Visiting Big Bend National Park With Kids: Things To Do and What To Expect

Big Bend National Park is one of the least visited National Parks with the US because of its remote location. But is gaining popularity for sure, and visiting Big Bend National Park with kids can be such a great experience!

Big Bend is such a unique National Park to visit with kids, best for families who love adventure, don’t mind long drives, and want something completely different with a more “off-the-grid” feeling.

There is so much here for kids to explore! It’s just wide open desert all over the place, rocks to climb on, and rivers to explore. And if you’ve got a kid who loves dinosaurs? Oh boy is this the National Park for you!

We spent several March days here over Spring Break and had a great time hiking through the desert, learning about dinosaurs and the landscape’s ancient history, and having adventures on the Rio Grande. So I want to tell you what it’s really like to visit Big Bend National Park with kids and tell you the best things to do on a family trip to Big Bend!

What Is It Really Like to Visit Big Bend National Park With Kids?

Big Bend can be a great National Park to visit with kids, but you also need to be prepared with the right expectations.

It’s not the kind of National Park where you can show up and hop between short, easy stops. It’s a place where your experience is shaped by the vastness of the landscape and really immersing yourself in the Chihuahuan Desert, a place that feels unlike anywhere else.

This is a pretty remote area of Texas (so there aren’t a lot of amenities) and Big Bend National Park is gigantic, which means you’ll be spending a lot more time in the car than you might at other National Parks (think Yellowstone levels of time in the car). And depending on the time you visit, it can also be HOT.

It can be a super fun park to visit with kids because of the fun desert trails, the Fossil Discovery Exhibit, and opportunities for unique experiences on the Rio Grande.

But your kids will need to be prepared for lots of hiking, potential heat, and a decent amount of time in the car.

Is Big Bend a Good National Park for Kids?

I’ll cut right to it: yes and no, depending on your family.

Big Bend is great for: adventurous families, older kids, and nature lovers.

Big Bend is going be to a bit harder for: families with toddlers (but it’s still doable!), low-energy trips (definitely not here!), and families who want convenience.

Planning Your Visit

Because of it’s remote location, planning your trip to Big Bend may be a little more involved than some other National Parks. But at the same time, we’re not talking about Alaska here, so it’s totally doable.

It’s also a HUGE National Park, at over 800,000 acres (over 1,000 square miles). So making sure you plan out your time in Big Bend (and figuring out where you want to drive each day) is crucial.

And because of its remote location, you might consider pairing this with other Southwest National Parks like Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands. (We paired all three of these with our Big Bend visit for a week-long trip!)

Planning a trip to Texas? Check out these books about Texas!

Best Time to Visit Big Bend

The best time to visit Big Bend is fall and spring. This is when you’ll have the most pleasant weather!

Big Bend National Park is on the border of Texas and Mexico, so summers here are HOT. We’re talking temperatures regularly above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And surprisingly, winters can get pretty cold.

March is the busiest time of year for Big Bend because the weather is so nice and it’s a popular Spring Break destination.

We actually visited in March on our own Spring Break, and while it was definitely crowded, it was also very manageable, especially compared to something like Yellowstone in the summer.

The weather in March was so lovely. The temperatures were in the 60s and 70s the whole time we were there.

Where to Stay In (and Near) Big Bend

Staying in Big Bend

There is one lodge in Big Bend National Park: the Chisos Mountains Lodge. It has a variety of rooms and cottages, plus activities for the family to enjoy.

But if you want to stay here, you’ll want to book early, especially if you’re traveling during peak time (March and April).

There are a couple of things you need to know about camping in Big Bend.

First of all, reservations are required. And you can make reservations between 6 months to 14 days in advance (some sites have reservations 6 months in advance, and some hold a certain amount for those last minute planners).

Also, note that all the campgrounds except for Rio Grande Village RV Park are operated by the National Park. Rio Grande Village RV Park is operated by the same company that operates the Chisos Mountains Lodge.

Another important thing is to know that wood-burning and ground fires are not allowed. So you won’t have those nights sitting around a campfire under the stars that you may be envisioning.

Staying Outside of Big Bend

Many people choose to stay outside of Big Bend National Park. This is what we did!

Terlingua is the closest town to Big Bend, and there are lots of lodging options there. We chose Ten Bits Ranch, which is a lodging complex built to look like an Old West town. Each building (like the bank and the jail) are rooms you can stay in. And it has some of the most amazing views!

Getting to Big Bend National Park

Big Bend can be a little tricky to get to because it is so remote. We flew into El Paso, and then drove down to Big Bend.

