3 Day Big Bend National Park Itinerary

Tucked into the Southwest corner of Texas is the remote Chihuahuan Desert which is home to an amazing national park: Big Bend National Park. We spent several days exploring the desert and learning that there is SO much there (aka, just because it is a desert, doesn’t mean it’s empty)! This three day Big Bend National Park itinerary will help you explore all corners of the HUGE National Park!

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3 Days in Big Bend National Park Summary

Big Bend National Park is gigantic. It takes up over 800,000 acres, which means to see it fully will take several days!

There are three distinct areas of the park: Santa Elena, the Chisos Mountains, and Boquillas Canyon. So we’re going to spend one day exploring each of these areas. Here’s a rough overview of each day:

Day 1

• Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
• Santa Elena Canyon Trail
• Santa Elena Canyon Overlook
• Tuff Canyon Overlook
• Mule Ears Viewpoint
• Sotol Vista Overlook
• Balanced Rock Trail

Day 2

• Hiking in the Chisos Mountains (choose your own trail!)
• Chisos Basin Visitors Center
• Window View Trail
• Fossil Discovery Exhibit

Day 3

• Boquillas Canyon Trail
• Optional: Trip Into Boquillas, Mexico
• Rio Grande Village
• Hot Springs Trail

3 Day Big Bend National Park Itinerary

Day One in Big Bend

Today we’ll head to the Santa Elena and Panther Junction area. A lot of today is driving and stopping at overlooks, but we’ll start and end the day with a hike!

Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

While this isn’t technically a stop, I wanted to especially call out Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. A lot of our stops today are going to be along this road, and it’s…well…pretty scenic. We’re talking amazing desert views all over the place.

To get to our first stop (Santa Elena Canyon), you’ll pretty much drive this entire scenic drive.

Santa Elena Canyon Trail

Trail Length: 1.6 miles round trip
Rating: Moderate

We’re going to start the morning at the Santa Elena Canyon Trail.

While it may be tempting to save this one for later, I highly recommend doing this first and getting here early. It’s super popular and parking can be an issue!

And it’s popular for a reason. Because y’all. It is SO majestic!

The Santa Elena Canyon is a huge canyon between basically two giant walls of rock. On one side it the United States and on the other side is Mexico. And the Rio Grande River cuts through the canyon walls.

And unlike some canyons where you come at it from the top, at Santa Elena Canyon you get to come at it from the bottom and hike into it which is SO cool!

The trail can be a bit tricky to get to though. Once you get to the Rio Grande, you’ll turn right and hike along Terlingua Creek for a bit. There’s a small section that crosses the riverbed or Terlingua Creek, then there’s a steep climb up the bank, and then you can find the trail.

You’ll only be able to access the trail when the water is low enough. But even if you aren’t going to be able to hike it though, it’s 100% still worth it to go here and stand at the base of the canyon!

The trail is 1.5 miles out-and-back and should take you about an hour or so. There’s a good chunk of it that is up and downhill, so I’d rate it as moderate. But once you get to the top (which is only part of the way up the canyon walls), there are some level parts and the views are incredible!

We didn’t quite hike this whole thing, but really enjoyed the views of the river and through the canyon back out into the National Park. And there were lots of kids having fun with the echoing of the canyon walls. It’s a really magical place!

Santa Elena Canyon Overlook

Now that we’ve hit our main highlight of the morning, we’ll do some driving and stopping at various overlooks.

First up, Santa Elena Canyon Overlook. This overlook is located about 1 mile back up the road you came from and you’ll get a different perspective of Santa Elena Canyon, seeing it from a distance.

This is a really quick stop, but it helps put everything into perspective.

Tuff Canyon Overlook

Trail Length: 0.5 mile
Rating: Easy

Next up is Tuff Canyon Overlook. And while this is also called a canyon, don’t have expectations that are too high after seeing Santa Elena Canyon. It’s still really cool though!

To get here, you’ll keep driving back the way you came on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive for about 10 miles.

Tuff Canyon is a smaller canyon and you’ll come at it from the top. There is a short .5-mile trail where you can walk along the top and see it from three different viewing platforms.

While we were there, it was dry. But if it’s rained recently, you might have some water here.

