List of Big Bend Trails

By -

Compiled List of Trails at Big Bend National Park

This post is a little bit different but after a thorough search of the internet, I could not find a website that listed all the trails available at Big Bend National Park.  So, I gathered everything I could find and compiled a trail list.  I know that it's not all-inclusive, but it does cover a large majority of the trails available.

The Welcome Sign at Big Bend National Park
Welcome to Big Bend National Park. Courtesy of KXAN



A few notes to keep in mind.  All distances are one way, so if you want to make a round trip double the distance.  I described out & back trails as trails that do not end or begin at another trail.  Linear trails are defined as a trail that begins or ends at another trail.  Also, be mindful that my short descriptions and area groupings don't do justice to the true nature of the Big Bend trail system.  It is just to be used as a quick reference.

Trail Name
Distance (miles)
Trail Type
Trail System
Notes
Pinnacles Trail
3.5
Linear
1
All out & back distances are listed as one way
Laguna Meadow Trail
3.3
Linear
1
All linear distances are listed one way
Chisos Basin Loop Trail*1
0.6
Linear
1
Linear trails begin or end at another trail
Colima Trail
1
Linear
1
Out & back trails do not begin or end at another trail
NE & SE Rim Trail
3.3
Linear
1
*1: 1.6 using Pinnacles, Laguna & Basin Loop trails
Emory Peak Trail
1.2
Out & Back
1
Boot Canyon Trail
1.5
Linear
1
0 = none
Southwest Rim Trail
2.5
Linear
1
1 = Outer Mountain Loop
Boot Spring Trail
1.3
Linear
1
2 = Window Area
Juniper Canyon
6.2
Linear
1
6 = Burro Mesa Area
Dodson
9.9
Linear
1
7 = Mariscal Area
Blue Creek
5.5
Linear
1
8 = Hot Springs
Window View Trail
0.25
Loop
2
9 = Dead Horse Mountain Area
Window Trail
2.8
Out & Back
2
10 = Ernst Basin Complex
Lost Mine
2.4
Out & Back
0
11 = Mesa de Anguila
Pine Canyon
2
Out & Back
0
Oak Spring
2
Out & Back
2
Ward Spring
1.8
Out & Back
0
Sam Nail Ranch
0.5
loop
0
Burro Mesa Pour-Off
0.5
Out & Back
6
Top of Burro Mesa
1.8
Out & Back
6
Burro Spring
2.2
Loop
6
The Chimneys
7.6
Out & Back
0
Mule Ears Peaks
3.5
Linear
7
Smoky Creek
15.3
Linear
7
Homer Wilson Blue Creek Ranch
0.25
Linear
0
Tuff Canyon
0.4
Out & Back
0
Santa Elena Canyon
0.8
Out & Back
0
Elephant Tusk Trail
8
Linear
0
Dominguez Spring
7
Out & Back
0
Mariscal Canyon Rim
3.3
Linear
7
Cross Canyon
7
Out & Back
7
Hot Springs
1
loop
8
Hot Springs Canyon Rim
3
Out & Back
8
Rio Grande Village Nature Trail
0.75
Lolipop
0
Ore Terminal
4
Out & Back
9 & 10
Bonquillas Canyon
0.7
Out & Back
0
Marfugo Vega
14
Lolipop
9
Telephone Canyon
16.7
Out & Back
9
Strawhouse
14
Out & Back
9
Willow Tank-Ernst Basin
5.5
Out & Back
10
Ore Terminal-Ernst Basin
6.1
Out & Back
10
Telephone Canyon-Ernst Basin
11
Lolipop
10
Ernst Tinaja
0.5
Out & Back
10
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail
0.5
Loop
0
Slickrock Canyon
4
Out & Back
0
Grapevine Hills
1
Out & Back
0
Dog Canyon
2.5
Out & Back
0
Devil's Den
3.25
Out & Back
0
Estufa Canyon
7.5
Out & Back
0
Persimmon Gap Draw
1
Out & Back
0
Mesa de Anguila
7.5
Out & Back/System
11
Dorgan-Sublett Trail
0.5
Out & Back
0
Panther Path
50 yards
Loop
0
Want the Spreadsheet?  Download it here.  I would like to keep improving the list for those who planning a trip to Big Bend, so if I have anything wrong or you know of a trail not on the list please let me know.  Plus, if you have any thoughts on better organization, I'd love to hear that too.

If you have ever been to Big Bend National Park, I would love to hear your story and learn your favorite locations. Also, if you like the blog follow us on Facebook to keep up to date.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Trip Report: Trip to London Part 2

By -
Image
London: Part Deux This is part 2 of our holiday trip to the UK and London in December 2016 and January 2017. Make sure to check out our London trip part 1 and here is a little background info as a reminder: Travel Agency: Go-Today Flight: Delta Airlines Destination Route: Austin to Atlanta to London Return Route: London to New York to Austin Hotel: London House Hotel Day 3 (Continued) So last I wrote, Jarrett and I had returned from Bath and Stonehenge.  It had been a long day, and we were EXHAUSTED. Yeah, that’s right.  I’m a millennial and I capitalized a word, because I cannot put enough emphasis into how exhausted we were, particularly me. After a nice dinner at a tiny Moroccan place near the hotel, Jarrett and I headed back to the hotel for a “nap.” It was too late for us to try to get any tickets to view the celebrations by the Thames; the city limits the amount of people that can attend those celebrations with the fancy fireworks, and you ha...
Read more

Tubing Down the San Marcos River

By -
Image
Tubing Down the San Marcos River Linda here for Adventures with BeeGee. We’ve been adventuring more aggressively since Salkantay. My goal this August is to continue the adventuring while catching up on blog entries to ensure we preserve these great memories. On Saturday, July 20th, Jarrett, a friend of ours, and I went tubing down the San Marcos River. I realized I had been living in Austin for almost four years now and had not done this iconic Hill Country tourist activity. To be honest, we probably had not done it before because I only learned how to swim last year and am not the most comfortable with water. The San Marcos River is relatively shallow and the heat in Texas is unbearable, so if you want to enjoy the outdoors but are uncomfortable with water, this is a great option. The water is initially cold, but once the sun comes out, it starts feeling like a great relief from just laying on your tube. If you’re comfortable with water and swimming, I suggest taking a...
Read more

Trip Report: Sherwood Forest Faire

By -
Image
First Time at Sherwood Forest I have recently been introduced to the fun world of renaissance festivals, so Jack and I took a trip to the Ren Faire in McDade, Texas. Upon arrival, a group of characters were handing out flyers to gain attention for their show, which happened to be called Blunt Force Drama. Once we Jack and I finally made it through the festival gates, Blunt Force was of the first shows running. So of course, we stopped there. The show is a melee fighting tournament mixed with adult humor. The show starts by picking judges from the crowd and then the fighting begins. They even have adult humor commercials while you wait for the next round. I thoroughly enjoyed the fighting and the humor, but some might find it offensive (it was pretty racy). Also, I wouldn't take kids. Once the show finished, we followed Jack's policy of taking a lap around the grounds to see what shops and shows are available. This led me to find some awesome leather armor...
Read more