What To Do in Big Bend National Park with Kids

Big Bend National Park is full of so much adventure! Here are the activities that stood out the most to us as a family, plus a few other spots we missed but would add to our itinerary next time!

Santa Elena Canyon

Park Area: Santa Elena Canyon
Hike Length: 1.6 miles
Great For: The whole family!

Santa Elena Canyon is probably the most photographed spot in Big Bend. It’s such a dramatic place with unbelievably tall canyon walls and the Rio Grande running through it.

See the canyon walls behind me in the picture above? One side is Mexico and the other side is the US!

Depending on the water levels, you can cross the river in some spots and hike along the canyon. (IF water is flowing, the trail may not be accessible).

It takes a bit of climbing, but it’s not too difficult (just one spot climbing up the bank of Terlingua Creek where we had to help each other) and the views are incredible!

It’s a moderately easy hike and is 1.6 miles long round-trip, although with a good section of uphill walking. But you can totally just do part of and then turn around.

Kids will also have fun hearing their echoes off the canyon walls!

Balanced Rock Hike

Park Area: Panther Junction
Hike Length: 2.2 miles
Great For: Kids who love rock-scrambling

This was my favorite hike in all of Big Bend National Park!

First, let’s talk about getting to the trailhead for the Balanced Rock Hike (officially known as the Grapevine Hills Trail). I highly recommend having a 4-wheel drive vehicle because the ride to get there is BUMPY. Just west of Panther Junction, you’ll turn down Grapevine Springs Road and drive 6.4 miles to the trailhead. And it will take about 30 minutes!

Once you get there it’s so beautiful and peaceful though!

Balanced Rock is really a mix of a hike. The first section is super flat and easy.

Then you get to the difficult part of the hike, where you’ll be scrambling up a rocky hillside to find Balanced Rock at the top.

Honestly, I feel like this is a great hike for kids, because they generally love the rock scrambling. And they’ll have fun standing underneath the Balanced Rock and taking pictures pretending like they are lifting it up.

The whole hike is 2.2 miles and I’d rate it as moderately difficult (the first part being super easy and the second part being difficult, but short-lived). I was pretty proud of myself that I managed to do this one year post ACL surgery, though!

Park Area: Chisos Mountains
Hike Length: 4.8 miles
Great for: Kids who are used to longer hikes

Lost Mine Trail is probably THE most popular hike in Big Bend National Park. And full disclosure: we didn’t do it. And let me explain why.

This hike is located in the Chisos Mountains area of the park, which is arguably the area that gets the MOST crowded.

While we didn’t really have issues with crowds in any other part of the park, on first afternoon we tried to go up to the Chisos Mountains we pulled onto the road to find a line of cars and were told it would be a two hour wait JUST to be able to drive up to the top and hope for a parking space.

SO, later on in the trip we hit the Chisos Mountains first, got there super early (before the visitors center even opened) and got one of the last parking spaces.

And since the parking spaces for the Lost Mine Trail are along the road before you get to the Visitors Center, all of those were already taken.

So all that to say, if you want to do the Lost Mine Trail, GET THERE EARLY.

This trail is 4.8 miles round-trip and offers incredible views. It is pretty long, but it’s rated as moderate, so it’s super popular with families.

You can also choose to just hike part of it and turn around. Some people just hike the first mile to first overlook and then turn back (which is probably what we would have done because I think 4.8 miles would have been a little much for my kiddo).

Window View Trail

Park Area: Chisos Mountains
Hike Length: 0.3 miles
Great For: The whole family!

If you want a super easy walk with some great views up in the Chisos Mountains, try the Window View Trail (not to be confused with the Window Trail).

This is a short, paved 0.3 mile walk near the Visitors Center that offers beautiful views of the mountains and the desert beyond. It’s perfect for the littlest kids and family members that may have mobility challenges.

Hot Springs Historic District

Park Area: Boquillas Canyon
Hike Length: 0.6 miles
Great For: Elementary school kids and up

Hot Springs Historic District is near Boquillas Canyon. It’s historic area that used to be a spa-like area where people could come to soak in the hot springs to cure their ailments. And you can still take a dip in the hot springs today!

The trail to the hot spring is .6 miles round-trip (so .3 miles to get to the hot spring), and you can choose to bring a bathing suit to take a soak or just explore the ruins of the buildings that were here.

While the whole family can do this, if you want to soak in the hot springs that does involve swimming of course. And you will be walking right along the Rio Grande with some small drop-offs, so it may not be my first choice with toddlers.

