Big Bend NP
Looking to take a trip here in March or April. Rv parks pros cons. Also places that are must see. Thanks
Forum Discussion
There is one FHU concessionaire campground in the national park at Rio Grande Village - it is a parking lot with hookups and a few tables at the back of the 'sites'.
The commercial RV parks outside the national park are not a lot better, but are closer to some other facilities such as a restaurant or some light shopping.
All the NPS campgrounds in the park are dry camping. Chisos Basin CG is at 5,150-5,000 ft elevation and not suitable for anything longer than 20-25 feet. Your rig won't fit any of the camping spots. Cottonwood is a no-generator campground.
Commercial parks I've looked at include -
Stillwell Ranch CG - on Hwy 2627 a few miles east of the north park entrance - really a location for hunters and far from most of the 'scenic' parts of Big Bend.
Big Bend Resort and Adventures - in Study Butte/ Terlingua near the west park entrance - another gravel parking lot with FHU pull-thrus - but next to the motel/ gas station/ restaurant
BJ's as mentioned above
The 'fanciest' is Maverick Ranch in Lajitas - a lot of folks with big Class A's seem to prefer that CG.
Terlingua Ranch Lodge offer RV sites. It is located just over the first hill north of Study Butte - but I've never seen a review or met anyone who stayed there.
Within the park there are three separate zones/ ecologies - a desert, a river valley and a mountain range
During your visit the cactus and other plants should be blooming and it is a beautiful time.
My must list includes -
Dagger Flats Auto Route in the north park of the park - the Dagger Yucca should be fantastic in late March/ early April.
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive - a couple days can be spent at the various stops along this route
Santa Elena Canyon - a neat walk into a narrow canyon
Rio Grande Village Nature Trail - a good overview of how the river impacts the park
Lost Mine Trail near the top of the pass into the Chisos Basin
Window View Trail - a short handicapped accessible paved loop off the Chisos Mountain Lodge parking lot - great place to watch the sunset through the Window
Grapevine Hills and the Balanced Rock - accessible by almost all vehicles
With a 4x4 you might be able to travel some of the longer gravel roads. Always check with a visitors center / ranger before going on those. Conditions change daily and some can be simply dangerous after a rain for several days. Some parts of the River Road and Black Gap Road can require 24 inches of ground clearance. Long wheelbase vehicles can be unable to turn around in some places.
(My sig pic was taken at our host site in the Chisos Basin CG in April 2014)
The commercial RV parks outside the national park are not a lot better, but are closer to some other facilities such as a restaurant or some light shopping.
All the NPS campgrounds in the park are dry camping. Chisos Basin CG is at 5,150-5,000 ft elevation and not suitable for anything longer than 20-25 feet. Your rig won't fit any of the camping spots. Cottonwood is a no-generator campground.
Commercial parks I've looked at include -
Stillwell Ranch CG - on Hwy 2627 a few miles east of the north park entrance - really a location for hunters and far from most of the 'scenic' parts of Big Bend.
Big Bend Resort and Adventures - in Study Butte/ Terlingua near the west park entrance - another gravel parking lot with FHU pull-thrus - but next to the motel/ gas station/ restaurant
BJ's as mentioned above
The 'fanciest' is Maverick Ranch in Lajitas - a lot of folks with big Class A's seem to prefer that CG.
Terlingua Ranch Lodge offer RV sites. It is located just over the first hill north of Study Butte - but I've never seen a review or met anyone who stayed there.
Within the park there are three separate zones/ ecologies - a desert, a river valley and a mountain range
During your visit the cactus and other plants should be blooming and it is a beautiful time.
My must list includes -
Dagger Flats Auto Route in the north park of the park - the Dagger Yucca should be fantastic in late March/ early April.
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive - a couple days can be spent at the various stops along this route
Santa Elena Canyon - a neat walk into a narrow canyon
Rio Grande Village Nature Trail - a good overview of how the river impacts the park
Lost Mine Trail near the top of the pass into the Chisos Basin
Window View Trail - a short handicapped accessible paved loop off the Chisos Mountain Lodge parking lot - great place to watch the sunset through the Window
Grapevine Hills and the Balanced Rock - accessible by almost all vehicles
With a 4x4 you might be able to travel some of the longer gravel roads. Always check with a visitors center / ranger before going on those. Conditions change daily and some can be simply dangerous after a rain for several days. Some parts of the River Road and Black Gap Road can require 24 inches of ground clearance. Long wheelbase vehicles can be unable to turn around in some places.
(My sig pic was taken at our host site in the Chisos Basin CG in April 2014)
