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Big Bend Exploring and Hiking
Destination: Big Bend National Park
| Activities: Hiking and Kayaking
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 State Park and Big Bend National Park, paddling 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. This desert that on first glance seems so lifeless is filled with hardy vegetation and a myriad of desert creatures. We think the Big Bend Region is a world set apart and suspect you will too. 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 natural border between Mexico and the United States
- Hiking in the Chisos Mountains along the South Rim Trail
- Star gazing in the desert darkness- Big Bend is part of the International Dark Sky Park
Inclusions
- 1 - 2 experienced AGC guides based on group size
- Seven nights lodging in a historic hotel, cabins and National Park Lodge (motel rooms)
- All meals from breakfast on Day 2 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
Trip Documents
Trip Intro
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.
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.
4.6
(26 reviews)*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "What made this trip special for you?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.
Fun, easygoing and caring guides! Great hikes, good accommodations overall. Food was great. The people on this trip made it very special.
Seeing a new area of the country. Meeting and hiking with interesting women.
Seeing a part of the country I knew nothing about
The group wasn't too large and got along well. The guides were flexible and offered alternative hikes when possible.
Great guides, great group of women, beautiful area to explore! This was my first experience on a trip with AGC, and I loved it!!!
Experiencing a beautiful, remote part of the Southwest.
Fabulous group of women - no exceptions. Great views. Outstanding guides.
We had a very cohesive group of women. I enjoyed all of them. And it was fun to break in a new guide!
The people on the trip, the guides and places it took me
The guides and my fellow travelers were the absolute best part. As for activities, the hiking in Big Bend NP was spectacular. I also really enjoyed our Casitas in Terlingua.
Variety in hikes; dark skies; great group of women and guides
Hiking in such an exotic place, wonderful guides and a great group of women participants.
Perfectly planned itinerary to an unusual destination. I enjoyed every minute!
The location
The people on the trip.
Enjoyed the guides and all of the other hikers. I think for me, I would have liked to spend more time in the National park and less time in the State park.
Each day our guides had a mini meeting with everyone to discuss the day and what was expected for the upcoming hike.
I wanted to walk far and we did!
Since this was a 1st run trip, there were a few hiccups. But I thought our guides worked thru them very well. The town of Terlingua was really fun and unique. I really enjoyed the hike of the Mesa de Anguilla. The kayaking day was my favorite. The river was low, so it was just a float. The views of the canyon walls were just amazing. We had lunch on the bank of the river. It was a humorous and lovely day. There is substantial van time on this trip. This is a big NP and remote. So, it is part of the deal. The road from the Chisos Lodge to Marathon had amazing views of the park and was very enjoyable. Our group was fun. We laughed a lot.
Hiking in extraordinary Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park (especially the South Rim) and kayaking the Rio Grande in Santa Elena Canyon with the usual great group of participants and guides were definitely the highlights, though I didn’t consider it a “true” level 4 trip.
Enjoyed all of the hikes and the kayaking. The lodge and hotel were great. The tipis were interesting; the only downside was the trek to the washroom during the cold and windy nights. The guides were great!
The activities were terrific, accommodations were 2 out of 3 great, guides were fantastic. I was disappointed that there was not much socializing during our downtimes, and would have preferred less driving. Low light of the trip was the border crossing/hot springs--would have preferred another day of hiking or kayaking
I loved seeing the variety of the area but I was not expecting so much driving - albeit inevitable!
Worthwhile; varied; good mix of exertion and rest days. Beautiful place. I’m so glad I went. 12 mile hike in Chisos was the BEST. Kayaking in the canyon second.
- Where do we eat?
Most meal breakfasts and dinners will be in restaurants where you can order off the menu. Lunches will either be packed lunches (guides will put out lunch fixings in the morning) or picnic style. Some dinners will be prepared by the guides. -
What dietary preferences or restrictions can you accommodate on this trip?
We can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-intolerant although we can not guarantee a completely gluten-free diet, if we know well in advance. If you’re severely allergic or if you have other significant dietary restrictions, please call the office before you register. If you’re vegan, you may want to bring some additional protein bars. -
I will be coming by myself. Do I need to pay a single supplement?
You only need to pay a single supplement if you want to guarantee you have your own room. Otherwise we’ll pair you up with someone and then switch roommates every time we switch lodging.
