Big Bend Exploring and Hiking

Destination: Big Bend National Park

The Big Bend region of Texas is untouched, under-touristed, and just a little bit funky. This trip brings you into the heart of the region with hiking in Big Bend Rand State Park and Big Bend National Park (which border each other), paddling along the Rio Grande and a trek up into the Chisos Mountains- a trail that Backpacker Magazines includes in their ‘100 Best Miles of Hiking in the US’. You will experience the eclectic style of West Texas people, nature, and history. We will spend a nights in local lodging and look for the unexplained Marfa Lights, learn about the ranching history of Texas, and paddle through the dramatic Santa Elena Canyon beneath 1000-foot cliffs on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande. This desert that on first glance seems so lifeless is filled with hardy vegetation and a myriad of desert creatures. We’ll spend a day hiking up into the Chisos Mountains and from the south rim we will gaze into Mexico and look forward to soaking our tired feet in the natural hot springs right near the border. We think the Big Bend Region is a world set apart and suspect you will too. This late winter destination is one of the few places in the US where outdoor activities are encouraged in February. We agree with the the folks in the Big Bend region- “West Texas is the Best Texas!”

Highlights

Experiencing the breathtaking beauty of Big Bend National Park on foot
Paddling along the Rio Grande River and admiring the the natural border between Mexico and the United States
Visiting one of the many natural hot springs in the area DID YOU TAKE THIS OUT?
Hiking in the Chisos Mountains along the South Rim Trail
Star gazing in the desert darkness

Departures and Prices

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Inclusions

1 - 2 experienced AGC guides based on group size
Six nights lodging in lodges and a tipi!
All meals from dinner the first night through lunch on the last day. We will go out to restaurants for most meals and the guides will prepare the others.
Round-trip transportation from El Paso to the Park
Park entry fees

Not included: Travel to and from El Paso, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities and travel insurance

Details

Requires aerobic conditioning for at least 40-50 minutes 4-5 times a week. Additional endurance exercise (e.g. going for a 2 hour hike once a week) and/or strength training is usually required. There are typically 5 to 8 hours of activity on most days.

This trip is designed for women who enjoy hiking in the mountains and desert surrounded by breathtaking scenery. We will be hiking 6 - 10 miles a day in hilly terrain with steep ascents and descents, along rocky and uneven terrain. Previous hiking experience is extremely useful, as is having a sense of adventure and a good level of physical fitness. A rating of 4 requires aerobic conditioning for at least 40-50 minutes 4-5 times a week. Additional endurance exercise (e.g. going for a 2-hour hike once a week) and/or strength training is appropriate. Rating: 1 2 3 [4] 5.

This trip combines hiking with an immersion into the uniqueness of this fascinating area - there is no better way to understand the this park than by foot and from a kayak. Some of the hikes are quite challenging in terms of length and elevation gain, and it is an excellent trip for fit intermediate and experienced hikers who like hikes of intermediate or longer length.

The lodging on this trip will vary as much as the landscape. The accommodations will include a historic hotel, casita (little house in Spanish) and a National Park lodge. The lodging will have en suite bathrooms. The casitas will have a small kitchenette. There is an option at an additional cost to get a single room. You can select this option at registration.

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Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.

DAY 1

Today is arrival day! You are free to arrive in El Paso anytime today. Your group meeting will be tomorrow morning at 9:00am at breakfast. More details about meeting place will be in pre-trip letter. Lodging tonight hotel is included. Dinner is on your own.

DAY 2

We start our trip at our El Paso hotel at 9am! Your guides will meet you at the hotel and after brief introductions the group will begin the journey east with a three-hour drive to Marfa- a former sleepy ranching town that has exploded onto the art scene. We'll check into our lodging at the historic Hotel Paisano, chat about the trip, share dinner downtown and maybe even spy the mysterious Marfa Lights. (B,L,D)

DAY 3

After breakfast, we'll take a short drive to the Mesa de Anguila Trail, one of the most spectacular hikes in the National Park. The mesa sits high atop Santa Elena Canyon and serves as the western border of the park. We'll hike from Lajitas about 2 miles to the saddle, which offers a view to the Rio Grande far below us as well as into Mexico. From here, you can choose to continue along the mesa (it goes on much farther than we have time to walk) for an out-and-back hike with 360-degree vistas. (B, L, D)

DAY 4

From yesterday's eagle-eye viewpoint we spied the Rio Grande and today we'll be paddling in it! We’ll drive into the National Park and, depending on water levels, we will kayak through Santa Elena Canyon or Dark Canyon and explore the 2,000-foot cathedral-like walls that create a natural border. This full-day paddle lets us explore the riparian zones of the Rio. Our local outfitter will provide instruction as well as natural history interpretation. We’ll return to Terlingua for dinner . (B, L, D)

DAY 5

WINDOW HIKE - We've been peeking into Mexico for several days—today we'll actually visit! We say goodbye to Terlingua and drive to the Rio Grande Village area of the National Park. We’ll stop at a National Park Visitor Center before heading to the Boquillas Border Crossing where we take boat across the Rio into Mexico. You can choose to walk or take a burro for the ¾ mile dirt road to the village. We'll enjoy lunch there overlooking the river and perhaps buy some souvenirs. After returning to the U.S., we’ll visit a natural hot spring located right on the Rio Grande. Then we’ll drive to Chisos Basin Lodge, where we’ll stay for the next two nights. (B, L, D)

DAY 6

We're saving our most spectacular hike for last. Today we explore the South Rim Trail which brings you up and into the Chisos Mountains—the only mountain range that is entirely encompassed in the borders of a US National Park! Our 12-mile loop hike rewards us with dramatic vistas of the Sierra del Carmen Mountains of Mexico as well as the rolling foothills of the Chisos as they settle into the flat floor of the Chihuahuan Desert thousands of feet below. It's a long day and a tough hike, but you won't regret it. DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE THIS OPTION IN? If 12 miles is more than your legs/feet feel up to today, you have the option of choosing a 9-mile loop instead. (B, L, D)

DAY 7

The trip may be ending but the journey isn't over! After a breakfast at the lodge we'll load up and drive two hours to Alpine, where we'll stop to stretch our legs before three more hours in the car brings us to El Paso. We’ll have our last picnic lunch together along the way. You can plan to fly out after 3:30pm. (B, L)

Trip Summary

Packing List

*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "Did this trip meet your expectations?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.

Each day our guides had a mini meeting with everyone to discuss the day and what was expected for the upcoming hike.