Trip Idea

One Day in Big Bend National Park

Multiple Parks

The Chisos Mountains form the rugged heart of Big Bend
Duration Full Day
Topic(s) Animals, Birds, Archeology, Photography, Fossils and Paleontology, Geology, Latino American Heritage, Trails, Canyons and Canyonlands, Plateaus and Mesas, Natural Sounds, Night Sky, River and Riparian, Rock Landscapes and Features, Wilderness, Scenic Views, Arts, Ancient Seas, Fish, Ruins, Hot Springs, Native American Heritage, Homesteading more »
Activities Bookstore and Park Store, Junior Ranger Program, Astronomy, Hiking
Type Kid Friendly, Active, Relaxed, Solitary/Remote, Educational, Inspirational, Outdoors, Road Trip more »
Parks Big Bend National Park, Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

Big Bend is just too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip might include trying to see the mountains, desert, and river with the following itinerary:

  1. The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive will give you fantastic views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape and will lead you to the Rio Grande. There are scenic overlooks and exhibits along the way that are well worth a stop. Short walks to Sam Nail Ranch and Homer Wilson Ranch as well as the Castolon Historic District will give you a glimpse into Big Bend’s past. At the end of the road is a highlight of the trip: a short walk into Santa Elena Canyon - one of Big Bend’s most scenic spots and an easy 1.4 mile round-trip hike.
  2. Visit the forested Chisos Mountains and walk the 0.3-mile Window View Trail to get a feel for the mountain scenery. If time allows you might consider hiking the Window Trail or Lost Mine Trail for a closer look at Big Bend's mountain landscapes, or lunch at the only restaurant within the park.
  3. The Fossil Discovery Exhibit located 8 miles north of Panther Junction is another highlight that could easily fit into a one-day visit.
One Day Highlights
  • Multiple Parks

    Find The Perfect Sunrise & Sunset
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Astronomy
    • Pets: Yes with Restrictions
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Dawn, Dusk
    Chisos Mountains Sunset

    Where is the best place to see the sunrise or sunset? Truly, the answer is anywhere in the park! With huge horizons and dramatic scenery, it is spectacular wherever you are.

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  • Multiple Parks

    Become a Big Bend Expert
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Bookstore and Park Store
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    Bookstore selections

    The bookstore carries a large variety of educational books, videos, park information, and high quality souvenirs to help you learn more about the park and its resources or just help you remember your trip to Big Bend.

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  • Big Bend National Park

    Hike Into Santa Elena Canyon
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Hiking Into Santa Elena Trail
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day, Dawn, Dusk
    A view of Santa Elena Trial within the Canyon

    The trail begins at the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to Santa Elena Canyon, and is one of the prettiest short trails in the park. The trail crosses Terlingua Creek, takes you to the river’s edge inside the canyon and continues farther winding among large boulders until it ends abruptly where the canyon wall meets the river.

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  • Multiple Parks

    See the Rio Grande
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    Hot Springs Trail

    The Rio Grande is accessible from a number of places in Big Bend National Park, and a variety of hiking trails provide even further opportunities to get up close and personal with our watery border with Mexico.

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  • Big Bend National Park

    Hike the Lost Mine Trail
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Lost Mine Trail
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    Enjoying The View

    The Lost Mine Trail climbs to the side of Lost Mine Peak, offering spectacular views of Juniper Canyon and the Northeast Rim of the Chisos.

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  • Big Bend National Park

    Get a Big Bend Passport Stamp
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Bookstore and Park Store
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Panther Junction Visitor Center
    • Time of Day: Day
    Park visitor stamping their NPS Passport book

    Are you a "Passport to Your National Parks" cancellation collector? Big Bend National Park has a cancellation stamp to commemorate your visit in your passport book.

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  • Multiple Parks

    Big Bend Junior Rangers
    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Junior Ranger Program
    • Pets: Yes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    Child with a blooming pitaya cactus

    Big Bend National Park invites young visitors to become official Junior Rangers.

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Last updated: September 6, 2024