Winter Road Trip 2026

Bend Oregon to Big Bend National Park Texas

And back to Bend Oregon...

2026 Part Three - Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park - Day 21 to 28

So the anticipation day is finally here, the target of our trip and hopefully the highlight as well, is only100 miles or so away! Big Bend National Park is in all the RV handbooks, the To-Do lists of all roamers, and highlighted in all the Adventurers and Travelers manuals as well. We have high hopes that all of this is not just hype, but true reality. We have been to Glacier NP many times, been to Zion NP and all the Utah highlights, so how can Big Bend possibly try to compare on the same levels? Well after a week here we have to say, "it does not have to try, it just does!!!". Holy Crappola, we absolutely were awed daily by it's majesty and diverse scenery and ended up loving the entire place and experience! Three thumbs up if it were possible...

From Alpine TX it is a easy drive through Marathon (where you once again take a Righty Tighty) on hwy 395 going south to the north entry point of Big Bend. We sailed right through the entry point (using our Geezer Pass once again) and stopped to visit the visitors center there. Now I think most national parks (and state parks as well) utilize the volunteer method of staffing now a days, and everyone is usually really cheerful and outgoing. Big Bend was no different!!! We talked about an hour with the ranger and the volunteers and got a great idea of what we were in for, what our limitations would be (geezers you know), and the times it would take for each leg of our excursions around the park. Once we felt fairly prepared for the week ahead we took off south to Panther Junction, the hub of the park. Believe it or not, fuel prices were less here than around the Alpine and Marathon areas so we fueled up and also took advantage of the visitors area there as well. Then off we go for another 20 miles to our destination Rio Grande Village campground. We choose not to stay at the RV area as it was nothing but a parking lot overcrowded with /rv's parked right next to each other. Once there and saw how it all was laid out, we were so glad we made the decision to stay where we did. We were in site #68 which worked perfectly for us as there was nothing blocking the sun from our solar panels on the trailer, and actually had a great view around us. 

View of Rio Grande Campground /River and Mexico from the nature trail

Day 2 at Big Bend - A little about big bend NP... The speed limit is 45mph EVERYWHERE in the park, so you have to plan a little extra time getting around. The other thing is to get to Panther Junction, it is a 30 minute drive from Rio Grande, and another 30 minutes to get to Terlingua, the west entrance to the park. So from side to side it is a good hour long drive. BUT, if you factor in views, pull out areas, and general tourist type pullouts, at very least double that time.

Today's adventure was to stay close to the Rio Grande Campground and see what was close to us. So first we went straight to the Boquillas Canyon Trail, and walked into the canyon as far as we felt comfortable. The issue was, the wind blowing into our faces through the canyon were very intense, like 70mph guessing. They were bad enough that I had to take my hat off, remove my hearing aids, shield eye's from dust etc. Sun was out, warm and beautiful but blowing everything sideways. From what we now know, this is semi normal, so no big deal. The canyon itself was fun and scenic, but we were to learn the best was yet to come.... We also found  Mexican "Street Vendors" as we called them setting up self pay type systems and displaying their handmade goods along trails and auto pull offs along side the roadways. After inquiring I guess this has been going on for years, and a way for the isolated people of Boquillas to create a little to add to their meager existence. In addition they would ride their horses across the river and set up a spot alongside the trail (away from park rangers) and sell Tamales and Empanadas to us park visitors. Now one would think... "AWESOME", the real Mexican offerings,,, but when you realize that these foods were in their pockets or saddles, in the sun, for hours without refrigeration, the answer for us anyway was.... "No Thanks Senior"... The other thing on our "to do" list was for Jill to spot a Javelina, and for Tom, get a money shot of a Roadrunner (read prior pages, this was turning into an obsession, and we saw them a lot, but NEVER could get a good picture). So after the wind expedition, we did a few little things around camp, took in the birding views, and pretty much just relaxed in the sunshine and mid 70's weather. We had heard that it was a sold ice cube back home in Bend, something like 10 consecutive days of freezing fog and a white wonderland! OH DARN, SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT. CHUCKLE CHUCKLE.....

