Alerts & Conditions

Alerts

Closures and Updates

Due to heavy rain and flooding on April 11, 2026, road conditions have been impacted. Thunderstorms may continue to affect travel—please drive with care and check with visitor centers or the park website for updates.

• The last eight miles of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, between Cottonwood Campground and Santa Elena Canyon, are open with about a foot of standing water and light debris in low-lying areas.

Paint Gap Road is inaccessible past Paint Gap 1 due to excessive amounts of water and mud. If you have reservations for Paint Gap 2 or 3, we highly recommend that you make alternative camping or lodging plans.

The following closures are still in effect from the damaging floods in 2025:

• Black Gap Road is CLOSED.
• Backcountry drive-in campsites along Black Gap Road are CLOSED. This includes Glenn Springs 1 campsite and Elephant Tusk campsite.
• To view weather forecasts for Big Bend and Brewster County, please go to this page of our website.

 

Facilities:

• The Restaurant is CLOSED. A Food Truck is available outside the main Lodge building.
  • Food Truck OPEN Daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Visitor Centers:
  • Panther Junction VC OPEN Daily 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
  • Chisos Basin VC OPEN Daily 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, closed for lunch
  • Persimmon Gap VC OPEN Daily 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed for lunch
  • Rio Grande Village VC OPEN Daily 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, closed for lunch
  • Castolon VC OPEN Daily 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed for lunch
• Cottonwood Campground is currently OPEN, reservations can be made at recreation.gov

Boquillas Port of Entry

• OPEN Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
  • 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Learn more about visiting Boquillas, Mexico

 

Do not attempt Big Bend's primitive dirt roads with an inappropriate vehicle.

Roads:

• Old Ore Road and Black Gap Road are extremely rough and only suitable for the most rugged of vehicles. Never leave the pavement without full 4x4 capability with good tires, good spare, jack, and water. No cars, minivans, or RVs.
• Travel on primitive dirt roads requires High Clearance AND true Four-Wheel Drive. These roads are NOT passable to passenger cars, minivans, motorhomes, and tiny crossover SUVs.

 

Hiking Trails

• Santa Elena Canyon Trail
  • Carefully assess conditions and your abilities before attempting to cross. If water levels are too high, do NOT attempt to cross.
  • To access the Santa Elena Canyon Trail, hikers must first cross the bed of Terlingua Creek, and climb a short but steep bank. Conditions change constantly at this location. Depending upon recent rainfall, Terlingua Creek may be dry sand, thick mud, or flowing water. Ask a ranger about the latest conditions.

 

Helpful Information

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  Big Bend Weather

  Current Conditions

  Current weather, river levels, webcam view, visibility, and air quality readings.

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  Park Facilities

  Operating Hours & Seasons

  Hours and seasons for Big Bend facilities

• 

  Visitor Guide

  The Big Bend Paisano Visitor Guide

  Read all about it! Get the latest issue of the official visitor's guide to Big Bend National Park.

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  What's New?

  Big Bend News Releases

  Stay informed about events and happenings at Big Bend National Park.

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  Join A Ranger

  Big Bend Park Rangers

  Join a Ranger on a conducted activity, distance learning event, and through social media.

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  Webcam

  Live View From Park Headquarters

  The view from Park Headquarters is always changing, and always spectacular.