Beautiful road, many places to stop and take a picture. The park has three different types of roads: paved roads, improved dirt roads and primitive dirt roads. If you have plans to hike to the South Rim or Emory Peak, the hike will start on this same trail. Its a tough hike but the view over the park is unbeatable. Follow it for about a mile or two until you reach a remote parking area in the desert. Most people dont know that there are 8,000-foot peaks in Texas, but in the exceptionally remote southwest corner of the Lone Star State, Big Bend National Parks Chisos Mountains soar high over the Chihuahuan Desert. Unlike some more popular national parks, Big Bend doesn't have a large gateway town (think: Springdale next to Zion, for instance). Highlight: Beautiful desert hike to a small spring. These massive cliffs rise up on either side of the river about 1200 feet or more and their looming presence is simply amazing. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive's southern station is Santa Elena Canyon, and it is the first attractive location where you should definitely pull up. Note there is both an upper and lower Burro Mesa Pouroff trail. How long has it taken some of you? We didn't see any water even at the Rio Grande Overlook. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page. This drive will amaze and astonish. The road is not terrible, but be careful. The scenic drive ends here, and exposes a stunning panoramic view of the canyon. Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only indoor, non-camping option located on the park grounds. Big Bend - Texas Monthly The Rio Grande Village is located at the far eastern side of Big Bend National Park. Stay in Basin Lodge. This is a fairly large national park with three distinct areas: the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive region, Chisos Basin, and the sights in and around Rio Grande Village. Driving is the name of the game in Big Bend. Chimneys Trail - Consider the Wonders Santa Elena Canyon & The Rio Grande by subarcticmike http://www.flickr.com/photos/31856336@N03/ Some rights reserved. 8 Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive Photo by Loik Marras on Unsplash A highway winds through the breathtaking Big Bend National Park in Texas Wonderful list. Rugged, rocky mountains rise up out of the desert. Youll also see Mule Ears poking up over the horizon, as you drive north on Ross Maxwell Drive, a few miles south of here. Tim and I thought the scenery in these two sections was amazing and you have miles of hiking trails to choose from. This is a standard paved National Park Service road with great scenic views of rocky vistas and pretty desert wildflowers. But it's well worth the trek. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive | Explore Texas - Find a scenic drive or plan There are two different ways to do this hike. For more travel news and deals delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. Driving the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend NP The park is a very stark and beautiful terrain, and this drive had lovely vistas as well as a small ghost town. Further afield is El Paso's airport, about 330 miles from the park. We saw two road runners, a cow and some goats. This loop hike weaves its way through the Chisos Basin valley. I the trailhead is somewhere near the stretch of the road that looks like this: A few miles before the end of the road, youll pass Castolon. It's on the Western side of the park so depending on where you come in from, it will be closer or farther to get to. Maxwell Scenic Drive is worth the time, plus there's lots to stop and see along the road (we stopped at Upper Burro Mesa, Lower Burro Mesa, Santa Elena Canyon, and then exited back to the park entrance via Old Maverick Road). LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Ernst Tinaja Trail, Distance: 1.6 miles Total Ascent: 195 feet Difficulty: Easy to Ernst Tinaja, moderate to challenging if you continue past Ernst Tinaja to go rock scrambling Length of Time: 1 to 1.5 hours Trailhead: Old Ore Road. It's on the Western side of the park so depending on where you come in from, it will be closer or farther to get to. The beauty of that will set the hook. If you are lucky you will see a road runner. We were here in a heat wave (hit 116!) The flyer from Big Ben says Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive takes 7 hours but one reviewer said they did three drives in one day. Start from the carpark, where there is a bathroom and tr Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is a 30.9 mile point-to-point hike that takes you by a river located near Big Bend National Park, TX. The South Rim Trail is one of the best ways to experience Big Bend National Park. Big Bend is in a drought across the board. Here the road levels along the Rio Grand and brings you right next to the awesome cliff that create the canyon. Temperatures hit 103 the day we were there. Finally, travelers with a fourth grader (or for 2021, also a fifth-grader) in the family can also get in free to Big Bend by using the free national park access awarded to those students. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Your email address will not be published. We've tried to score this point in the accompanying photos. We did not mingle the routes - finished one before starting another. You can drive out and back along Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive or you can drive one direction along Old Maverick Road. Rock hounds will appreciate the volcanic geology of Tuff Canyon hike and history buffs will enjoy the short atmospheric walks to Sam Nail Ranch, Homer Wilson (Blue Creek) Ranch, and Castolon Historic District which showcase Big Bend's past. A 0.3-mile paved path leads to a viewpoint of the Window, a cut-out in the Chisos mountain range that is one of the best sunset points in the park. Here are 15 of the best hikes in Big Bend National Park. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. so we needed to nix hiking. It is an out and back road that begins near the park's Maverick Entrance and has many vista points, scenic pullouts, educational displays, and short hikes. Julie Last updated: June 18, 2023 United States 6 Comments. The other amazing thing is Santa Elena at the bottom. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Obviously, there are many, many options when it comes to hikes. (including Ross Canyon). Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. From this point, you can start several epic hikes in Big Bend. Suggested Itineraries - Big Bend National Park (U.S. National Park Service) We finished up by about 5 p.m. and had seen what we wanted to see. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each hiking trail. We paid a visit to the very notable Santa Elena Canyon as well as a number of other easy to access points of interest. Outside the park, the closest town is Terlingua. It didnt work. The Lost Mine Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the park. Dont miss our article Best Things to Do in Big Bend for great things to do in the park. There are several short out and back turn outs, that are must see. The flyer from Big Ben says Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive takes 7 hours but one reviewer said they did three drives in one day. The Other Mountain Loop. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. Just remember to not make too much noise as many motorcyclists fail to heed that. The drive is already getting quite beautiful, and some of its best features are still to come. The trail ends at a beautiful view into the Santa Elena Canyon. This can be done on your own or through some independent outfitters that offer professionally guided trips from two hours to 10 days. We were here in a heat wave (hit 116!) Tell us all about your experience in the comments! Emory Peak is the highest peak in the Chisos Mountains and Big Bend National Park. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive | Big Bend National Park - YouTube You drive this on your way to Castalon (where there is a store - not too well stocked, but can find snacks and drinks and a helpful cashier). The South Rim Trail also joins the list, since its longer distance discourages many hikers. The muddy Rio Grande flows between, dividing Texas on one side and Mexico on the other. It was a long haul from our home town but the trip was worth it. Hello. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. We hit the Park around 7 a.m. We drove only on the paved roads, of which there are plenty. The park was almost empty of tourists and it seemed we had the place to ourselves. 2023 2. The quickest and most direct way is to hike out-and-back to Emory Peak from the Chisos Basin Visitor Center. Entrance to Big Bend National Park is comparable to other national parks. I thought Id start with ablack-and-white photo I shot of Ross Maxwell Drive, about six miles from Santa Elena Junction, where the drive begins. It's named for Big Bend National Park's first superintendent and geologist who served from 1944-1952. Lost Mine Trail 350 Hiking Trails By 76MitchM Great hike with magnificent views 2023 3. Nice! Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your A selection of motel-style rooms and stone cottages are available, along with a restaurant and general store. While visiting Big Bend National Park in Nov 2017 we journeyed from the east side of the park at Rio Grand Village Camp Ground to the west side of the park by way of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and what a beautiful drive it is! Around the 15th mile, the Goat Mountain and the Mule Ears both represent underground volcanic activities millions of years ago. At TPG, he wrote a broad array of stories ranging from in-depth features and reports to trending travel news as it related to loyalty, card benefits and consumer behavior. Hike Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Big Bend National Park, Texas A few miles further, another side road leads to a viewpoint of Mule Ears, a double-peaked mountain that tops out at 3,881 feet (1193 meters). Read all of our articles about Texas in our Texas Travel Guide and the United States in our United States Travel Guide. We were fortunate to spend a week in Big Bend but if you're there for a day or two this is a must do as it gives you a great overview of the park. Be sure to stop and enjoy the views at Mule Ears Overlook, Sotol Vista Overlook, and Tuff Canyon along the way. Loved it!!! Big Bend National Park is a remote, hidden gem deep within south Texas. River: The Santa Elena Canyon Trail is a classic Big Bend hike. Hiking trails crisscross their way through the Chihuahuan Desert, along hot springs and the Rio Grande, and up and over the Chisos Mountains. Related: The 19 national parks every traveler needs to see at least once. And you can even cross into Mexico (so have your passport handy). Within the park boundaries, you can go from 7,825-foot Emory Peak in the Chisos Mountains down to cacti-dotted Chihuahuan Desert floor and all the way to the Rio Grande carving into ancient canyons. 30 miles (48km) A trip along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive highlights the geologic splendor Big Bend is famous for, and offers many scenic overlooks and exhibits along the way. Road conditions can change rapidly, especially after rain, so it's important to monitor weather conditions and speak to a ranger before going off-roading. Also the Willowtree Campground has end of the road has a grocery store and restrooms. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive: 196 Reviews, Map - Texas | AllTrails I also include the Balanced Rock hike on this list, since it is just a short drive from Chisos Basin. Meanwhile, the Lost Mine Trail and South Rim Trail are fantastic choices if you're looking for solid, day-long hikes. This trail ends a spring, so it does not take you all of the way to the Mules Ears. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our. We also stopped at the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook, Mule Ears Viewpoint and Sotol Vista Overlook. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. The fall and spring periods are fairly pleasant, with average highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s and 60s. Although the rocks of the area are technically not ash because they are bigger than .1 inches across, the name has stuck. Read our. This is from last week. The first stop on Ross Maxwell Drive heading north from Santa Elena Cayon is a scenic viewpoint of the canyon. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit, Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPGs experts. Its short, its easy, and this is the best up-close experience with the Rio Grande. The volcanic geology of this area - and that of most areas along the road is very interesting.
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