Next day we decided to drive to the other side of the park (west) and check out the Santa Elena Canyon area. Oh darn, another mid 70's to 80's day, with nothing but sunshine and high clouds. First stop was the visitors center at Panther Junction so we could check emails and internet to get caught up, then on to the Sotol Vista Overlook. WOW, now this is a view!!! Starting to get the grand feelings of Big Bend now! Big Bend is the only national park to hold an entire mountain range within it's borders. This view point is on the south west side of the Chisos Basin Rim area off the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. We wished we would have gone back during sunset as it would have been even more fantastic! Anyway, we did a few side trails and finally made it to the Santa Elena Canyon trail parking. The trail into the canyon was easy to access as the river levels were low but rather quickly turns into a series of stairs going up over a rock cropping. Then it drops down again to follow the river up to the point where the canyon walls pretty much stop forward progress without getting wet. We have heard that it is nice and peaceful in the canyon, and while visually stunning, there were the "echo" enthusiasts that kind of put a damper on the "peacefulness". But, a truly inspiring place and one we are glad to have visited!

After returning to Rio Grande and enjoying a quiet sit in the sunny weather, we had a visitor to our campsite... A FRIGGIN WASKELLY ROADRUNNER!!! Still not the money pic, but still, I about stepped on the dang thing getting out of the trailer!

And then the guy ran off and gave himself up for some better pictures, but about that time across the road was his/her buddy saying "Pick Me, Pick Me". Well of course I was feeling like the Coyote in a cartoon, but hey I will suck once, and with phone in hand I did the "sneak" thing so well practiced for years archery hunting. I got within 3 feet of this guy and he even posed for me, so I am watching for the anvel dropping from the sky, right? So anyway, with the money shot completed I can now concentrate on other things, like a burro for instance.... And then guess what???? Next morning on our morning walk, another dang "Runner" flies up into a tree like 10 feet from us.... Well yaa, now the flipping "A$$wipe's" are just showing off after weeks of tantalizing me!!! Anyway, all joking aside, Roadrunners are spectacular, especially while flying away from you!!!

Next day, after our walk we take off back through Panther Junction and head north to the fossil exhibit area. The weather has changed and now it is cloudy but pretty calm winds. Temps still in the 70's so no complaints from us! Amazing to learn of the paleontology of this entire area. The early visitors had quite the excursions fossil hunting, and the discoveries they made were astounding. Big Bend was a tropical wonderland full of Steven Spielberg type creatures in real life! The downside is that with the quality of modern human creatures now inhabiting this area, nothing but recreations are displayed in this exhibit because of vandalism. Still the immensity of what once roamed here is mind boggling... Next day we drove to the west entrance of the park to Terlinqua for some Geocaching (of course a multi in a cemetery) and exploring. The surprise of this tiny little community was the Wright Hardware Store! Wow screaming memories of Vance's Hardware in Corvallis MT when we lived there years ago! So much packed into such a small space, but still no rubber silicone lubricant for our toilet seal (One of two things that let us down with the new trailer during the entire 7 week trip)..... 

So next day, as we were saving the best for last, we headed to the Chisos Basin. We had driven past the entrance to the basin a few times, but never did hang a "Lefty Lucy", but this morning was the day! This area is usually really busy but the resort was closed do to a water issue, so no toilets or anything other than a couple honey buckets by the visitors center. OH DARN, the area was fairly empty so we actually got a lot of pictures without other people in them! Anyway, the drive in was spectacular and the trail to the "Window" was pretty much our own for 30 minutes or so. After going through the visitors center and coughing at the prices for souvenirs, we broke down and bought a hat and a few things for the grand kidos. Headed back to the "Panther Junction Cell Connection" for the last time, and then back down to Rio Grande for our last night at the park. Leaving tomorrow for Davis Mountain State Park and Fort Davis.... Bottom line, if you have not been to Big Bend National Park, it should be at the top of your "To Do" list as it is a magical place and deserves it's reputation!!!

So the morning we left Rio Grande we saw these two old buzzards sitting next to each other in a tree. We both said "How Fitting".... Just like us, two old buzzards together and about to take off on the next portion of our 7 week journey!