Texas Hunting Forum
Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy
Posted By: changedmyname
Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:09 AM
Just got back from a great trip to Big Bend NP. We hiked right at 30 miles in 5 days. Highly recommended. Hope you enjoy.
We got camp setup Sunday afternoon and hiked into Boquillas Canyon
There were three Mexicans sitting on the other side of the river monitoring this little setup here that they put on the trail.
There was also a Mexican singing from a canoe with jars setup with cardboard signs saying "Tips for the singing Mexican Jesus".
Down in the canyon
View of the town of Boquillas in Mexico
The next morning we did a short hike up near camp just to check out the sunrise.
The sun about to come up over the Sierra del Carmen mountains in Mexico
And the Chisos Mountains facing the opposite direction
My beautiful wife
Continued…
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:10 AM
Next we hiked up Grapevine Hills trail to the balancing rock
You can see the trail below
And the rock
Later we took this pic of the mule ears
Then we hike Tuff Canyon and got this shot of some bluebonnets. They are everywhere right now.
At the bottom of Tuff Canyon
Here we were headed up Lost Mine Trail
Views headed up the trail
At the top!
Continued…
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:10 AM
Here's the oldest standing adobe structure in the park in Castolon village with a view of Santa Elena Canyon in the background
The dogs getting some swimming in outside the park. Yep, they went to Mexico and I didn't.
Graveyard in Terelingua Ghost Town
This is an old movie set where they filmed a few movies including Streets of Laredo (sequel to Lonesome Dove).
We hiked Ernst Tinaja.
At the Tinaja. Deer and mountain lion have been found drowned here.
Here we were hiking into Santa Elena Canyon (the same one in the far distance of the above adobe house pic)
Santa Elena looking up
At the bottom
Continued…
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:11 AM
And finally the best part. Yesterday we hiked Emory Peak which is the highest point in the park at about 7900'. The hike is 10.6 miles round trip.
Emory Peak from bottom
Heading up. I did about 90% of all the hikes like this
Mexican Jay
Some vultures
A bee hive
First you hike up 3.8 mile to this junction then the final stretch to Emory Peak
Still going
Getting closer
Continued...
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:11 AM
Finally we made it. The last 30 ft or so is literally a rock climb straight up. My wife was freaking out and only did it because I took the kids up and she didn't want them out of her sight up there. lol
I'm kind of bummed that the pictures don't really capture how high we really were but in a few of them you can see the buildings at the bottom where we started.
Thanks for looking!
Posted By: Tres
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:18 AM
Man that's awesome, great experience with the family. How old's your boy? Our youngest is 3 so I can see trips like this in our near future.
Posted By: Rockinmyshoe
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:26 AM
Wow what a great thing to share with the family,nothing compares with the different beauty we all share in the Great State of Texas.
Posted By: dogcatcher
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:27 AM
Great pictures, thanks for sharing.
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:35 AM
Man that's awesome, great experience with the family. How old's your boy? Our youngest is 3 so I can see trips like this in our near future.
Thanks! It was pretty fun.
The boy is 5. We have been taking them places like this for years. I've done a lot of carrying lol. It is worth it though.
Posted By: 68A
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 07:22 AM
Looks like an awesome time! How was the campsite? Never been out that way so sorry if this is a ridiculous question but, is it a pretty safe area to camp?
Posted By: Cajun Raider
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 08:26 AM
Great pictures, great family outing! Go Tech!
Posted By: David G
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 09:35 AM
Nice pic's. Just got back myself. It's beautiful.
Posted By: SnakeWrangler
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 10:35 AM
Nice pics!
Posted By: Western
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 11:26 AM
Awesome photos
If those hills could talk, long history there.
Posted By: Elkhunter49
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 11:57 AM
Great photos sir. That is a great family adventure for sure. I really miss West Texas and have hiked many of the same trails you guys were on. Thanks for sharing your photos!! Baker
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 12:37 PM
Looks like an awesome time! How was the campsite? Never been out that way so sorry if this is a ridiculous question but, is it a pretty safe area to camp?
I was wondering the same thing but didn't think twice about it once I got there. we camped in the rio grande village about 100 yards from the river but the park was so busy it was fine.
Posted By: EddieWalker
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 12:56 PM
Thanks for sharing your pics and comments. I've never been, but now I want to. Where there a lot of people there?
Eddie
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:08 PM
Thanks for sharing your pics and comments. I've never been, but now I want to. Where there a lot of people there?
Eddie
Hi Eddie, March is their busiest month because of spring break so there were quite a few there while we were but even then it wasn't bad at all. The park is so big that people aren't stacked up. There was maybe 2 to 5 cars at each trail head so the trails weren't crowded at all.
