Texas Big Bend National Park Hiking Tour

Welcome to Texas! Are you ready for the ultimate Big Bend experience? Your adventure begins in El Paso on the furthest western border of the state. Your guides will pick you and your fellow adventurers up this morning from your pre-trip hotel. After an orientation meeting, drive into the Chihuahuan Desert for the day's first hike. Fort Davis is one of the best-preserved frontier forts in the Southwest. Strategically located in a stunning box canyon, it protected travelers headed for the wild west during the 1800s. Hear captivating stories of Buffalo Soldiers and frontier conflicts with the Apache and Comanche as you follow trails to sweeping views over the fort and the Davis Mountains. Continuing to the small town of Alpine, you'll have time for a street art stroll or to simply relax at the historic Holland Hotel before gathering for dinner.

Follow the historic Comanche War Trail south and enter Big Bend National Park via Persimmon Gap, once a strategic passage through the Santiago Mountains. Pause at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit to uncover 120 million years of history, then take in park insights at Panther Junction Visitor Center. Continue east through the park to the banks of the Rio Grande, where you'll cross into Mexico by rowboat and hike to Boquillas del Carmen, a Mexican village known for its food and scenic location beneath the Sierra del Carmen peaks. Enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch and check out the street vendors and lively main street. Return to the US for a lesser-known hike along Tornillo Creek, ending at riverside hot springs for a soothing soak (conditions permitting). Finish the day in Terlingua Ghost Town, settling into a restored historic mansion before a Tex-Mex dinner at the lively Starlight Theatre.

Today you’ll climb into the Chisos Mountains and walk along one of the most breathtaking hikes in the state, the South Rim Trail. Rising majestically from the desert floor, the Chisos form an isolated “sky island” surrounded by sand—a unique contained ecosystem. This hike offers countless opportunities to observe the dramatic shift between desert scrub and alpine forest, along with spectacular volcanic geology. The views are phenomenal, stretching as far as the Sierra del Carmen Mountains of Mexico on a clear day. The ridges and folds of the Chisos fan out before you and the Chihuahuan Desert sprawls thousands of feet below. Today’s route includes miles of trail on the South Rim itself, an unforgettable experience! Return to Terlingua to dine and then relax at the Perry Mansion. You are within the world’s largest certified Dark Sky Place, Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, an ideal spot for stargazing.

Hike three classic trails exploring Big Bend's mountain, desert, and river ecosystems. Begin on the iconic Window Trail, follow a dirt path through cactus and chaparral across the Chisos Mountains Basin, descending into a steep river canyon that leads to the pouroff and rock “window” framing an impressive view of the basin. Then switch over to the lesser-known Oak Spring Trail for a picturesque hike out of the basin and into the desert. Stop for lunch in a shady oasis before completing the desert trail. Take the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to the trailhead for Santa Elena Canyon and hike between sheer limestone cliffs towering 1,500 feet above the Rio Grande and this awe-inspiring signature trail. After soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells of this spectacular canyon, return to Terlingua for dinner at a local favorite and perhaps some more stargazing.

Hike two beautiful Big Bend hidden gems today. The Mesa de Anguila sits high atop Santa Elena Canyon and marks the western border of the park. The trail—seldom explored due to its remote location—goes from desert floor to scenic overlook, providing fantastic views of the bends of the Rio Grande and serving as a brilliant reminder of how the park got its name. Return to Terlingua for a delightful picnic lunch, then head out to explore the secrets of Indian Head Mountain. This less-traveled trail takes you through the stark desert to ancient petroglyphs, pictographs, and other remnants of Big Bend's early inhabitants, hidden amid the mountain's striking volcanic formations. Returning to Terlingua, where you should have ample time to explore the Ghost Town before gathering for a farewell dinner at the iconic Starlight Theatre.

Saying so long to Big Bend, travel the Texas Mountain Trail back to Alpine. Visit the award-winning Museum if the Big Bend for a deeper look at the desert's ancient fossils, Indigenous cultures, frontier history, and the larger-than-life landscapes of West Texas—the hallmarks of the region you just explored. Then savor one last hike, following the unique trail up Hancock Hill for terrific views of Alpine and the surrounding mountains. Then head to the town of Marfa, a place like no other. Marvel at the unlikely mix of modern art and Texan culture in the middle of the desert, sparked by minimalist artist Donald Judd. You will have the chance to see Judd's geometric works at the Chinati Foundation, and if time allows, explore more of this remarkable spot. Then it's time to head back to El Paso, your epic West Texas adventure coming to a close.