Big Bend National Park, Southwest Texas

Big Bend Guided Backpacking Trip - Hike the Chico Mountains

The Chico Mountains are home to some breathtaking landscapes and views. As you climb out of the basin up to this landscape, you travel through many different vegetation styles and gain an endless view of the horizon. Routes and itineraries can be customized to match your skill set but, regardless, the environment will push you in some ways. This area is ideal for a 2-3 night trip in the backcountry and one that will be filled full of rewards for your efforts.

Big Bend Guided River Trips - Canoe The Rio Grande

We begin our journey in El Paso or Midland, Texas and drive a few hours to one of the most remote national parks.  Big Bend National Park is a land of borders. Situated on the boundary with Mexico along the Rio Grande, it is a place where countries and cultures meet. It is also a place that merges natural environments, from desert to mountains. It is a place where south meets north and east meets west, creating a great diversity of plants and animals.

The dominant feature of Big Bend National Park is the Rio Grande, the course of which runs generally northwest from the Gulf of Mexico but takes a long diversion south of several mountain ranges before turning back north towards New Mexico. The park covers over 801,000 acres of west Texas in the place where the Rio Grande makes a sharp turn – the Big Bend. It is an 1100 square mile playground and classroom. The park contains three basic habitats: river, desert, and mountains. Big Bend National Park encompasses the largest protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert in the United States.The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River forms its southern boundary, and it’s the only park in the United States that contains a complete mountain range – the Chico Mountains.

Sample Itineraries:

Backpacking Experience

Day 1: Meet your Guides in Big Bend National Park. Get oriented to your trip. Go on a short day hike with your guide to acclimate to the landscape. Stay the night in the area.

Day 2 - 4 : Begin your backpacking itinerary.

Day 4: Backpacking back out to the trailhead. Stay in the area or travel home.

Day 5: Travel home.

Canoeing Experience

Day 1: Meet your Guides in Big Bend National Park! Get oriented and stay in the area.

Day 2-6: Embark on your multi-day river trip on the the Rio Grande. Each day we will paddle our canoes down river to our next campsite.

Day 6: Take off the Rio Grand and have the option to soak in a hot spring and stay in the area or travel home.

Note: Trip length and routes can vary by desire. Transportation can added if desired. Midland or El Paso are the cities closest to the park for air travel.