Looking for Big Bend reccomendations

[smlobx]

The CFO has authorized a spring trip out West and in looking at what might be available and on our list Big Bend looks like a possibility. We are thinking of April as our general time frame.

‘We like exploring old places and moderate hiking so I am asking the collective hive what they might recommend as far as roads to explore, back country campgrounds to stay as well as hikes.

We might have time to visit the state park as well so suggestions there are appreciated as well.

Thanks!

 

[Sleddog]

Check out our trip report from January 2020 for ideas:

https://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/19571-carlsbad-caverns-big-bend-chiricahua-mountains-and-more/

We paid $4 for a backcountry road guide that really helped us plan our trip. We got ours last minute at a visitor center in the park, you could get one online now to help with your planning.


http://bigbendbookstore.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=791

 

[smlobx]

Check out our trip report from January 2020 for ideas:

https://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/19571-carlsbad-caverns-big-bend-chiricahua-mountains-and-more/

We paid $4 for a backcountry road guide that really helped us plan our trip. We got ours last minute at a visitor center in the park, you could get one online now to help with your planning.


http://bigbendbookstore.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=791

Sleddog thanks so much for the link to your TR. I read post by post to my wife who highlighted the areas you enjoyed.
we ordered the back country road book as well as a few others.

One question...was there a reason you didn’t traverse the River Road along the Rio Grande? Was it a question of campsite availability?
Thanks.

 

[Sleddog]

No particular reason for skipping the River Road other than the 14 day camping limit between January 1 and April 15. We figured we couldn't see everything in one trip so didn't even try, hoping to eventually make it back down to do another 14 days in the National Park plus some time in the State Park.

 

[Vic Harder]

Eddie, let me know what you end up thinking of doing. I'm planning a trip down there too... but about a year from now to be safe on the Covid front.

 

[smlobx]

Eddie, let me know what you end up thinking of doing. I'm planning a trip down there too... but about a year from now to be safe on the Covid front.

Will do Vic. We were planning a trip in June to Newfoundland and Labrador but decided to push it back until August in the hopes the vaccine will have widespread distribution by then and the borders will have opened up so this left a hole in our schedule that we hope to use to go to Big Bend in April..

 

[billharr]

Eddie, let me know what you end up thinking of doing. I'm planning a trip down there too... but about a year from now to be safe on the Covid front.

+1 on Vic's request. My daughter lives in Schertz Texas and we will be making a few trips a year to see her. Covid was one of the reasons we sold the FWC and when to a Class B. But will still be wandering and want to see Big Bend on one of our trips. All depends on timing.

Bill

 

[DavidGraves]

One favorite memory related to Big Bend.

Many years ago were were crossing west Texas on some or other Interstate (20?) and saw a sign saying Big Bend NP next exit.....Hope said lets go for it ....so I steered off the exit.

The next sign pointed south and read " Big Bend NP, 820 miles."

DG

 

[smlobx]

^^^
Yikes!

 

[dennis 221]

So I bought that booklet..publishes in 2015 oh well I'm sure nothing changed in 6 years

 

[Sleddog]

We found the info in the guide to be accurate as of January 2020. Mileage and locations stay the same regardless of publication date. Otherwise it seems like change comes slowly in Big Bend.

 

[XJINTX]

If time permits... maybe checkout Big Bend State Park? Not as touristy for sure but pretty remote for all camping areas. Also Teralingua area and especially the Ghost Town are a must if you come through or leave via that side of National Park.

 

[DavidGraves]

We second Big Bend state park.

DG

 

[Foy]

I can heartily recommend a book by Ross Maxwell, a geologist who became the first Superintendent of Big Bend NP in 1945. At the time, he was just 9 years out of his PhD program and he took the helm of the new NP unit with 4 employees, an annual budget of $15,000, no electricity, and the nearest telephone was 100 miles away. Maxwell was Superintendent from 1945 to 1952. He left BBNP for a teaching position at the University of Texas and while there he published "The Big Bend of the Rio Grande: A Guide to the Rocks, Landscape, Geologic History, and Settlers of the area of Big Bend National Park". (University of Texas Press, 1968).

There is also a publication by the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology (Texas State geological survey) "Geology of Big Bend Ranch State Park" by Christopher Henry. Published in 1998,

Both books are written for the scientist and the non-scientist, especially Maxwell's tome. Each has a splendid large fold out geologic map of the subject area.

I would also consider Darwin Spearing's updated "Roadside Geology of Texas" to be a valuable reference for the explorers of Texas.

Foy

 

[smlobx]

If time permits... maybe checkout Big Bend State Park? Not as touristy for sure but pretty remote for all camping areas. Also Teralingua area and especially the Ghost Town are a must if you come through or leave via that side of National Park.

We hope to go to the state park as well. Any recommendations?

Foy your book recommendation sounds very interesting but as an Aggie my laptop can’t seem to load anything from tu...(j/k!).

 

[Foy]

That's OK, Eddie. The UT crowd doesn't expect you Aggies to know much about books................

Ha, only I have somewhat closer affinities to T A&M than to UT. Lived in Bryan, TX for a few months in 1979 drilling lignite prospects at Franklin and Kosse. Both prospects ultimately became mines.

Hope you folks can pull off your trip!

Foy

 

[Foy]

Forgot to mention the Big Bend Chat forum. When I last visited there regularly, a good 3-4 years ago, it was a pretty collegial group much like WTW and there were a number of sub-forums, including one dedicated to BBRSP.

 

[XJINTX]

We hope to go to the state park as well. Any recommendations?

I say just get map at Signup. Road to NoWhere is fun drive and views. All campsites have their own beauty. Campsites down by the Rive are easy access but sometimes a lot of fisherman (from both sides). Entering from south side and passing through La Jitas and Presidio add to the charm. Old fort (forget name) on south side "used" to have park access passes not sure if they still do.

 

[smlobx]

That's OK, Eddie. The UT crowd doesn't expect you Aggies to know much about books................

Ha, only I have somewhat closer affinities to T A&M than to UT. Lived in Bryan, TX for a few months in 1979 drilling lignite prospects at Franklin and Kosse. Both prospects ultimately became mines.

Hope you folks can pull off your trip!

Foy

Small world Foy. I started my graduate work on January of 1979 in College Station...