Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Texas Big Bend National Park Hiking
Day 1 Hike Fort Davis National Historic Site & Explore Alpine
3.5--hour private van transfer
2 hours/3-4.5 miles hiking with 320' elevation gain and loss
Welcome to Texas! Are you ready for the ultimate Big Bend experience? Your adventure begins in El Paso on the furthest western border of the state. Your guides will pick you and your fellow adventurers up this morning from your pre-trip hotel. After an orientation meeting, drive into the Chihuahuan Desert for the day's first hike. Fort Davis is one of the best-preserved frontier forts in the Southwest. Strategically located in a stunning box canyon, it protected travelers headed for the wild west during the 1800s. Hear captivating stories of Buffalo Soldiers and frontier conflicts with the Apache and Comanche as you follow trails to sweeping views over the fort and the Davis Mountains. Continuing to the small town of Alpine, you'll have time for a street art stroll, a brisk hike up Hancock Hill for great views (bring a pen!), or to simply relax at the historic Holland Hotel before gathering for dinner.
Accommodation: Holland Hotel
(L, D)
Day 2 Discover Desert Geology & Ecology in Big Bend National Park
3-hour private van transfer
4 hours/5.8 miles hiking with up to 645' elevation gain and loss
Get your first look at the outstanding Big Bend National Park, hiking an often-overlooked gem, Persimmon Gap Draw, where powerful geological forces have exposed ancient rocks —the oldest in the park. The trail is also an excellent introduction to Chihuahuan Desert ecology, including the Texas persimmon tree. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch before checking out 120 million years of the park's rich paleontological history at the Fossil Discovery Center and getting the lay of the land at the Panther Junction Visitor Center. Travel the gorgeous Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to Burro Mesa where you'll hike through a series of narrow gorges leading to a dramatic pour-off. After your adventures, head for Terlingua Ghost Town where you'll stay in a restored mansion, once the stately home of the local mining magnate. The day ends at the famed Starlight Theatre with a great mix of Texas and Mexican cuisine.
Accommodation: Big Bend Holiday Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Hike on the Epic South Rim Trail in the Chisos Mountains
1 hour 40 minutes private van transfer
7-8 hours/12 miles hiking with 2,000' elevation gain and loss (alternate hikes arepossible)
Today you'll climb into the Chisos Mountains and walk along one of the most breathtaking hikes in the state, the South Rim Trail. Rising majestically from the desert floor, the Chisos form an isolated "sky island" surrounded by sand—a unique contained ecosystem. This hike offers countless opportunities to observe the dramatic shift between desert scrub and alpine forest, along with spectacular volcanic geology. The views are phenomenal, stretching as far as the Sierra del Carmen Mountains of Mexico on a clear day. The ridges and folds of the Chisos fan out before you and the Chihuahuan Desert sprawls thousands of feet below. Today's route includes miles of trail on the South Rim itself, an unforgettable experience! Return to Terlingua to dine and then relax at the Perry Mansion. You are within the world's largest certified Dark Sky Place, Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, an ideal spot for stargazing.
Accommodation: Big Bend Holiday Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Explore Window, Oak Spring & Santa Elena Canyon Trails
2 hour 45 minute private van transfer round trip
7-8 hours/9 miles hiking with 740' elevation gain and 2,100' elevation loss(alternate hikes are possible)
Hike three classic trails exploring Big Bend's mountain, desert, and river ecosystems. Begin on the iconic Window Trail, follow a dirt path through cactus and chaparral across the Chisos Mountains Basin, descending into a steep river canyon that leads to the pouroff and rock "window" framing an impressive view of the basin. Then switch over to the lesser-known Oak Spring Trail for a picturesque hike out of the basin and into the desert. Stop for lunch in a shady oasis before completing the desert trail. Take the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to the trailhead for Santa Elena Canyon and hike between sheer limestone cliffs towering 1,500 feet above the Rio Grande and this awe-inspiring signature trail. After soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells of this spectacular canyon, return to Terlingua for dinner at a local favorite and perhaps some more stargazing.
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Hike to Hot Springs & Visit Boquillas del Carmen in Mexico
2-hour private van transfer
3.5-5 hours/5 miles hiking with up to up to 750' elevation gain
On the banks of the Rio Grande, thermal springs carry mineral-rich groundwater from deep within the earth to the surface. Hike along a river canyon, passing fascinating fossil beds to reach the hot springs and enjoy a soak, water levels permitting. Then cross the river to Mexico by small rowboat and follow the trail to Boquillas del Carmen, a charming Mexican village known for its delicious food. Enjoy traditional Mexican dishes like enchiladas, tacos, and tamales over lunch and check out the street food vendors in this scenic location just across the Rio Grande River from Big Bend, surrounded by mountainsExplore the village's inviting main street, small shops, and friendly people who are happy to share their traditions with you. Cross back into the US with time to explore Terlingua's ghost town or relax with a cocktail before a celebratory farewell dinner at the Starlight Theater.
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Admire Rock Art at Indian Head, Modern Art at Marfa & Depart
5-hour private van transfer
3 hours/4.5 miles hiking/walking with up to up to 70' elevation gain and loss
Savor this last morning in beautiful Big Bend exploring the secrets of Indian Head Mountain. This less-traveled trail takes you through the stark desert to ancient petroglyphs, pictographs, and other remnants of Big Bend's early inhabitants, hidden amid the mountain's striking volcanic formations. Saying so long to the Big Bend, travel the Texas Mountain Trail to the town of Marfa, a place like no other. Marvel at the unlikely mix of modern art and Texan culture in the middle of the desert, sparked by minimalist artist Donald Judd. You will have the chance to see Judd's geometric works at the Chinati Foundation, and if time allows, explore more of this remarkable spot. This afternoon, it's time to head back to El Paso as your epic West Texas adventure comes to a close.
(B, L)
