Two Days in Big Bend - Day 2
Only have a long weekend to visit Big Bend for the first time? That’s okay, you can still get some major site seeing in. Day one takes you into Big Bend National Park and Day two includes a scenic drive through Big Bend Ranch State Park. Both are good for adventures of all ages and hiking levels and can be done in any order.
This “Day 2” trip, is more driving than hiking, so buckle up and get ready for some spectacular views and a roller-coaster of a drive along the Rio Grande River. This excursion is good for adventure seekers of all ages and fitness levels and includes stops at:
Terlingua Ghost Town
Lajitas
Closed Canyon
Hoodoos & Balance Rock
Fort Leaton
Abandoned Contrabando Movie Set
Multiple scenic overlooks along the Rio Grande
The first stop is the Terlingua Ghost Town. We usually do breakfast at Espresso y Poco Mas at the top of the hill built out of one of the original mining camp buildings. Everything on the menu is great and coffee is excellent.
After filling your belly, you can leave your car parked there and walk down the hill to the Ghost Town Cemetery. Along the way there are ruins of the mining employee’s housing that makes for some great photos. The cemetery was established in 1902 during the heyday of the Chisos Mining Company. This is one of the most photographed cemeteries in the country and some find it creepy, but we find it beautiful and fascinating. Because of the rocky soil, most grave sites are above ground and covered with rocks, most of the head stones consist of 2 weathered wood boards fashioned together into a cross. The history of the cemetery runs deep and is still used today.
Once we have walked off our food and explored the ghost town on foot, we are ready to load up and drive the Camino del Rio, one of the top 10 scenic drives in the United States, according to National Geographic. Head out of the Ghost Town and go West on Hwy 170. 11 miles down the road you will need to stop at the Barton Warnock Visitor’s Center to get your Big Bend Ranch State Park Permit. Spend some time in the interactive museum and exploring the 2 acre botanical garden.
Back on the road for another mile, and you will be at the Lajitas General Store. Make sure to gas up if you haven’t already, this is the last gas station for awhile. Also spend some time visiting the Mayor of Lajitas, Clay Henry, a beer guzzling goat! While at the General Store, pick up some boxed lunches at their deli for later. The build your own sandwich options are vast and delicious.
Enjoy the scenic drive west bound along the two lane winding highway. Most of the stops will be made coming back on the South side of the Hwy for safety reasons. Highway 170 hugs the Rio Grande River, Texas’s southern most border, most of the way and you can see the Sierra Madre Mountain Range of Mexico. The first stop will be Closed Canyon, look for the brown and yellow State Park sign 20 miles from Lajitas. Closed canyon is a narrow slot canyon and only a 1.4 mile easy hike in and out. At the end of the trail, you will be able to touch both sides of the 150’ shear vertical high walls.
Continue driving West bound on Hwy 170 for approximately 4 miles to reach the Hoodoos and Balance Rock. Hoodoos are tall spires of rock that have eroded the softer rock leaving a totem like pillar. The view point form the parking lot is about as good as it gets, so we usually skip the 1.1 mile loop hike.
In all honesty, we usually turn around here, but if you haven’t been to Fort Leaton, or if you like historic buildings, you may want to continue up the road another 22 miles. Fort Leaton dates back to the early 1800’s and at one time was one of the largest adobe buildings in Texas with it’s 40 rooms spanning 1 acre and has served as a home, a trading post along the Chihuahua Trail, and a private fortification against Indian, bandit, and outlaw raids common in the area. If you do end up at Fort Leaton, you might as well check out the international border town of Presidio.
Now it’s time to head back. The drive East bound is filled with just as much beautiful scenery as your trip West. I would strongly suggest stopping at most of the designated pull overs for scenic views and Instagram worthy photo shoots. One of the best being at the top of the big hill East of Closed Canyon.
Are you hungry yet? It’s time to stop at the Teepee Picnic area just 7.5 miles east on the South side of the hwy, if you haven’t already gotten into your boxed lunch. This also makes a good photo op as you are surrounded by soaring mountains.
7.5 miles East of the picnic area, you will see a sign for Contrabando Movie Set on the Right side of the road. There is not a parking lot, so be careful pulling off the road. Walk down towards the river to see the abandoned movie set. After exploring the old west movies, you can walk down to the Rio Grande and dip your toes in the river that separates Texas from Mexico. The border is so close you can easily throw a rock into Mexico!
It’s been quite a day of driving. The mileage doesn’t sound like much, but driving River Road with all its switchbacks and steep grades can be exhausting. You deserve a cold beer! Head back to the Terlingua Ghost Town and visit “The Porch” at the Trading company. You can get a beer and trinkets in the Trading Company and sit out on The Porch. Many evenings you can hear local and visiting musicians picking their guitars in impromptu jam sessions. If you stick around until dinner time, you might want to check out the Starlight Theater for dining options.
There is more to see and do down here, but this is a condensed itinerary based on only having 2 full days for sight seeing and exploring.