Mule Ears Viewpoint

When you see Mule Ears Viewpoint, you’ll 100% know why it’s called that. The rock formations look exactly like two mule ears sticking up from a mule’s head.

To get here, continue up Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive for about 5 miles.

While we made this a quick stop (and had our picnic lunch here), you can also spend more time here. There is a Mule Ears Trail that’s about 6 miles long. It’s rated moderate to difficult, so if you’re up for a hiking challenge during the day, you might decide to tackle this one.

Sotol Vista Overlook

Another overlook! This one is a LOT higher up though.

To get here, you’ll drive 8 miles from Mule Ears Viewpoint and turn off at Sotol Vista Overlook

Sotol Vista Overlook is a much higher elevation than where you’ve been, and you get amazing views of the surrounding area, including Santa Elena Canyon in the far distance.

Balanced Rock Hike (Grapevine Hills Trail)

Trail Length: 2.2 miles round trip
Rating: Easy, then difficult

This was my favorite hike in Big Bend National Park!

Balanced Rock is iconic in Big Bend, but you’ll need to be prepared for the hike. It’s challenging at times, and getting there is an adventure too!

To get to Balanced Rock from Sotol Vista, keeping driving north on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive for 8 miles, then turn right onto Gano Springs. Just before you get to the turn to go up into the Chisos Mountains, you’ll turn left on Grapevine Spring (about 9 miles from where you turned).

A few notes about this road: It’s SUPER rough. Like, you need to make sure you are in a 4-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle if you want to tackle this. It’s 9 miles long, but it will take you at least 20 minutes to drive it because of how bumpy it is.

I’d also recommend avoiding this road if it’s been raining a lot, because it can get muddy and impassable.

So, now, onto the trail.

The total trail for Balanced Rock is 2.2 miles round-trip. Most of it is pretty easy. I loved the beginning of the trail where we were hiking between two rocky hills on a peaceful desert trail. (This easy part is the first .75 miles.)

For the last little big though (the last .25 miles), you get to the difficult part where you have to scramble up rocks to get to the top of one of the hills. I’d definitely rate this part difficult (even one-year post ACL surgery I still had to get a little help on the bigger steps from Gerrit).

And we definitely saw some people who weren’t going to make it. But kiddos tend to LOVE it because it’s like it was made for their jungle-gym-loving limbs.

BUT if you can do it and get to the top, the views are AMAZING and you get to see the incredible Balanced Rock!

Remember though: What comes up must go down. So the rocky part going back is just as challenging as coming up. But then you get to the flat part again where it’s super easy.

If you’re traveling with family members who may not be able to do the challenging part but some people want to see Balanced Rock, I’d still recommend this hike because the first part is still so lovely and they can wait for you at the bottom of the rocky part.

I’d avoid this one in the middle of the day though, because there really isn’t any shade.

Day Two in Big Bend

Today we’re going to explore the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. It is SUPER important that you get up early to get into the Chisos Mountains, especially if you’re traveling during park times (like March).

We discovered this on our first day when we tries to go up into the Chisos Mountains after lunch and the line just to drive up the mountain was two hours long!!! So do yourself a favor and set that alarm clock early to get here on your second day.

Important Note: Beginning in May 2025, the Chisos Mountains area will be closed for major renovations. The projects are expected to take two years, and while the Chisos Mountains will likely re-open sometime before that two years is up, the timeline is TBA.

If you are planning a visit to Big Bend National Park during this time and find that the Chisos Mountains are closed, this day on the itinerary might be a great time to visit Big Bend Ranch State Park!

Lost Mine Trail OR Window Trail OR Laguna Meadows

So, you’ve heeded my warning and you are driving up the Chisos Mountains just as early as you can be. So once your find a parking spot let’s do some hiking! (I’ve got some notes about parking depending on what trail you want to do below too.)

Lost Mine Trail

Trail Length: 4.8 miles round-trip
Rating: Moderate

Lost Mine Trail is by far the most popular trail to do here. It’s 4.8 miles long (2.4 miles one-way) and rated moderate. It takes you up into the Chisos Mountains and rewards hikers with amazing views at the end.

