The beauty of Big Bend isn't fully appreciated in words. I never tire of visits and always manage…read moreto find something new within the park whether it be a new plant, animal, or hiking trail. Visiting the hot springs is a must on every visit for me. So relaxing and peaceful even with others around. I would say that I am a novice hiker and hiking through Big Bend is quite easy though I have faced some challenges. Be sure to wear proper shoes and clothing. So very thankful that we are still able to have this national park as it is now. The trails, views, landscaping, all of it...simply breathtaking. I have found park rangers to be extremely helpful and friendly. Can't wait to get back again.

My husband and I made a trip out to Big Bend National Park before the Texas summer heat.....but it…read morewas unfortunately unseasonably hot this year. The dessert was beautiful and the park as a whole was very well taken care of! Old Mine Trail: Since we went around "Spring Break", the parking lot was very busy and spaces were limited. I would recommend downloading the "All Trails" app to gauge how busy the trails are. By 7:30, all the spots in the small parking lot were already taken. The trail itself was very well managed. Although the parking lot was busy, the trail was not bad! We were pretty spaced out between hikers! Take lots of water and snacks! The views up top are spectacular. Star Gazing: We were at Sotol Vista (for panoramic stars). The stars were especially beautiful inside the park because there was no light pollution (aside from the headlights from passing cars down below us).

This is a beautiful sunrise hike (which is when I did it). It's a fairly quick hike in my book;…read moretook me about an hour and a half to get to the top? It's not too steep but there are a decent number of switch backs. The view was lovely; not as lovely as Emory peak in my opinion but I really enjoyed even the views along the way, especially at the saddle right as the sun was coming up - the colors of the sunrise were absolutely incredible. Overall if you're short on time and can't do south rim for eg, this is a lovely shorter alternative.

Great hike! The views are unbelievable. It'll take about 3 hours or so but it's not too steep or…read moredifficult. Well worth checking out!

Beautiful place just watch your step. The desk is reached by going up then diagonal right.read more

5-stars for the experience alone!…read more So, there's not a lot of detail on how to find the desk (and, no, it is NOT easy like other might suggest), but because I feel like it was meant to be a right of passage I'm not gonna make it easy either. To get to the trailhead, go the Sul Ross campus Entrance 4 and follow it all the way back to the mountainside dorm. The trail begins there and it isn't overly steep, but you will def get your cardio in on the way up! Head straight for the big pile of rocks at the top. Once up there is where it gets a bit tricky. I will tell you once up there follow the trail to the right. This is where I honestly had no clue on where to proceed and after wandering for a bit (the 20mins is BS FYI, it may take u 10mins to get up there, but unless you know exactly where the desk is, you will be roaming for at least that long!). I oriented myself by looking for the plateau vistas from the various posted pics of the desk. Once I realized what side of the "hill", I needed to be on, I was able to fixate on the one distinctive plateau vista in the pics from the desk and headed that way. Once I came to the bike-tree, the desk is not far beyond that point. I will admit, I had gotten to a point of disorientation where I was going to give up (especially since I had forgotten my water bottle in the car...so be sure to bring water as it is brutal between the sun & wind on the hill), but #nevergiveup It really was the absolute best feeling when I finally found the desk! It was like finally finding a lost treasure after digging in so many wrong places. Definitely worth doing if you are in the Alpine/Marfa area!

We had an amazing time!! All our guides did an outstanding job and were exceptionally…read moreknowledgeable. You can truly tell they love their jobs and their excitement rubs off on you. It was a treasure to experience this beautiful landscape. Highly, highly recommend. If you come all the way to Big Bend, please do the river trip.

Really fun and unique experience with Big Bend Boating. We did the half-day rowing tour with a…read moreguide and loved it. Rowing has a bit of a learning curve, but it got easier toward the end. If you're in Big Bend and want something different, this is a great choice.

My family had a great experience exploring and learning about Big Bend with Hidden Dagger…read moreAdventures. We definitely recommend this outfitter. We plan to use them when we return.

HIdden Dagger Adventures provided the programming for a small, challenging level Road Scholar group…read moretrip to Big Bend. Joe and team were excellent guides -- leading us on hikes, sharing knowledge of the terrain, wildlife, history, and their lived experience in this beautiful part of the country. The team members are not only knowledgeable, but kind, accommodating, and enjoyable to be with.

