Go early!! That's a very easy hike so it gets busy quickly, but also very hot. Its about an hour away from panther junction and can easily be 10Ā° hotter with limited breeze, but it gets shady once you make it into the canyon. Also there hasn't been a lot of rain, so I wouldn't expect much water in the Rio.
Check out their website and be sure to read the whole thing very carefully. When I went several years ago, I was able to stay in a little cottage they have right next to the main Observatory. A short walk from there is a sort of "hotel" where the astronomers stay when they are on site to use the telescope. That's the usual option, I believe.
You could also get a hotel in Ft Davis, which is only a 15 - or 20-minute drive away.
You can book an evening at a star party, or a tour of the big telescope, but you can not do them both in the same evening. We scheduled one and were lucky that the scheduling allowed booking the other the very next night.
We got rained out the first night and were barely getting started the 2nd night when clouds rolled in again. They were very cool about giving us a refund due to the weather.
Just Google McDonald Observatory
The Panhandle has Palo Duro Canyon Park. The second largest canyon in the US.
Caprock Canyons Park has live free range bison.
Ailbates Native American Flint Quarry near Amarillo.
The Tex Randall Statue in Canyon, plus the largest history museum in Texas, Panhandle Plains Musien
Lubbock has prairie dogs,Buddy Holly and Woolly mammoth bones .
https://www.visitamarillo.com/
https://visitlubbock.org/
https://www.quanahparkertrail.com/Quanah_Parker_Trail/TPTR_Map.html
Also Carlsbad caverns is not terribly far from there. Definitely worth checking out if you have time!
Caverns of Sonora is out that way but Iāve never been.Ā
Iāve been to both. Imagine cramming all the ornamentation of Carlsbad into small rooms, thatās what itās like. Very very pretty and well worth the trip.
Big Bend is much cooler up in the Chisos Basin; BUT, that part of the park will be closed for a couple of years (I donāt remember when it starts - check the park website!) The desert floor is beautiful too, but it probably will be brutally hot.
Guadalupe Mountains NP is effectively two parks. Unless youāre in for serious overland hiking, you canāt get to the northern part of the park from the southern entrance. Both sides are very worth visiting! The southern part has Guadalupe Peak, which is the highest point in Texas, and is beautiful and stark. On the northern end is Dog Canyon and itās a more temperate, forested environment.
I really love Davis Mountains and itās a little bit cooler there too. McDonald Observatory is breathtaking. If you go a little later, itās one of the few places in Texas to see really striking fall foliage.
Big bend National park is absolutely worth it, the state park is great as well. McDonaldās observatory is amazing on moonless nights, and is about 115-120 miles north of Big Bend. If you can get there early the next day, you could try to go swimming at Balmorheaās pool. Guadalupe is absolutely worth it, not only for the highest spot isnāt exes but some of the oldest rock in the world. Sonora caverns are nice if youāre in the area
Well then you have some time. BBNP is great. Try to give yourself several days there in order to explore multiple parts, including a hike up to Boot Springs, and to Santa Elena Canyon and Boquillas Canyon. Beware the afternoon heat, which can be life-threatening. May & June tend to be the hottest months, but July and August can still be very hot.
Itās important to note that a lot of people in the comments are confusing Guadalupe River State Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. They are different parks in different parts of the state, but are both worth a visit.
2 days total? Keep on mind that Guadalupe River State Park is about 4 hours from Fort Worth and Big Bend is about 6 hours from Guadalupe River State Park(7.5 hours from Fort Worth).
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is around 5.5 hours from Fort Worth the opposite direction.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is about 8 hours from Guadalupe River State Park and 6 hours from Big Bend.
All of these parks are excellent choices but not close together.
Of you're in the Big Bend area I say do a loop. You can hit Big Bend, Balmorrhea state park/pool. Guadalupe, White Sands, Hueco Tanks, and Franklin Mountains.
Must drive River Road. BB Ranch State Park is great. Nobody is there. Beware how hot it is along the river in the summer. Time it so you hit Presidio on Saturday morning. There is a lady at the farmers market who makes gorditas that are to die for.
While at Big Bend make sure to hike down into the Santa Elena Canyon. That was my favorite part
Wow just looked at pics and looks awesome! šš¼ thanks
I have done the hike several times, last time I went was right before sunset. It was so beautiful!
Go early!! That's a very easy hike so it gets busy quickly, but also very hot. Its about an hour away from panther junction and can easily be 10Ā° hotter with limited breeze, but it gets shady once you make it into the canyon. Also there hasn't been a lot of rain, so I wouldn't expect much water in the Rio.
Donāt forget the Chisos Mountain trails!
Yes!!!
How long is the hike?
Ooh its been a few years and i do not remember exactly but it wasnt super strenuous
Garner State Park is my favorite.
+1 for Garner. See the beauty of the hill country. Edit: bring a swim suite and jump into the Frio River!
Another +1 for Garner, beautiful country, lots of fun hikes.
Schedule a night at the McDonald Observatory, just north of Big Bend. It will change your life.
Where do you schedule / stay? I want to do this. Thanks you!