If you want to do this one, you’ll want to park in the parking lost closest to the trailhead on Basin Junction a little over a mile before you get to the Visitors Center parking lot. This parking lot only holds 15 cars though, so you’ll need to get there EARLY.

As we drove, there were some small pull-offs where other cars had parked and people were walking back to the trail. But I wouldn’t count on this being available or allowed.

We did not do this one because we honestly weren’t up for a long hike, the good parking spots were already taken (even though we got there super early!), and we decided we’d rather get a good parking spot at the Visitors Center.

Window Trail

Trail Length: 4 miles or 5.5 miles round-trip (depending on where you park)
Rating: Moderate to Difficult

If you still want a longer hike but either don’t want to do Lost Mine Trail or didn’t get great parking for it, you can do Window Trail.

For this trail, park at the Amphitheater and follow the Basin Campground Trailhead (which will also shorted your overall hike to 4 miles). You can also park at the Chisos Basin Visitor Center and follow the Chisos Basin Trailhead behind the store, but your hike from here will be longer and more difficult.

Laguna Meadows Trail

Trail Length: 4.1 miles roundtrip
Rating: Moderate

Because we were feeling tired from the day before (correction: our kiddo was feeling tired from the day before), we chose to do part of a trail close to the Chisos Basin Visitors Center.

We really just wanted a good taste of hiking in the Chisos Mountains that still allowed us to turn back whenever we wanted. So we landed on the Laguna Meadows Trail.

This trail is 4.1 miles and is really meant to get you to the South Rim trail. But we did about a mile or so of it and really enjoyed it. It has some great views of the Chisos Mountains and looking out into the Chihuahuan Desert. Plus we saw some great wildlife on it, including a couple huge deer.

Other Trails

If none of these trails sound good to you, there are a lot of other trails in this area too! Here are some options (many of them connect into each other!). And for many of them you can do just a portion of it and then turn back around if you would like. Also remember that the rangers in the Visitor Center have great hiking recommendations that tips for you.

• Emory Peak: 9.8 miles, difficult
• South Rim Trail: 12.5 miles, difficult
• Pinnacles Trail: 8.6 miles, difficult

Chisos Basin Visitors Center

Since you arrived so early, the Visitors Center probably wasn’t open. So after your morning hike, head here. You can learn more about the Chisos Mountains and get your National Parks Passport Stamp.

And if you’re traveling with kiddos, you can pick up a Junior Ranger activity book for them.

Window View Trail

Trail Length: 0.3 miles
Rating: Easy

After a stop in the Visitors Center, walk the Window View Trail. This is a super easy and entirely flat trail that’s less than half a mile long. It’s also complete paved, so it’s accessible for anyone!

This trail gives you a great view between the Chisos Mountains and out into the desert below!

Fossil Discovery Exhibit

Once you’ve wrapped up your time in the Chisos Mountains, head back down into the desert and go to the Fossil Discovery Exhibit.

From the Chisos Basin Visitors Center it’s about a 30 minute drive to get to the Fossil Discovery Exhibit.

This spot is all about the history of the land, going back 130 million years. You’ll find exhibits about the geological changes (Big Bend National Park was once completely underwater!) to the dinosaurs they have found evidence of.

It’s a fascinating place with replicas of all kinds of fossils. And if you have a dino-loving kid, this is a MUST-SEE.

You can also climb up the nearby hill for views of the surrounding area (it’s a short and easy little path).

Day Three in Big Bend

The last section of the park we have left to explore is the Boquillas Canyon area. This is on the far eastern side of Big Bend.

Boquillas Canyon Trail

Trail Length: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Rating: Moderate

First up: Boquillas Canyon Trail. This is a very popular trail in the area where you can climb up the canyon and then down to walk along the Rio Grande.

It’s not as impressive as Santa Elena (I don’t think anything can quite compare to that!), but it’s still so beautiful!

This hike does go up and down the canyon, so it can be a little challenging. But the flat part next to the river is peaceful and pretty easy!

Because this area is so close to Boquillas, Mexico, you will find people who have come over for the day to sell souvenirs. Usually they are just little trinkets, but if you want one you will need cash.