We stayed at the Rio Grande Village which has full rv hookups and it was full almost every night but it's only about 25 spots so that wasn't bad at all either.
If you went anytime between October abd February you would probably have the park to yourself basically.
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:09 PM
I don't think summer is as crowded either but it would be miserably hot if you wanted to do a lot of hiking.
Posted By: Western
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:10 PM
Didn't even see one other person in any of the photos, so doesnt look too congested at all
Posted By: beaversnipe
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:13 PM
Did you stop at the rockshop in terlingua and visited my friend?
And dod you sat down and had a cold one outside starlight restaurant?
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:15 PM
Did you stop at the rockshop in terlingua and visited my friend?
And dod you sat down and had a cold one outside starlight restaurant?
I wanted too but didn't this time. We got ice cream and saw the graves then went on through lajitas to that movie set. Lajitas looks really nice.
Posted By: beaversnipe
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:20 PM
Didn't even see one other person in any of the photos, so doesnt look too congested at all
Look closer, they are all hiding with bundles on their backs behind rocks.
Posted By: Stompy
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:39 PM
Great Pics. I was at BB State Park about a month ago, went to BB National 5 years ago. It's a must see for sure.
Posted By: Concho
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:44 PM
Great Photos!!!!!I did the same with my youngest son about 25 years ago.....neat place.....my wife and I were married in Marathon.
Posted By: txcornhusker
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:48 PM
Appreciate the invite bedwetter.
Man those are some great pics!! Beautiful really.
Posted By: dgilbert
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:57 PM
That's cool Chris, thanks for sharing!
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:58 PM
Let's go somewhere today. We freaking came home last night because Cad was supposed to have a soccer game this morning but it was canceled. Found out AFTER waking up at 7...
Posted By: stxranchman
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 01:59 PM
Great pics! Looks like you had really great weather for you trip also. Thanks for sharing.
Posted By: jdk1985
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 02:01 PM
great pictures!
Posted By: Stratgolfer
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 02:03 PM
Those kids should get gold medals, 30 miles in 5 days wow. We went right after X-mas with the boys. It was busy like you said, but the place is huge. Great job and pics.
Posted By: TurkeyHunter
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 02:21 PM
What a great bunch of photos! Thanks for sharing.
Posted By: Pitchfork Predator
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 02:30 PM
Great pics. We love Big Ben. It looks greener out there then I have seen in a long time. This has made me decide to go back soon. Thanks for sharing.
Posted By: Ox190
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 02:36 PM
That looks awesome.
Posted By: erok11
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 05:06 PM
Excellent pics. Thanks for sharing
Posted By: JRJ6
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 09:41 PM
Posted By: Mr. T.
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 11:13 PM
wonderful vacation, wonderful family, wonderful memories....You got the Big 3 this year.
Posted By: Michael W.
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 11:20 PM
Looks like you and the family had a great time. Thanks for sharing the photos. The wife and I want to go there next year.
Posted By: tex70
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/14/15 11:44 PM
Awesome pics! I have been thinking about visiting for a while but you might have just made up my mind for me. I bet that place makes a person feel pretty small rather quickly
Posted By: Catch Dog
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/15/15 03:16 AM
I just added big bend to next years destanation!!!
Posted By: Halfadozen
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/15/15 03:21 AM
How was the water level in Santa Elena? We couldn't hike it lastSeptember due to floods. Too dangerous, BBNP is something you have to experience, even if just from a car. Even the "easy" hike to the windows can be brutal if it is warm. Rough and beautiful country. Great pics sir
Posted By: changedmyname
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/15/15 03:25 AM
How was the water level in Santa Elena? We couldn't hike it lastSeptember due to floods. Too dangerous, BBNP is something you have to experience, even if just from a car. Even the "easy" hike to the windows can be brutal if it is warm. Rough and beautiful country. Great pics sir
The water level seemed normal to low. It didn't branch off into Terelingua Creek at all so we had a dry crossing to the trail. People were kayaking in the Rio Grande though so it wasn't too low.
Posted By: walkertj2
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/15/15 05:03 AM
Great pics! Looks like a good time by all. Thanks for sharing.
Posted By: Stub
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/15/15 12:05 PM
Awesome pictures and what a great looking family you have
Posted By: sparrish8
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/15/15 11:18 PM
Nice pics, and good story line!
Posted By: Texsun
Re: Big Bend National Park Spring Break - Picture Heavy - 03/16/15 02:44 AM
My family took us down there in the 70's. looks just like I remember it. Boquillas, the Window, the Basin, Mule Ears, Lunas house, El Capitan…We floated Santa Elena one year…good times!