March 20-25, 2026
The drive from Austin to Big Bend was my longest yet towing the trailer at ~500 miles, 8 hours. That means I had to stop at least once to refuel, something I’m not really comfortable doing with the trailer. I ended up stopping twice without incident.
Rio Grande Village Campground
I stayed at the Rio Grande Village Campground (with hookups), not to be confused with the Rio Grande Village Campground without hookups. The hookup campground is basically a parking lot with ~20 sites. I arrived and it was near 100 deg and my AC was not working. I heard this screeching noise and despite the heat thought it better to wait for the AM cool temperatures before climbing on the roof to troubleshoot the AC. Fortunately overnight temps drop into the 60s.
I did not take a pic of the parking lot campground but here is a view from my campsite.
The next day I went to the Rio Grande visitor center to get an overview. This park is huge, there are at least 3 visitor centers and from the eastern edge of park (where I’m camped) to the western edge is ~1.5 hour drive.
So I set a plane for the next few days. Visit the Hot Springs, hike the lost mine trail, hike the Santa Elena Canyon trail, and hike the Boquillas Canyon Trail. And throw any thing else in possible.
Hot Springs
The Hot Springs are just a few miles from my camp site. The Hot Springs are adjacent to the Rio Grande River and they are a popular spot. People alternate between the 100 deg hot springs and the cooler Rio Grande.
The road to the parking area is not paved and I went into 4WD although probably not necesary.
On the walk to the springs you pass these cliffs.
And then the springs.
After the springs I drove to the Panther Junction Visitor Center, watched a film on the park and got some good info for hiking.
The Window
One of the iconic hikes at Big Bend is the Window Trail. The hike starts near the Chisos Lodge and takes you 800 feet down the canyon to the window, about a 2 mile hike.
Here’s the window from a distance while hiking.
And here’s the window when you reach the end.
Most, if not all, of my hikes start out hiking up a canyon or mountain. This one you start off going down and then have to hike up. I prefer starting out going up. I did this hike early in the morning (7AMish) and it was getting quite hot as hiked out. Here’s a part of the hike out.
Fossil Discovery Exhibit
On the ride back to camp I stopped at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit.
On display are replicas of fossils found in the deserts of Big Bend. Originally the actual fossils were displayed but vandalism resulted in displaying replicas.
Santa Elana Canyon
Another iconic hike is the Santa Elana Canyon Trail at the far western edge of the park – about a 90 minute drive from camp. It is an easy hike along the Rio Grande River with 1500 foot vertical cliffs on the Mexican side of the river. The trail ends when you reach the 1500 foot cliffs on the American side.
Here you are looking west into the canyon with Mexico on the left of the very shallow Rio Grande.
Here I’ve started the and look back to the east.
Very shallow.
On my out looking east again.
Boquillas Canyon
At the far eastern edge of the park Is Boquillas Canyon – a very short drive from camp. Here looking east into the canyon Mexico is on the right.
And here looking to the west out of the canyon.
During all of my hikes I pass these trails side Mexican Craft sale stands. They are not manned (that I could tell).
The next day I moved on.