the sheer measurement of the park is a bit overwhelming! That can assist you plan your journey to Large Bend Nationwide Park, I’ve put collectively this information based mostly on what I discovered and skilled so you may profit from your Large Bend Nationwide Park journey.
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Attending to Large Bend Nationwide Park
Should you take a look at a map you’ll see that Large Bend is positioned in a really distant a part of West Texas. The closest main metropolis is El Paso, which is 4.5 hours away by automotive! There isn’t any public transportation to or inside Large Bend Nationwide Park, so that you’ll have to drive your self.
Flying in
Should you’re flying in, I like to recommend the El Paso airport. It’s not the closest one (Midland/Odessa is barely nearer), however it is going to have higher flight choices and you’ll simply lease a automotive in El Paso.
Driving to Large Bend
Regardless of the place you’re coming from, attending to Large 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 discovered from my drive to Large Bend:
A visit to Large Bend Nationwide Park requires a number of preparation – however the remoteness of the park is precisely why it ought to be in your record of locations to go to!
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When to Go to Large Bend Nationwide Park
Spring
Spring, in my view, is the perfect time to go to Large Bend Nationwide Park. I visited in April and the temperatures have been delicate and sunshine was plentiful. I additionally bought to see the desert in bloom with lovely spring wildflowers.
However, spring can also be the busiest time of 12 months in Large Bend. March is the preferred month to go to, so hold that in thoughts when planning your tip. I did share the paths with a number of different hikers throughout my go to within the spring, however Large Bend is in no way as busy because the extra widespread Nationwide Parks like Yosemite and Grand Tetons.
Summer time
Large Bend Nationwide Park is open year-round, nonetheless, as you may need guessed, summer time just isn’t the perfect time to go to. Summer time temps might be above 100 levels on the desert flooring.
That being stated, the Chisos Mountains are sometimes 10-20 levels cooler, so in case you do go to through the summer time I like to recommend sticking to the upper elevations to keep away from excessive warmth.
One other factor to remember is that Could-September is the wet season. Large Bend can expertise intense thunderstorms and flash floods, so hold your eye on the forecast earlier than you go to.
Fall
Fall can also be an excellent time to go to Large Bend. The temperatures begin to quiet down round late September after the summer time warmth and if it’s been a wet summer time, areas of the park can be inexperienced and delightful.
Winter
Winter is certainly one of my favourite instances of the 12 months to go to Nationwide Parks. Sometimes crowds are method fewer and I benefit from the quiet and peacefulness of the low season. Large Bend is a good Nationwide Park to go to between December and February. The daytime temperatures are sometimes fairly delicate (within the 60s) whereas at night time the temps can drop beneath freezing (one thing to think about if you’re tenting).
Snow is uncommon in Large Bend, however that being stated, there have been two massive snowstorms in 2021 that shut down the park for a number of days.
The Structure of the Park
As I used to be doing analysis on Large Bend and planning out my journey, I spotted how large the park is! Large 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 facet to Santa Elena Canyon on the west facet. Chisos Basin sits nearly straight within the center.
So, if 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 method you may reduce down on driving. If in case you have restricted time, I appreciated Chisos Basin and Santa Elena Canyon the perfect – you can skip Boquillas Canyon if you’re quick on time.
The place to Keep
There are a number of choices for the place to remain in Large Bend together with tenting and lodges. I do suggest making a plan forward of time, although – over the previous couple of years, Large Bend has grow to be more and more widespread and campsites do e-book out.
Large Bend Nationwide Park Tenting
There are 4 established campgrounds positioned inside Large Bend Nationwide Park. There are additionally primitive backcountry dispersed tenting spots and a number of other tenting choices exterior the park.
Campgrounds inside Large Bend Nationwide Park
All established campgrounds require superior reservations that may be made as much as 6 months prematurely. There isn’t any first come, first serve tenting in Large Bend’s established campgrounds.
- Chisos Basin Campground: that is essentially the most centrally positioned campground within the park, nonetheless trailers over 20’ and RVs over 24’ usually are not really helpful as a result of the street is slim and campsites are small. No hookups can be found at Chisos Basin Campground, however there are flush bogs, water, grills, and a dump station.
- Rio Grande Village Campground: positioned on the far east facet of the park, this campground is about alongside the Rio Grande River amongst a big grove of timber. There are flush bogs, water, grills, and a camp retailer with a gasoline station, showers, and a laundromat hooked up.
- Rio Grande Village RV Park: That is the one campground with full hookups in Large Bend. Websites can be found by telephone reservation solely (432-477-2293). Websites are positioned in a paved lot subsequent to the camp retailer (and adjoining to the campground). Pets are allowed however have to be leashed always.
- Cottonwood Campground: positioned on the far west facet of the park, this campground is a quiet, desert oasis close to the favored Santa Elena Canyon. That is essentially the most distant campground within the park with no hookups, no dump station, and no turbines allowed. Pit bogs, grills, and water can be found at this campground.
