Hike Lajitas Loop 3 A

Five days prior to Labor Day weekend of 2017 we were the crazy ones who decided to raft on the Rio Grande when we heard it jumped up to a flow of 10,000 cubic feet per second. This was one of the first times in 10 years that the water had ever been this high.  The 3 of us had canoed this stretch before- some of us multiple times. Usually the water is slow and low and the boats drag through some...

Santa Elena Canyon is one of the crown jewels of Big Bend National Park, and something you surely don't want to miss if you pay the park a visit. To get here you will take the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive from Panther Junction, the park's headquarters. This drive has many pull-offs to take advantage of for.. you guessed it- scenic views! The road ends at Santa Elena Canyon Overlook which is where ...

With a small group of people, canoes and kayaks, and one vehicle the boomerang trip (paddling against the current, then floating back downstream) up Santa Elena Canyon is the best option for floating the prettiest section of the Rio Grande while simultaneously avoiding pesky outfitters and the headache of scheduling shuttles out of Terlingua, TX. In whitewater terms, the Rio Grande is not parti...

There is plenty of parking at the trailhead and a covered picnic table. The hike is mostly flat, but some big rock negotiation is necessary. If there has been rain, you may need to negotiate some standing water. We were lucky to have dry conditions and did not need to maneuver around any water. Depending on the time of day, you may be blessed with shady conditions inside the slot canyon. We hik...

Oak Spring Trail is a 4.3 mile out and back hike where you may see beautiful wild flowers located near Big Bend National Park, TX.

Head south on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend. Just after mile marker 3, you will see signs for the Sam Nail Ranch overlook, and a small opening in the scrub brush will appear on your left... but go slow, it's easy to miss! Turn left down the dirt road. Follow it for about a mile or two until you reach a remote parking area in the desert. The road is not terrible, but be careful. ...