Hiking is one of my favorite things to do as a family. Any trip we take, we always look for a place where we can get out in nature. The relaxation and peace I feel in God’s creation is unmatched. Big Bend National Park has to be one of my favorite places I have been to so far. Big Bend itself is massive and there are different areas of the park with so much to explore! You can even take a quick hike/boat ride to Mexico for lunch, if you feel up to it! Just make sure you bring your passports.
When my husband and I visited Big Bend National Park, we experienced all four seasons in a one week trip and we did three longer hikes along with a few shorter ones. One of the hikes we went on, the weather was so cold that the Cacti were frozen! Another hike started out as a bit chilly, but by the end of the hike, it felt warm. On our final hike of the week, my husband and I both wore shorts and t-shirts, and we still got a little warm. It was fun to see the different terrain in the different types of weather and conditions. Keep reading to see three of the hikes we did and loved!
The Lost Mine trail – Mountain Hike
Location: Chisos Basin (Be sure to check the National Park Service website to ensure this area is open. They are expected to start construction in fall 2025 and it is expected to continue for 2 years. They may open certain portions of this area as they make progress on their construction)
Hiking Distance – 4.8 miles round trip
Type of Hike – Out and Back
Trail difficulty – Moderate
Elevation Change – 1100 Feet
Considerations: Black bears and mountain lions are frequent in this area. Use caution when hiking and utilize the National Park Services website for information on what to do when encountering one of these animals.
The Lost Mine trail is 4.8 miles round trip. It rises over 1100 feet in the 2.4 miles it takes you to get to the top. There is parking at the start of the hike but be aware that there is not much! Thankfully we started our hike early and we were able to snag a spot. It probably also helped that it was so cold!
We visited at the end of October and were surprised to see how cold it already was there. Before we started our hike, we visited the Chisos Basin Visitor center. It was the start of our trip into Big Bend, so we paid our entrance fees, got our national park stamp, picked up a few maps, and interacted with a park ranger. Park rangers are so knowledgeable and can help with any questions you might have! I was a bit nervous as the park ranger let us know that a bear had been spotted on a nearby trail the previous day. Thankfully we didn’t see one until the next day when we were in our car!
Since we got there early, we did not see a lot of people until we were starting our descent down the trail. My favorite part of this hike were the views! Every time we rounded a corner or hiked a little higher, we were able to see the view from a fresh perspective, and it was breathtaking! In addition to that, everything was frozen, which made it even more beautiful than it already was. My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed this hike, and it was our favorite hike of the whole week!
Upper Mesa Burro Trail – Dessert/Canyon Hike
Location: 6.5 miles from the start of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive on the northern side
Hiking Distance: 3.5 Miles Round Trip
Type of Hike: Out and Back
Trail difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Change: 500 Feet
Considerations: DO NOT attempt this hike during rain of any sort as flash floods can occur and become very dangerous.
There are two sides to the Burro Mesa Trail: The Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff and the Lower Mesa Burro Pouroff Trail. The Lower Mesa pouroff Trail is much shorter and because I wanted more of a challenge, we decided to tackle the upper portion of the trail. This trail had a little bit of everything. The trail starts out with limited elevation change and then becomes a bit rocky. After crossing into a sandy area, you will come upon canyon walls and will do some light rock scrambling as you continue on the trail. The Canyon walls were enjoyable to look at and it was fun to get to do half the hike with views from the surrounding mountains and then the other half, seeing the canyon walls with all their uniqueness. I liked that this hike was different from a lot of the other hikes we did in the park.
Santa Elana Canyon Trail – Canyon Hike
Location: The ending of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
Hiking Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
Type of Hike: Out and back
Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Change: 80 Feet
Considerations: If Terlingua creek floods, you will be unable to access this trail. You also need to be aware that you have to climb a short but steep bank during this hike.
The Santa Elena Canyon Trail is short, but so beautiful and unique. When we started our hike, we saw kayaker’s about to take off on a trip through the canyon. What an incredible way to enjoy the canyon! That activity is on our list for our next trip. There are also picnic tables at the start of this hike and would be a beautiful place to stop for lunch.
The hike starts with a type of “boardwalk” trail for a short distance and then you will have to cross the Terlingua Creek to continue the hike. If it has rained recently, you will need to be aware that this area may be flowing with water. You will need to ensure that it is safe to cross when you are doing this hike. The creek could also have thick mud so be prepared for that as well. When we crossed it, thankfully it was fairly dry and easy to cross.
After you cross Terlingua Creek, you will have to climb a steep bank. It’s not very tall, but it can be a bit challenging. It was also difficult for us to find at first, after crossing Terlingua Creek. When we were coming back, there were more people on the trail, so it was easier for those hiking at that time to find the entrance by watching others.
When we reached the top, we hiked through a short area that had some trees and bushes that encroached upon the trail. Continuing the hike, there is an area with some switch backs, before you enter the canyon. As we entered, the temperature cooled off because the canyon walls were protecting us from the sun. Even though it was short hike, there were interesting things to observe on the trail, like plants that are native to the Big Bend area. One of my favorite plants was the Ocotillo and I loved seeing it all over the park and on this trail.
As the hike continues, you will pass through a rather dense tall plant/grass area. Not far past this, is the end of the hike, which takes you down by the water in the bottom of the Canyon. I loved the feel of being in this canyon. It was so relaxing and peaceful. While the steep embankment seemed like it could be challenging, we saw a family with a baby in a hiking backpack as well as a group of older hikers who all seemed to handle the climb without too many issues. If you feel up for the challenge, I highly recommend this hike!
While we did a couple other hikes in the park, these three were some of our favorite ones. Big Bend is vast and has so many different sides to it. I loved getting to explore the areas that we did, and I can’t wait to get to go back and explore more someday! If you want to have a beautiful, family friendly hiking experience, I highly recommend visiting Big Bend National Park!