Optional: Trip Into Boquillas Mexico

One of the most popular things to do on this side of Big Bend is to cross the border into Boquillas, Mexico.

Full disclosure here though: we didn’t do this. One of the main reasons was because the line of cars just to drive down to the place where you park to cross the border was insanely long! But I also had read mixed reviews of the experience, and we decided we would rather spend more time in the National Park.

But if you want to cross the border, here’s what you need to know.

First, you’ll need to make sure everyone in your party has their passports.

To cross the border, you’ll pay $5 (roundtrip) to ride a small boat across the Rio Grande. Once there, you can either walk or pay a few dollars to take a burro into the small town of Boquillas. It’s a .05-miles dirt path to the village.

There you’ll find some shops and restaurants. There’s not a ton, and really this seems to me more like it’s about the novelty of crossing into Mexico.

When you’re ready to leave, take the boat back. You DO NOT want to miss the last boat! The border closes at 4:00 p.m.

Rio Grande Village

Rio Grande Village is a 5 minute drive from the Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry. Here you’ll find a Visitor Center, a store, a campground, and most notably the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail.

The Rio Grande Village Nature Trail is a .75-mile loop that’s pretty easy with some uphill climbing. The first part is a boardwalk that will take you over a wetland area before it climbs up a hill for views of the surrounding area.

If you are a birdwatcher, you’ll definitely want to hit this trail up!

Hot Springs Historic District

From Rio Grande Village, you’ll drive about 15 minutes to get to the Hot Springs Trailhead. In the early 1900s, this was an area people would visit to soak in the supposedly healing hot springs.

You’ll start in the Hot Springs Historic District, where you can see some of the old buildings of the area like the Hot Springs post office.

Then continue about 0.25 miles to get to the hot spring. While the main building is gone, the foundation is still there and you can still soak in this natural hot tub. (So if you’ll want to, bring your swimsuit!)

Afterwards, you can turn back around and go back the way you came, or continue hiking on a 1 mile loop trail that will take you back to the trailhead.

More Things To Do in Big Bend National Park

• Canoe on the Rio Grande — This ended up being one of our favorite experiences on our Big Bend trip! We actually did a trip with Big Bend River Tours in the state park. The water needs to be high enough (this is a frequent issue), but if you can do it I highly recommend it!
• Stargazing — Big Bend National Park is an International Dark Sky park so you will not want to miss the stars here! We weren’t inside the actual park that late at night, but they were still amazing from nearby Terilingua!
• Birdwatching — Birdwatching is a great thing to do in Big Bend! There are so many unique birds you can find in this desert habit. Some birdwatching hotspots are Rio Grande Village, the Chisos Mountains, and Cottonwood Campground.
• Big Bend Ranch State Park — While you’re in the area, you might also want to visit Big Bend Ranch State Park. There’s more hiking here, plus opportunities for horseback riding and canoeing.

Best Time to Visit Big Bend National Park

Spring and Fall are by far the best time to visit Big Bend National Park. This is when the weather is the best.

March is peak season because the weather is great and lots of schools are on Spring Break. We visited in March, and aside from in the Chisos Mountains, we thought the crowds were manageable. (Note that we also skipped going into Boquillas though.)

Summer in Big Bend can be dangerously hot, with temperatures reaching up into 100s. And winter can be super cold, with low temps around 30s. So I would avoid visiting in these months.

How to Get to Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is definitely a more out-of-the-way National Park. And there aren’t exactly any airports super close by.

We chose to fly into El Paso and then make the 4.5 hour drive down to Big Bend National Park.

You could also fly into Midland-Odessa (a 3 hour drive from Big Bend) or San Antonio (a 6 hour drive to Big Bend).

If you’re driving, here are some notable driving distances:

• El Paso, TX — 292 miles (about 4.5 hours)
• Marathon, TX — 42 miles (about 40 mintues)
• Midland, TX — 204 miles (about 3.25 hours)
• Fort Worth, TX — 504 miles (about 7.5 hours)
• San Antonio, TX — 410 miles (about 6 hours)

Where to Stay In and Near Big Bend National Park

If you want to stay INSIDE Big Bend National Park, you’re options will be a bit limited.

Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only lodge within the National Park. Note that it will be undergoing MAJOR renovations beginning in Spring 2025 though. (The rest of the Chisos Mountains area will also be closed as the work begins in May 2025 and reopening announcements will be made when they know more.)

Camping is also available. Reservations are required at the campgrounds!

• Chisos Basin Campground
• Rio Grande Village Campground
• Cottonwood Campground
• Rio Grande Village RV Park

Most people though, chose to stay in the nearby town of Terlingua. (This is what we did!)

In fact, the tourism of people coming to Big Bend is a huge part of Terlingua’s economy. And there are LOTS of places to stay.

We stayed at Ten Bits Ranch, which is a bit north of Terlingua. It’s a rustic resort-like spot that has been built to look like an old ranch town. We stayed in the bank building, and while the accommodations are pretty basic (in fact, a little less than basic because the water is non-potable), the theming is super fun and the desert is SO peaceful!

But here are some other options for Terlingua:

What To Pack for Big Bend National Park

You’ll definitely want to be prepared for your trip to Big Bend! Besides the obvious (you know…underwear, a toothbrush, etc.), here are some other things you’ll want to be sure to have.

• Water, water, and more water. You’re in a desert and you’re going to need to be drinking a lot! Plus, lots of spots in the area have non-potable water. We stopped at Target in El Paso before driving down and purchased several gallon jugs of water to keep in the car.
• Clothing layers. If you’re visiting in the fall or spring (which is the best time to visit), the mornings can be cold while the afternoons can get pretty warm. So dress in layers.
• Sun protection. This hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Even when it’s not summer, the sun can get you!
• Bug spray. Because, you know, you’re going to be outdoors.
• Hiking boots. The trails are rocky and some can be difficult! I love these (although I have an older version of them.)
• Portable fans or cooling towels. If the weather is warmer when you’re visiting, you’ll want some ways to cool off. Here’s my favorite handheld fan. And we use these cooling towels.
• First aid kit. It’s always a good idea to travel with basic first aid, especially for outdoor adventures in more remote regions!
• Flashlight. It gets DARK here. It is a International Dark Sky Park after all. So you’ll definitely want a flashlight for the evenings!
• Shampoo & Conditioner. I don’t always pack these when I’m staying in hotels and accommodations where I expect them to be provided. But I was surprised our spot in Terlingua had no conditioner. And I had a hard time tracking any down in nearby stores.

Where to Eat In and Near Big Bend National Park

Dining inside Big Bend National Park is pretty limited. The Mountain View Restaurant at the Chisos Mountain Lodge is the only full-service restaurant in the park. And it will be closed for awhile as the area is under major renovations beginning in Spring 2025.

So my best recommendation is to bring a picnic lunch! Again, we stopped at the store in El Paso before we drove down for basic sandwich and snacking necessities.

While dining INSIDE the park is limited, nearby Terlingua has some fantastic restaurants! Here are a few of our favorites:

• Starlight Theater Restaurant — The MOST popular spot for dinner! (Get there early and expect a wait!). But they have great food including some of the best Brussels sprouts I’ve ever had.
• DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ — Fantastic Texas BBQ and they often have live music.
• Taqueria El Milagro — Amazing tacos. I loved this spot!
• Espresso y Poco Mas — Great place for breakfast!

More Tips for Visiting Big Bend

• Keep your gas tank full! There is very limited gas available in Big Bend National Park. The Panther Junction Service Station and the Rio Grande Village Service Station are the only places you will be able to get gas. So keep your eye on the gas tank and fill up when you can.
• Bring lots of water! You will need to drink lots of water, so bring it with you in your car. I’m talking gallon jugs.
• Be wildlife aware. There are definitely animals you’ll want to be aware. In the Chisos Mountains especially there can be mountain lions and bears. Keep your kiddos close and don’t let them go wondering off on their own. And be careful driving at night too. We also ran into a herd of javelinas north of Terlingua late one night and missed them truly by a hair.\
• Download maps ahead of time. You may not have service is many areas of the park, so download maps and driving directions to your phone ahead of time.

More National Parks Travel in the Southwest

• Things to do with Kids in Big Bend National Park
• Things to do in White Sands National Park
• Guide to Sledding in White Sands National Park

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