campermom

I was making some final plans for July trip. Already have South llano/Davis/South Llano booked. I had considered a day trip to BB, but, I'd like to have more time. I've made a request for 2 nights at the lodge. We'll have 2 full days, (the third will be a 5 hour drive to South Llano). I've seen photos of Santa Elena Canyon and heard about the hot springs. What should we see/do? Remember, it's me and my 8YO son, in a 4x4 Xterra, in JULY.

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Troop198

We did BB with kids during summer a number of years ago as part of a bigger trip, we had the pop up back then so had AC The drive down from Alpine is so boring and dry

We did some early morning hiking to the "window", DW hurt herself along the way so cut the hikes short. Santa Elena canyon is a nice place to go to. Based on posts you son will jump into the Rio Grande

Also saw a big storm coming in and going through in a real short time, took awning off

Kids believed the mountain lion warnings so they sang alot

It is worth the day trip, weather can change quickly as noted above.

Lots of desert, mountains and then the river as the scenery, Panther Junction stop had lots of info on the park

Need to enjoy desert camping to enjoy the area. Not much shade

(which is why we are heading east this year), big trees

BigBendHiker

July is a good time to be in Big Bend. The park is nearly empty, so you have 800,000 acres to yourself. Day time temperatures in the basin are usually upper 80's to low 90's and 60's at night which makes for good hiking and sleeping. The desert temperatures, though, will be very high. So, any desert hikes such as to Hot Springs or Santa Elena Canyon should be done early morning.

If you are there two days, I would recommend:
1. Hike Lost Mine Trail up to the saddle (about 1 mile from the trail head). From there, you have a great view of the southeast rim, Elephant Tusk and the back of Casa Grande.
2. Definitely head to Hot Springs. It is a short hike and the history of that area is great to see. If the Rio Grande is flowing above 3 feet at Rio Grande Village, the springs are usually submerged and you will not be able to see them. Check with the ranger station in the basin and they can give you the water levels in the river.
3. Burro Mesa Pour-Off is a good desert hike through some really cool rock formations.
4. The Window Trail -- is is a 4.8 mile hike (if you start at the trailhead in the basin campground). Since it is in the basin, you could hike that during the middle of the day.
5. With a 4x4, you could head down Maverick Road to Luna's Jacal which is an old shelter that was actually used by one of the pioneer families. The view of Santa Elena Canyon from the jacal is great. Keep in mind you are in the desert at that point, so temps in mid-day will be 100+. Do that one early morning. There are many backroads that are only accessible by 4x4; I would check with the rangers at Panther Junction and get their recommendations on the back roads.

Be sure to take pictures and post a trip report upon your return!

BBH

BigBendHiker

Forgot to mention...be sure to head to Terlingua one evening for supper at the Starlight Theatre. There food is good, plus their location is at the site of the old Chisos Mining Company headquarters. Lots of history in that area -- old mine shafts from the days when Terlingua was the third largest mercury producing area in the US. Cinnabar, an ore of mercury, was plentiful in that area and the Chisos Mining Company (plus many others) operated there from the late 1800's until the mid 1940's.

BBH

happybooker1

Too much to do in 2 days!! The trip down to the Hot Springs where the old motel is located is great even if you can't get in the springs. There is also another spring off the main road to Panther Creek headquarters going south. I can't remember the name but it has 'spring' in it & it's off to the left as you're going south. We drove & parked & then walked about 1/2 mile to the spring & spent 2 hours playing there!

Also if you're going through Alpine a good sidetrip is the Woodward Ranch, where you can wade in his creek & pick up agates & quartz. Another thing to do is end up in Marfa after dark & see the Marfa lights! (Don't know why they're called 'marfa' when they're actually closer to Alpine but.....). There's a trading post in Alpine also that has a film of the lights.