Big Bend Vacation
Big Bend - Dec. 25, 2007 - Jan. 5, 2008
Big Bend vacation was fantastic! Camp was set up in the Chisos Basin campground for the first week of my two-week vacation. The views were awesome and the campground was full. The hiking is really good here, and there were a lot of people out camping and hiking in spite of the cold weather - and it was cold, with temps in the teens and twenties at night.
In the Chisos Basin Lodge complex, there are motel rooms, a convenience store, and ranger station. There is also a gift/book store and a restaurant that serves a wonderful breakfast buffet and boasts an outstanding salad bar.
The second week of vacation was spent at Big Bend Ranch State Park, located west of Big Bend National Park. With over 330,000 acres of primitive desert, this is the best for hiking, camping, and wildlife. BBR has flush toilets, hot showers, available fresh water, and a ranger station complete with gift shop and book store at the Saucedo Ranch complex. This working ranch's complex includes a three bedroom hacienda (rent one room or the whole house) and an upscale bunkhouse with great room and dining hall. There are stables where a trail ride can be booked, or you can trailer in your own horse and enjoy the park on horseback.
The camping in BBR is very primitive and secluded; however, a few sites have picnic tables and a fire ring. The fire ring means you can actually build a wood fire - something prohibited in the Big Bend National Park. The hiking is awesome. There are some short and easy trails and some very strenuous trails. If you like seeing wildlife, you will not be disappointed. There are 250 head of longhorn cattle that roam the park and there is an abundance of mule deer, javalina, and rabbits. You may even see a mountain lion or two. I will definitely be visiting and hiking BBR again.
In the Chisos Basin Lodge complex, there are motel rooms, a convenience store, and ranger station. There is also a gift/book store and a restaurant that serves a wonderful breakfast buffet and boasts an outstanding salad bar.
The second week of vacation was spent at Big Bend Ranch State Park, located west of Big Bend National Park. With over 330,000 acres of primitive desert, this is the best for hiking, camping, and wildlife. BBR has flush toilets, hot showers, available fresh water, and a ranger station complete with gift shop and book store at the Saucedo Ranch complex. This working ranch's complex includes a three bedroom hacienda (rent one room or the whole house) and an upscale bunkhouse with great room and dining hall. There are stables where a trail ride can be booked, or you can trailer in your own horse and enjoy the park on horseback.
The camping in BBR is very primitive and secluded; however, a few sites have picnic tables and a fire ring. The fire ring means you can actually build a wood fire - something prohibited in the Big Bend National Park. The hiking is awesome. There are some short and easy trails and some very strenuous trails. If you like seeing wildlife, you will not be disappointed. There are 250 head of longhorn cattle that roam the park and there is an abundance of mule deer, javalina, and rabbits. You may even see a mountain lion or two. I will definitely be visiting and hiking BBR again.
Casa Grande, BBNP, from Chisos Basin Lodge. Click this image for more Images.
View of Chisos Basin Lodge from the restaurant.
View from Chisos Basin restaurant.
View of the campground area from Chisos Basin Restaurant.
View of Chisos Basin Campground.
View of Chisos Basin Campground.
View from Chisos Basin Campground.
Mountain lion display in the ranger station, Chisos Basin.
The "Window" as seen from Chisos Basin Campground.
View from Chisos Basin Lodge.
View from Chisos Basin Campground.
View from Chisos Basin Campground.
Strawberry cactus and purple prickly pear cactus.
Distant ridge from the Grapevine Hills Road, BBNP
Distant ridge from the Grapevine Hills Road, BBNP
Rock outcrop, Grapevine Hills Area, BBNP
Grapevine Hills Area, BBNP
Rock outcrop, Grapevine Hills Area, BBNP
Grapevine Hills - looking down from the trail leading to the balance rock.
This Strawberry cactus bears edible fruits in August.
Rock outcrop, Grapevine Hills Area, BBNP
Hiking buddy, Kim.
Big Bend - Desert drive from Marathon, TX, toward the Chisos Mountains.
View from the Windows Trail, from Chisos Basin Campground.