Big Bend Ranch State Park tends to get overlooked when compared to its big brother Big Bend…read moreNational Park. I myself was guilty of this (and still am to some extent) on my 1st 2 visits to the region. On this 3rd visit, I made it a point to spend a day in the State Park. However, I only explored the river road section from Lajitas to Presidio. I didn't go deeper into the more mountainy region of the park. Here are some of the points I explored. Barton Warnock Visitor's Center- This is where you pay your fee to enter the park, if you aren't stopping to see things then you don't have to pay. It's only like 5.00 per person so don't be a cheapskate. There is a gift shop to get your refrigerator magnet or t-shirt plus a little garden area and small museum about the region. Contraband Movie set- This is about 45 minutes down the scenic river road from Barton Warnock VC. Beware of free-range cattle! It's just a little place to stretch your legs and check out a few buildings used for filming a few B-movies. Plus, there is a few picnic tables if you want to eat by the river. Closed Canyon Trail- 15-20 minutes from Contraband Movie Set. This was the highlight of the day for me. It's only like a 2-mile round trip hike over mostly flat ground through a gorgeous canyon. The canyon is much much cooler (temperature not hipness) than outside the canyon. There is a little (really little) rock scramble to get over before there is a sign that just says, "The end". Hoodoos Trail- This is only about 5-10 mins from Closed Canyon, so we did it on the way back from Presidio. The Hoodoos is said to be a 1.1-mile roundtrip trail but it's all open so there is not a real defined trail that I could see. So you can just walk around the cool looking rock formations and Rio Grande river and take in the nature. There is also a drive-up overlook if you don't want to walk Fort Leaton State Historic Site- 30 mins from Hoodoos. Cool historic fort that wasn't for military use. It was just a family who wanted a spot along the route to El Paso to sell goods and protect his family. Cool place to walk around and take pictures and learn about the region in a different time. Highly recommend the ride from Lajitas to Presidio. Plenty of points of interest along the route and places to grab a bite once in Presidio. Next time I will make may way more into the interior of the park.

Big Bend Ranch State Park is rugged, remote, and absolutely stunning. With dramatic canyons, vast…read moredesert landscapes, and abundant wildlife, it offers a true backcountry adventure. Less crowded than the national park, it's perfect for hikers, photographers, and solitude seekers. Be prepared this is wild Texas at its finest.

Nice little park south of Marathon. Looks like 1 road in and out. Good for a jog or a bike ride…read more Nice well maintained park. Little pond with ducks. Also looks like there was a pool at some point. Plenty of space for picnics or a little BBQ.

This hidden gem of a historic public park lies just 5 miles south of tiny Marathon, Texas…read more(population 430). Camp Peña Colorado (today simply known as "Post Park") was the site of a U.S. military encampment around the spring-fed Peña "Colorada" Creek in the late 1800s and now serves as a perfect little picturesque picnic stop on your way out of Big Bend if you're headed back to Austin. If you're lodging in Marathon or otherwise have the time, the nearly deserted scenic road (southbound Avenue D, aka Post Road, the only one to cross the railroad tracks) out to the park is ideal for running, walking, and biking; bicycles can be rented from the Gage Hotel. Located in the middle of the Combs Ranch and generously donated to the county by the family in 1935, the land was converted from the ruins of the old cavalry post to a public park by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Brewster County now maintains the place, which is surrounded by the Los Caballos Novaculite Mountains. If you're from around these parts, you have likely attended many a public event at Post Park, such as the long-running annual 4th of July Dance, the summer Chili Cook-Off, and the West Fest Cabrito Cook-Off in September. Check the Marathon, Texas tourism page https://www.marathontexas.com/events for details on upcoming events. The park features several educational historic markers and interpretive nature plaques, a few picnic tables & grills, some covered tables, a couple of cinder-block restrooms, a large concrete slab/dance floor, tons of cottonwood shade trees, and a dammed up portion of the creek that is often home to several species of birds and any other critters seeking a free drink. Wildlife such as deer, javelinas, turkey, jackrabbits, quail, and the occasional fox can be seen in the early morning or around sunset. Fishing is allowed. A weathered old wooden sign suggests that camping *could* be an option with a permit, but it's not clear how one would obtain such a permit. You might try calling Brewster County offices to check on that. More info about the park site's history: http://texasmountaintrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/post-park