Dispersed Tenting in Large Bend Nationwide Park
Large Bend provides the distinctive choice to automotive camp at primitive roadside spots or you may go away your automotive behind and backpack into the desert wilderness to camp.
Primitive roadside spots are positioned 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 Middle was capable of assist me decide a website that will accommodate my van.
Roadside websites are small, flat gravel patches with no bogs, water, shade, or different facilities, however they provide wonderful views and complete solitude within the park. Should you plan to disperse camp in Large Bend Nationwide Park, please observe you will want to pack out all trash, know how one can correctly go to the toilet exterior, and Depart No Hint.
A $10/night time allow is required for all primitive roadside and backcountry tenting websites. Most websites might be reserved on-line as much as 6 months prematurely right here. There are a handful of roadside websites which can be solely accessible to e-book in-person at both Panther Junction or Chisos Basin Customer Middle. I selected this feature throughout my journey and was capable of safe a spot by arriving at opening time (8:30am). This isn’t at all times the case, although, particularly on weekends or anytime through the busy season.
Tenting Outdoors of Large Bend Nationwide Park
In case you are unable to safe a campsite inside Large Bend Nationwide Park, Large Bend Ranch State Park is shut by and has a handful of campgrounds. I stayed right here on my method 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 personal campgrounds inside an hour exterior the park. A roundup of all lodging/tenting choices exterior of Large Bend Nationwide Park might be discovered right here.
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Large Bend Nationwide Park Lodging
Chisos Mountain Lodge
There is just one resort in Large Bend Nationwide Park – the Chisos Mountain Lodge. It’s a fairly fundamental resort (nothing fancy), however it does have nice views and good entry to mountaineering 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 you should e-book properly prematurely.
Inns in Terlingua
Terlingua is a small city positioned about an hour from the park that has the largest lodging choice exterior of the park. Terlingua is a widely known ghost city with a real previous Western really feel – I like to recommend checking it out whether or not or not you propose to remain there.
The Starlight Theatre is a well-known native watering gap identified for its annual chili cookoff and frequent reside music, and Espresso y Poco Mas is a good breakfast spot.
Finest issues to do in Large Bend Nationwide Park
I had a good time exploring all that Large Bend Nationwide Park has to supply. There are a whole bunch of miles of mountaineering trails, paddling alternatives on the Rio Grande River, scenic drives, and historic landmarks to go to – it actually has one thing for everybody!
Go mountaineering
Large Bend Nationwide Park has three distinct mountaineering areas: desert, mountains, and river. Elevation modifications between these areas imply which you can select your individual journey based mostly on what terrain you favor or what season you’re visiting.
Trails within the park vary from quick, paved paths which can be beneath a mile to full-day – and even multi-day hikes.
My favourite hikes have been:
For more information on these hikes plus different path choices, head to our full roundup of the greatest hikes in Large 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 street the place I used to be capable of cease and get out for a hike.
In case you are up for journey and have a automobile with good clearance, take into account taking Outdated Maverick Highway again to the Western Park entrance. This street is just 14 miles however plan on a one-hour drive as a result of it’s fairly bumpy!
Go to Mexico by way of the Boquillas Crossing
Large Bend is the one Nationwide Park with a Port of Entry location. If in case you have a legitimate passport, you may go to the small city of Boquillas, Mexico throughout your journey to Large Bend. The border crossing is positioned on the east facet of the park, near Boquillas Canyon.
You possibly can cross by rowboat ($5/individual roundtrip) or by wading by way of the river if the water degree is low sufficient. There are a lot of eating places, meals stalls, and distributors promoting native handicrafts. I didn’t have time to go to Boquillas, however it’s such a singular 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 have to alternate cash forward of time.
Paddle the Rio Grande River
Guided or self-guided journeys on the Rio Grande River are a good way to see Large 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. Should you 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 facet 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 hundreds 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 stream proper subsequent to the river.
Security Suggestions for Visiting Large Bend
As a result of Large Bend Nationwide Park is so distant and has a harsh desert local weather, it’s essential to be ready on your journey. I made positive to fill up on all the pieces I wanted earlier than I made my method into the park.
Listed here are a number of security suggestions to remember when planning your journey:
Large Bend Nationwide Park FAQs
Entry into Large Bend Nationwide Park is $30 per automobile. This cross is legitimate for 7 days. Should you’ll be visiting extra Nationwide Parks all year long, I like to recommend getting the Annual Nationwide Parks Cross which, for $80, offers you entry to all Nationwide Parks across the US.
Tenting charges fluctuate relying on the campground.
Cell service is fairly spotty in Large Bend Nationwide Park. Areas the place there may be dependable service are the Chisos Basin space and Panther Junction.
That is determined by how a lot you need to see and do! I like to recommend spending not less than three days exploring Large Bend. If you wish to actually get to know the park or to exit on a multi-day tour, 5-7 days is good.
Sure, Large Bend is open year-round. Nevertheless, summers might be extraordinarily scorching.
Extra Southwest Nationwide Parks
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Have you ever been to Large Bend Nationwide Park or are you planning a visit there? Share your questions, feedback, and experiences within the feedback beneath!
