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Big Bend National Park

Friday, February 28, 2025 - Friday, March 7, 2025 -- $TBD ★★★★


Seldom visited and sparsely populated, Big Bend National Park is one of the most remote and least visited National Parks in the USA. It's an incredibly beautiful and predominantly sunny desert landscape that can scorch your skin or chill your bones ... all in the same day. We will be base-camping and day-hiking many of the premier trails in the park frin the Window Trail to Santa Elena Canyon to the Lost Mine trail and culminating atop 7825' Emory Peak (the highest peak in the park).


We will end the trip with a visit to Big Bend's natural Hot Springs for an outdoor soothing soak just steps away from the Rio Grande River with a close-up view of Mexico.

Important! Water will be scarce during the hike. Be prepared to carry 4 liters (8 pounds) of water in your pack. But don't be discouraged since we're only carrying day-packs'. So come see a wild and largely unhiked section of the country, and get fitter / improve body composition.



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when backpacking. November temperatures average in the mid 60s to 70s during the days and the 30s and 40s at night. But we might also experience blazing heat during the day or frigid conditions at night. On the 2008 trip it snowed up in the mountains only to get into the 70s the following day. In 2018, temperatures got down to 15 degrees with an occasional stiff wind that made wind-chill nearly unbearable. And in 2017, we experienced all-day 100 degree exposure in the desert. This is not to frighten you, only to make sure you are prepared for a wide variety of weather extremes.



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


Trails in Big Bend are generally well-groomed although there can be a fair amount of climbing and descent, especially summitting Emory Peak, Expect to be exposed to the sun all day on some trails. And be prepared for cold night temperatures. But overall, this trip is attainable by most people.



Cost

$TBD per person double occupancy. You will be responsible for transportation to and from Midland/Odessas (MAF) as well as personal equipment, any restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 1 night in a frontcountry campground, 6 days of trail meals, airport transfers, ground transportation to/from/within the National Park, park permits, park entrance fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes

The upper Chisos Basin will be undergoing a massive construction project and will be closed for the duration of our trip. This means that the camp store and ranger station (as well as lodge) will be closed during our trip. It also means that the group campsites are closed and we will therefore camp in multiple individual sites depending upon the size of our group.


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Itinerary
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Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Friday, February 28, 2025

Fly into Midland/Odessa, TX (MAF)


Either take the free airport shuttle to local hotel or we will pick you up as you arrive (you may have to wait up to an hour to consolidate airport trips)


We will assemble at: MCM Grande Hotel FunDome Odessa, 6201 I-20BL, Odessa, TX 79762, (432) 362-2311.


Make-your-own trail mix from our assortment of ingredients


At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Chisos Basin Campground, Window View Dr, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834. Site(s): TBD Elevation: 5400'


Shuttling will take about 4.5 hours


Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)


Camp at Chisos Basin Campground, Window View Dr, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834. Site(s): TBD Elevation: 5400'


Once in the park, cache water at Homer Wilson Ranch (1 hour)



Saturday, March 1, 2025

Start hiking on the Laguna Meadow Trail, elevation 5400'


Hike 3.5 uphill miles on the Laguna MeadownTrail to backcountry campsite Laguna Meadow 2, elevation 6690'


Although it's a short day mileage-wise, you will be carrying up to 8 liters of water uphill almost all day long since the campsite is dry.


Camp at Laguna Meadow 2, elevation 6690'


Mileage Today: 3.5. Total mileage: 3.5


Possible bailout: Chisos Basin


Sunday, March 2, 2025

Hike 5.6 miles down Blue Creek Canyon to Homer Wilson Ranch, elevation 4170'


Hike 0.2 miles to pick up cached water


Dispersed camp down the wash from Homer Wilson Ranch practicing Leave No Trace Ethic, elevation 4170'


Mileage Today: 5.8. Total mileage: 9.3


Possible bailout: Park Road near Homer Wilson


Monday, March 3, 2025

Hike 6.3 miles on the Dodson Trail to Fresno Creek, elevation 4560'


Water is generally reliable at Fresno Creek although we may have to walk downstream to access it in dry years


Mileage Today: 6.3. Total mileage: 15.6


Dispersed camp near Fresno Creek practicing Leave No Trace Ethic, elevation 4560'


Possible bailout: Homer Wilson Ranch


Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Fill all water vessels with a minimum of 8 liters. There is no water today.


Hike 4.9 miles on the Dodson Creek Trail to a parking lot at the end of Juniper Creek Road, elevation 3980'. This is about the lowest elevation on the hike.


Hike 2.7 miles on the Juniper Creek Trail to a set of flat campsites, elevation 4680'. There is a better, roomier dispersed site another 1.5 miles (and 900 feet of elevation) further. No water at either site.


Dispersed camp along the Juniper Creek Trail, elevation 4680'


Mileage Today: 7.6. Total mileage: 23.2


Possible bailout: Juniper Canyon (dirt) road


Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Wake up extremely early in anticipation of a long day that includes summitting Emory Peak. Please note: When you get to Emory Peak, there is a steep 50 meter rock scramble to the summmit at the very end of the climb. Some people are not comfortable doing this because of the drop-offs and some people are not comfortable with the physical scrambling. But the rewards are great for those intrepid participants who make it to the very top.


Hike 3.9 uphill miles on the Juniper Creek Trail to Boot Canyon, elevation 6830'


There is usually water here, but if not, there is a more reliable (but less appetizing) spring about 0.2 miles beyond.


Hike 1.1 miles on the Boot Canyon Trail to Toll Mountain, elevation 6990'


Drop packs in bear boxes and day-hike 3.0 round trip miles on the Emory Peak trail to the summmit of Emory Peak, the highest point in Big Bend National Park, elevation 7825'.


Enjoy the amazing views.


Hike 1.1 miles on the Emory Peak Trail to the Pinnacles, elevation 6250'


Camp at the Pinnacles 3, elevation 6250'


Mileage Today: 9.1. Total mileage: 32.3


Possible bailout: One day away


Thursday, March 6, 2025

Hike 1.8 miles on the Emory Peak Trail back to the Chisos Basin, elevation 5400'


Drive towards Rio Grande Village and park at the Hot Springs Parking lot


Spend about an hour (or more) in the Hot Spring and Rio Grande River.


End of hiking


Mileage Today: 1.8. Total mileage: 34.1


Possible bailout: Chisos Basin


Shuttle back to Midland/Odessa


Shuttle back to local hotel: MCM Grande Hotel FunDome Odessa, 6201 I-20BL, Odessa, TX 79762, (432) 362-2311.


Gather your off-trail items from storage


Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)


Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)


This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Friday, March 7, 2025

Either take a free airport shuttle or we will drop you at the airport in the morning. If there is no free shuttle and your flight leaves later than mid-morning, you will probably have to get a cab / Uber at your own expense.



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