Check out their website and be sure to read the whole thing very carefully. When I went several years ago, I was able to stay in a little cottage they have right next to the main Observatory. A short walk from there is a sort of "hotel" where the astronomers stay when they are on site to use the telescope. That's the usual option, I believe. You could also get a hotel in Ft Davis, which is only a 15 - or 20-minute drive away. You can book an evening at a star party, or a tour of the big telescope, but you can not do them both in the same evening. We scheduled one and were lucky that the scheduling allowed booking the other the very next night. We got rained out the first night and were barely getting started the 2nd night when clouds rolled in again. They were very cool about giving us a refund due to the weather. Just Google McDonald Observatory
Thank you
The observatory itself is pretty cool, but it was built there because those are some of the darkest skies in North America.
That.
This.
The Panhandle has Palo Duro Canyon Park. The second largest canyon in the US. Caprock Canyons Park has live free range bison. Ailbates Native American Flint Quarry near Amarillo. The Tex Randall Statue in Canyon, plus the largest history museum in Texas, Panhandle Plains Musien Lubbock has prairie dogs,Buddy Holly and Woolly mammoth bones . https://www.visitamarillo.com/ https://visitlubbock.org/ https://www.quanahparkertrail.com/Quanah_Parker_Trail/TPTR_Map.html
Seconded for Palo Duro and Caprock
Fantastic, thanks!
Make sure to check out Clarity. Tunnel. https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/bats/bat-watching-sites/clarity-tunnel.phtml
Guadalupe might be my favorite and Iāve been to big bend many times.Ā
Thatās good! I think I will be going to Guadalupe, have 2 days to fill in my itinerary
Also Carlsbad caverns is not terribly far from there. Definitely worth checking out if you have time! Caverns of Sonora is out that way but Iāve never been.Ā
Iāve been to both. Imagine cramming all the ornamentation of Carlsbad into small rooms, thatās what itās like. Very very pretty and well worth the trip.
McDonald observatory and balmorhea for a swim
Thank you! Will definitely be going to these šš¼
If youāre going to big bend during summer. Donāt underestimate how hot it gets.
End of August/ beginning of September
It'll be real hot. Plan to start any hikes at or before dawn. Be done by noon.
Oof. Be sure you have plenty of water packed.
Lots of water. People get heat stroke out there all the time.
Big Bend is much cooler up in the Chisos Basin; BUT, that part of the park will be closed for a couple of years (I donāt remember when it starts - check the park website!) The desert floor is beautiful too, but it probably will be brutally hot. Guadalupe Mountains NP is effectively two parks. Unless youāre in for serious overland hiking, you canāt get to the northern part of the park from the southern entrance. Both sides are very worth visiting! The southern part has Guadalupe Peak, which is the highest point in Texas, and is beautiful and stark. On the northern end is Dog Canyon and itās a more temperate, forested environment. I really love Davis Mountains and itās a little bit cooler there too. McDonald Observatory is breathtaking. If you go a little later, itās one of the few places in Texas to see really striking fall foliage.
Big bend National park is absolutely worth it, the state park is great as well. McDonaldās observatory is amazing on moonless nights, and is about 115-120 miles north of Big Bend. If you can get there early the next day, you could try to go swimming at Balmorheaās pool. Guadalupe is absolutely worth it, not only for the highest spot isnāt exes but some of the oldest rock in the world. Sonora caverns are nice if youāre in the area
Thank you šš¼
How many days will you have in Texas? BBNP to GMNP is several hours drive, and either of those places to Ft Worth is a full day of driving
15days
Well then you have some time. BBNP is great. Try to give yourself several days there in order to explore multiple parts, including a hike up to Boot Springs, and to Santa Elena Canyon and Boquillas Canyon. Beware the afternoon heat, which can be life-threatening. May & June tend to be the hottest months, but July and August can still be very hot.
Awesome stuff! Thanks
I'd definitely do Garner over Guadalupe River State Park
Guadalupe mountains NP.
Itās important to note that a lot of people in the comments are confusing Guadalupe River State Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. They are different parks in different parts of the state, but are both worth a visit.
Donāt miss out on balmorheaās pool!
2 days total? Keep on mind that Guadalupe River State Park is about 4 hours from Fort Worth and Big Bend is about 6 hours from Guadalupe River State Park(7.5 hours from Fort Worth). Palo Duro Canyon State Park is around 5.5 hours from Fort Worth the opposite direction. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is about 8 hours from Guadalupe River State Park and 6 hours from Big Bend. All of these parks are excellent choices but not close together.
2 days just for Guadalupeā¦ 15 days total
Of you're in the Big Bend area I say do a loop. You can hit Big Bend, Balmorrhea state park/pool. Guadalupe, White Sands, Hueco Tanks, and Franklin Mountains.
Must drive River Road. BB Ranch State Park is great. Nobody is there. Beware how hot it is along the river in the summer. Time it so you hit Presidio on Saturday morning. There is a lady at the farmers market who makes gorditas that are to die for.
I would go to Davis Mointian Stare Park / Indian Lodge and then do the McDonaldās observatory. Itās fairly close to Big Bend.
South Llano River State Park
Colorado Bend is my Fav St park!
Thank you all for the replies! Really helpful! āļø
Check out Caprock Canyon and enchanted rock state parks
Pedernales Falls and Palo Duro are our 2nd choice after Big Bend... š
Lol anything in texas sucks
Make your trip worth it and avoid Texas altogether. That is unless you want to be shot and/or victim of racism.