We didn’t get to do this one, but it’s definitely on my list for next time!

Boquillas Canyon

Park Area: Boquillas Canyon
Hike Length: 1.6 miles
Great For: The whole family!

While Boquillas Canyon isn’t as dramatic as Santa Elena Canyon, it’s still a beautiful spot! The Boquillas Canyon Trail here is 1.6 miles and climbs up the canyon before descending onto a flat trail along the Rio Grande.

I loved sitting at the top and watching the Rio Grande, along with people canoeing down the river.

Since it’s close to the Boquillas crossing, you’ll also find people from Mexico here selling souvenirs, homemade trinkets, and food.

Junior Ranger Program

Park Area: Everywhere!
Great For: The whole family!

I’m always a big fan of participating in the Junior Ranger Program at National Parks. Honestly, even if I wasn’t traveling with my kiddo, I would still probably pick up the Junior Ranger books because they give such an easy overview of the park.

You can get a Junior Ranger book at any visitor center for free. To become a Junior Ranger and get their badge, kids will have to complete a certain number of pages (based on age) and take their work back to a Park Ranger at the visitor center.

But you can also get the activity book just for your own education and not return to get the badge! We actually do this a lot.

Rio Grande River Ride

Park Area: Outside National Park, in Big Bend State Park (meet in Terlingua)
Great For: The whole family!

One popular thing to do in the Big Bend area is to go on a ride down the Rio Grande River!

We did this and it was by far one of our favorite activities during our time here!

There are lots of different outfitters you can use. We went with Big Bend River Tours and thought they were great! The ride was actually in Big Bend State Park (which is right next to the National Park) and went through Dark Canyon.

It was a gentle and easy paddle and we all had a great time!

You do need to know that the ability to do this greatly depends on the water levels though. The water levels of the Rio Grande have been getting lower and lower here, and with various political factions controlling the release of water into the river paired with climate change, tour operators can’t always run their river trips.

Stargazing

Park Area: Everywhere
Great For: The whole family!

Big Bend National Park is an Official Dark Sky Park so you can’t miss stargazing here!

And while you can totally do this within the National Park, the whole area surrounding it is incredible for stargazing. From where we were staying at Ten Bits Ranch we were able to see the Milky Way!

Also, I would just like to record this here, that while stargazing here I actually saw a shooting star with a fiery tail go across my view of the Milky Way. It was incredible.

Tips for Visiting Big Bend with Kids

Here are a few tips you need to know if you are planning to visit Big Bend with kids!

Prepare for Lots of Driving

Big Bend National Park is HUGE. It’s over 800,000 acres and to drive from one end to the other (like from Santa Elena Canyon to Boquillas Canyon) it takes at least 1 hour and 30 minutes.

So you need to be prepared for lots of time in the car. Bring entertainment (without internet), and anything else you might need for a road trip. And if you’ve got really little kids, you might want to bring a portable potty for them to use like this one.

Pack Water and Food

First: water. You are in a desert, and even if it’s not particularly hot when you are visiting, you are going to need to more water than you think. And it’s not easily accessible in the park.

I recommend going by a grocery store on your way in and grabbing lots of gallons jugs of water that you can use to refill water bottles.

Second: food. There is ONE restaurant in Big Bend National Park. And it’s in the Chisos Mountains (which, as we’ve already discussed, can be tricky to get to). So plan to bring plenty of snacks plus picnic lunches and/or dinners.

Wildlife Awareness

While the wildlife in Big Bend isn’t as much of a concern as in a park like Yellowstone, there is still wildlife to be aware of.

While a lot of wildlife is harmless, like roadrunners and deer, there are also animals to be aware of. There are bears and mountain lions in the park, especially in the Chisos Mountains.

So make sure you make plenty of noise while hiking (remember, they generally want to avoid you as much as you want to avoid them). And if you see a mountain lion, don’t run.

Also, look out for snakes while hiking. (Just know though, we didn’t see any!)

Also, be careful driving at night because it is so dark! We almost hit some javelinas (big pigs) going 70 mph driving from Terlingua to Ten Bits. Seriously, we missed them by an inch. So be aware and use your brights where appropriate.

What’s Next?

• Get a Big Bend National Park 3 Day Itinerary
• Read About Our Day in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Learn About Visiting Yellowstone National Park With Kids
• Visit Another Southwest National Park: White Sands!
• Read About Sledding in White Sands National Park
• Read Some Books About National Parks Before Your Trip!

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