Soak in Natural Hot Springs While Gazing at Mexico Across the Rio Grande in This Remote Texas Park

Big Bend National Park, Texas

At Texas’ wild edge, Big Bend rules over 800,000 acres where desert meets mountains and Mexico. This is where you’ll find natural hot springs next to the Rio Grande, fossils in canyon walls, and stars that light up the whole sky. Here’s your guide to the best of Big Bend National Park.

Soak In The Historic Hot Springs

You’ll find these natural 105°F hot springs right along the Rio Grande River. 

The springs sit within the foundation ruins of J.O. Langford’s early 1900s health resort. 

A short 0.25-mile flat trail leads you from the designated parking area to the springs. 

The limestone pools can fit about 8-10 people comfortably. Visit early morning (before 10am) or evening (after 4pm) to avoid crowds. 

The water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium that locals say help ease muscle pain. 

The springs stay open year-round, but winter and spring offer the most comfortable soaking weather. 

Bring water shoes to protect your feet on the rocky bottom and a towel for drying off after your soak.

Hike The South Rim Trail

This 12-14 mile loop in Big Bend takes you to the top of the Chisos Mountains for the park’s best views. 

You’ll climb 2,000 feet through pine-oak forests that provide welcome shade on hot days. 

The trail features several rest points with benches placed at scenic overlooks. 

You can see for nearly 100 miles on clear days, spotting landmarks in both Texas and Mexico. 

Most hikers take 8-10 hours to complete the full loop. 

The Northeast Rim section closes from February through May to protect peregrine falcon nesting sites. 

Pack lunch for a picnic at the South Rim viewpoint where numbered markers help identify distant landmarks. 

The trail is well-marked with blue blazes painted on rocks and trees.

Drive The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

This 30-mile paved road takes you through western Big Bend’s most impressive landscapes. 

The drive was designed by the park’s first superintendent to showcase geological features like the Mule Ears peaks and Tuff Canyon. 

You’ll pass through three distinct desert ecosystems with different plants and rock formations. 

Plan about 2-3 hours for the drive if you stop at overlooks. 

The Sotol Vista sits at 4,500 feet elevation and offers a 100-mile panorama. 

Cerro Castellan, a distinctive volcanic peak, rises 3,293 feet near the road’s midpoint. 

The road ends at Santa Elena Canyon’s massive 1,500-foot limestone walls. 

The pullouts have interpretive signs explaining the area’s geology and history.

Experience The Desert Night Sky

Big Bend offers some of America’s darkest night skies where you can see up to 2,000 stars without a telescope. 

The park earned International Dark Sky certification in 2012. 

Rangers lead stargazing programs at the Chisos Basin Amphitheater several nights weekly, typically starting at 8:30pm. 

These sessions last about 90 minutes and include telescope viewing of planets and deep sky objects. 

The Milky Way becomes fully visible about 90 minutes after sunset on moonless nights. 

The parking area at Dugout Wells and the Rio Grande Village overflow campground offer open horizon views with minimal light pollution. 

Download a star chart or sky app before your visit as cell service is unavailable in most of the park.

Explore Santa Elena Canyon By Canoe Or Kayak

Paddling between Santa Elena Canyon’s 1,500-foot cliff walls gives you a unique perspective of Big Bend from water level. 

The canyon stretches for 8 miles along the Rio Grande River, with limestone walls dating back 100 million years. 

Several outfitters in nearby Terlingua offer guided trips starting at $85 per person for half-day adventures. 

These trips include all gear, transportation, and guides who share information about the canyon’s history and wildlife. 

Water levels remain most consistent from November through April. The paddle includes class I-II rapids accessible to beginners with guidance. 

Watch for great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, and beaver along the shoreline. Most trips launch from Terlingua Creek and take out at the canyon mouth.

Dine At The Chisos Mountains Lodge Restaurant

You’ll find the park’s only full-service restaurant in the Chisos Basin at 5,400 feet elevation. Large windows showcase views of the Window formation while you eat. 

The menu features Texas-inspired dishes ranging from $12-25 per entree. Try their prickly pear margarita or locally-sourced bison burger. 

The restaurant sources some ingredients from farms in nearby Alpine and Marfa. Breakfast runs from 7-11am, lunch from 11am-4:30pm, and dinner from 5-9pm daily. 

The expanded outdoor deck adds 24 more seats for sunset dining. 

Reservations become essential during peak season (October-April) and can be made up to 30 days in advance. 

The restaurant also prepares box lunches for hikers with 24-hour notice.

Visit Boquillas, Mexico For A Cross-Border Experience

Cross the Rio Grande to visit this small Mexican village just outside Big Bend. The crossing operates Friday through Monday, 9am-5pm. 

You’ll pay $5 round-trip for the rowboat river crossing. The village sits a half-mile from the river, reachable by walking or riding burros ($5 each way). 

Bring your passport and U.S. dollars (pesos aren’t necessary). Jose Falcon’s Restaurant serves authentic border cuisine like chile rellenos and handmade tortillas. 

The village’s 200 residents offer handcrafted souvenirs including embroidered items, walking sticks, and wire sculptures. 

The U.S. Port of Entry building closes promptly at 5pm, so start heading back by 4:30pm. 

Your cell phone will typically connect to Mexican networks here, so consider turning off data roaming.

Explore The Fossil Discovery Exhibit

Located 8 miles north of Panther Junction, this outdoor exhibit showcases Big Bend’s 130-million-year fossil history. 

You’ll see full-size replicas of creatures that once lived here, from marine reptiles to dinosaurs and early mammals. 

The exhibit features the Deinosuchus, a 40-foot prehistoric crocodile, and Quetzalcoatlus, the largest flying creature ever discovered. 

The site includes shade structures, seating areas, and interpretive panels in both English and Spanish. 

The exhibit remains open 24 hours daily with parking for RVs and buses. 

Designed to blend into the landscape, the building uses sustainable materials and rainwater collection systems.

Stay At The Upgraded Chisos Basin Campground

The Chisos Basin Campground, situated at 5,400 feet elevation, offers cooler temperatures than the desert below and spectacular mountain views. 

As of 2025, the campground has been upgraded with new restroom facilities, improved tent pads, and accessibility enhancements. 

The 60 sites include picnic tables, bear-proof food storage, and grills. 

While RVs are permitted, size restrictions apply due to the winding mountain road and limited turnaround space (generally 24 feet or less is recommended). 

Reservations can be made up to six months in advance through recreation.gov and are strongly recommended during peak season (October-April).

Hike The Window Trail At Sunset

The Window Trail is a moderate 5.6-mile round-trip hike that leads to a spectacular rock formation framing distant desert views. 

The “Window” is a V-shaped pour-off where the entire Chisos Basin drains during rainstorms. 

Hiking this trail in the late afternoon positions you perfectly to watch the sunset through the Window. 

The golden light illuminating the desert plains below creates a breathtaking scene. 

As of 2025, the trail is well-maintained with stone steps in steeper sections. 

Park rangers recommend bringing a flashlight or headlamp for the return journey after sunset, as the trail quickly becomes dark once the sun goes down.

Visitor Information

You’ll find Big Bend National Park at PO Box 129, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834-0129, with the main phone number 432-477-2251 for general inquiries. 

The park entrances remain open 24 hours daily, all year round, so you can explore whenever suits your schedule.

Entrance fees are $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per individual, with each pass valid for seven consecutive days. 

The main visitor center at Panther Junction serves as park headquarters and offers

Cell service is extremely limited throughout the park, so download maps before arrival or pick them up at entrance stations. 

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