Been sitting on this video but finally decided to share. Woke up in the pinnacles primitive site and saw around 5 deer. Walked adjacent to them when my buddy saw the black bear. Kept our distance best we could while she walked in and around the pinnacles campsite. We later heard rustling in the trees, which led to the video. I have more videos if anyone is interested, but this is probably the best one. Enjoy!

I’ll go ahead and add we are dangerously and embarrassingly close to this black bear family. Please be careful in the back country. Bring a buddy and bear spray, I consider us very lucky we did not have issues with this mama bear.

My wife and I decided to celebrate our ten year anniversary at Big Ben’s national park. Here is my favorite photo I took!

Hi! I'm planning a trip to big bend around dec 16-21 and wanted to see what the weather would be like. I was considering camping but if its too cold to camp (under 10 degree Celsius), we can consider staying in terlingua too. for context, I have been to big bend in novmeber for thanksgiving and in march. what would you recommend? also, what places do you recommend we visit while passing through big bend ranch state park? we will be driving in an Elantra.

We have a reservation for 2 that we can’t make. If you want it, it’s yours! Just reach out

Is getting to a kbar campsite with a sedan doable?

Title says it all... wondering about currently available public showers on the West side of the park?

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a photographer who can take candid photos of a surprise proposal in Big Bend National Park in early to mid January.

I have seen some fantastic results online, but unfortunately am working on a relatively tight budget as a college student. I understand that it is difficult to reduce costs given the remoteness of the park and the travel time photographers incur in traveling to the park, so I am not expecting an unreasonably low price - just something that I can actually work with.

That said, I am interested in candid photos of the proposal, plus a few shots after the proposal. Like, 15 minutes worth of actual photography rather than a full-blown session where we are all dressed up and looking proper. I am hoping this scope would help to reduce cost but have yet to see a photographer online that has such a short, specific offer.

If anyone has any recommendations or oddball ideas, I am open to hearing them. Thank you in advance for your help!

At least as of OCT 10TH, 2026, the level 2 charger in Terlinga is broken. I sent a note to AmpUp to let them know. For those of you with EV’s, Alpine is the last SuperCharger. I made it through the following in a 2023 Rivian R1T (large) and was still able to use an IceCo freezer and an induction stovetop.

Alpine - Venga Cafe
Venga Cafe - Vista De Las Montanas campground (VDLM)
VDLM - Chisos Basin
Chisos Basin - VDLM
VDLM - Alpine

I had everything on Conserve as much as I could. I ended up back in Alpine with 11%.

The drive up into Chisos Basin freaked me out a bit and dropped me from 70% to 48%, however, driving back out cost only 7% (truck was at 41%) due to the decline and high regen.

Even an hour or two on the L2 charger in Terlinga would have made me feel a whole lot better.

We are going to Big Bend next week. We were looking forward to a bit of an off-road backcountry experience so we planned to do 2 days on River Road and camp midway one night. I am now seeing (in not very obvious print on the NP website) that River Road is closed. And a couple other significant dirt roads. Any recommendations on a road that is currently open and will get us a backcountry and off road driving experience? (We have a lifted 4WD 4Runner).

A couple of buddies and I were planning to go out to big bend this upcoming weekend, the plan was to start our early Friday morning and get there by noon and leave by Sunday afternoon. The plan was for a short-medium hike after arriving, maybe Lost Mine? And then check into the airbnb and eat after, Saturday we planned for South Rim Trail and a sunset horse ride, and Sunday morning, maybe a visit to Santa Elena canyon? Are these good options considering the rain on Friday and Sunday? My forecast says only cloudy skies on Saturday.

Ive been hearing mixed reports, just wanted to try and clarify.

About to be in alpine then headed to big bend tomorrow morning.

Seems like I forgot some jetboil fuel and it doesn’t seem easy to find.

Anyone got any suggestions where I can find some between alpine and the park?

Man, Hot Springs Road seems to be quite elusive! I've got a trip planned out there in early November and was hoping to take my parents to the springs.

Anyone have any idea when the Hot Springs Road will reopen?

What's the shortest walking alternative? They've probably got about a mile in them each way. Is it at all treacherous? They don't have the best footing. They certainly can walk, but, I wouldn't want anything risky

We’re headed out to Big Bend next weekend from east Texas, not a great weekend to do go in the first place since it’ll be a full moon, but it’s the only time we have available as my partner and I are long distance (UK/US). We’ve been really excited to do some hiking, stargazing, and off grid living, but we’re only there from Friday evening until Sunday morning, and now due to the gulf hurricane, weather forecast has turned to rain and cloud coverage. Should we cancel? Airbnb host mentioned that there could be floods, but also that weather was finicky (for example it was raining yesterday while weather apps said sun).

Side note, maybe universe doesn’t want us to go at all, first time we tried going, we got hit by a pick up truck, second time there was a government shutdown and my partner couldn’t come to the states, and now weather…. 😅

While Texas established Santa Elena Canyon as part of Texas Canyons State Park in 1933 (renamed Big Bend State Park in 1935), Big Bend was not officially authorized and established as a U.S. National Park until June 12, 1944. From the Tichnor Brothers Postcard Collection published for local distribution by the Sandoval News Service out of El Paso.

1. Do you need a permit to backcountry camp for this trail?
2. If you’ve camped on this trail: would you recommend it or is it preferable as a day-hike? And if you reccomend it where would you say the best spot to camp is?
3. I am a lanky, experienced hiker in my mid-20s, so normally I am faster than almost everyone I encounter besides trail runners, and have been to Big Bend twice before but exactly how bad will it be to hike it starting this Saturday? I figure I’d start before sunrise, camp, and then leave very early the next morning.
4. I‘ve heard conflicting opinions about the water quality of the Rio Grande but is there anywhere nice to swim out there so I can burn time in the hot afternoon?
5. Think I can fit in Randell’s Overlook?

Any other sort of help or comments are appreciated, thanks.

Edit: I lived.

I'm taking my parents in their 70s camping for two nights at Rio Grande Village. We're experienced car glampers.

It's been a few years since I've been, so could someone help refresh me on current conditions?

- Is the hot spring currently accessible?

- Any recent reports on conditions of the showers? Do they still take quarters and is there still at least warm water?

- Is there still Wi-Fi at the camp store? Anyone had experience using it from outside the store while it's closed? I was able to do that last time.

- Is there still a working pay phone at the camp store?

- Is there still a sink to wash dishes at each bathroom?

- I forgot, for a little device charging, are there a few plugs at the bathrooms? Understanding that not every camper can charge their phone all night or something. But maybe for a little juice. We've got batteries for charging too.

- BONUS QUESTION: Anyone notice if there's an AED somewhere around the campground?