Big Bend March 12-15

I'll leave tomorrow and hold us a spot.

 

Man, i wish you weren't joking hahaha

 

I'm leaving early Friday. I'll be there by 5pm latest.

 

The visitor center's close at 5 PM. That's where you get the back country permits.

 

Did you try calling the folks at Stillwell Store? They're a few miles outside the Park on the east end. They have a large campground and cater more to RVs but may be able to help you folks out. Good luck.

 

I'm going the week before (Sun 6- Thur 10) as the schedule worked out better and to avoid the spring break crowd. I just booked my hotel in Marathon and Terlingua. Not sure if anyone has a plan, but here is my itinerary after researching this for the past few weeks.

• Day 1: Arrive Sunday evening in Marathon. Staying at the Marathon Motel. White Buffalo bar for their burger and beers.
• Day 2: Pick up food at the grocery store in the morning for two days and fill up with gas. I'm also bringing two 5 gallon jugs, but doubt I'll need them.
• Arrive at the Persimmon Gap entrance (north) an pickup backcountry camping permits. Hopefully the campsites I plan to stay at aren't full. When I hiked the peak last summer you had to reserve the spots. Hopefully these are the same as travel time between them could be an issue.
• Head down the Old Ore Road to the Rio Grand Village center to pick up River Road East.
• Depending on time either camp along the Rio in Solis, or head north on Glenn Springs road to the center of the park with more campsites.
• Day 3: Head to the start of the Black Gap Road and follow that back down to the River Road West. I picked up this book which has all of the trails and hikes you can do from each of the roads.
• 
• Find a campsite along the Rio Grande for the night.
• Day 4: Take the River Road West to the Old Maverick Road and exit the park at Maverick Junction
• Check-in at the Eldorado in Terlingua Ghost Town. Dinner and drinks at the Starlight, La Kiva, or High Sierra (or all)
• Day 5: Head back to Dallas, potentially stopping at the Terlingua Ranch off 118 to go to the peak of Christmas mountain if there is enough time and not too hungover.

 

Thanks, @huachuca!! Yeah Stillwell Store will be able to house us. The gentleman asked for us to get to the ranch while there is light on the first day so he can show us where the campsites are. The rest of the days we can come and go as we please. The Stillwell Store has cheaper gas than the park will and they have a convenience store and showers!

Gentlemen, I say this is our plan B if Big Bend is booked. Thoughts?

 

Move like water.

 

Sting like a bee?

 

We'll go with the flow. Plan A if not B.

 

48421 FM 2627, Alpine, TX 79830
StillWill Store?

 

That would be the one https://stillwellstore.com/directions/

We won't be back that way until October so I'm expecting a good trip report with lots of pics from you folks to tide us over.

 

I will be making a trip out that way on those dates. I will be going to the state park though. I heard they was better/more difficult trails there. I might stop by National park. I'm winging it

 

Ok. Where you spending the night?

 

Should I put the rings on my trd 16" to protect the stem for this trip??

 

I'm in Marathon, heading for Big Bend Tomorrow, and will let you know the road conditions.

 

had a great time!

 

What trails did you run and is your truck stock?

 

I started at the north entrance and took Old Ore Rd south to Rio Grande Village where I was going to cross to Bocquillas but the crossing was closed. Headed west on the River Road where it meets Glenn Springs and headed north to Black Gap. Took Black Gap south about .2 miles and camped at Glenn Springs #1. Started early and headed south on Black Gap (great road and more challenging than others videos looked like) and met back up with the River Road back east to explore the mines. Then headed west on River Road to Santa Elena canyon and then north on Old Maverick to the park exit and over to Terligua. I was originally planning to camp a second night on the River Road (Buenos Aires #1) but rain was forecasted for tonight so I checked in early in Terlingua.

I was also going to try Christmas mountain at Terlingua ranch but they were full until Friday. That would have been fun.

All of the roads are possible in 2wd I imagine, but I used 4wd for a few washout inclines since I was solo. Truck is stock and was more than capable as well as impressive. No issues and had fun.

 

Not sure if rain actually made it down there but should be interesting once we get down there if it is a muddy mess..