Big Bend Ranch State Park
Fast facts
- Size: about 311,000 acres (1,260 km²), the largest state park in Texas
- Trails: 238 miles (383 km) of multi-use trail, plus about 70 miles (113 km) of four-wheel-drive roads
- Dark sky: an International Dark Sky Park
- Gateway: Presidio and Lajitas
- Managed by: Texas Parks and Wildlife
The landscape
Big Bend Ranch spreads across the Chihuahuan Desert west of Big Bend National Park: volcanic mountains, deep canyons, mesas and the Rio Grande along the Mexican border. Springs and seasonal pools called tinajas support wildlife in the dry land. Mule deer, javelina, mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep and many reptiles live here, and the night sky is exceptionally dark.
Best time to go
Late fall to early spring is the season. Summer heat is extreme: Texas Parks and Wildlife warns temperatures typically pass 100°F (38°C) by late morning and can reach 130°F (54°C) in the sun, staying dangerous after sunset.
Getting there and around
The scenic FM 170 follows the Rio Grande past river access points and trailheads. The park’s interior, around the Sauceda ranger station and bunkhouse, is reached by a long dirt road. Many campsites and trailheads need high clearance or four-wheel drive.
Things to do
Backpackers cross the desert on long loops such as the Rancherias Loop, and day hikers head into canyons such as Closed Canyon near the river. Paddlers float the Rio Grande, mountain bikers ride the trail network, and drivers explore the four-wheel-drive roads. Stargazing is world class.
Staying safe
Heat and dehydration are the biggest dangers. Carry far more water than you think you need, hike early and stay off trails in the afternoon in warm months. Help is hours away and there is no cell service, so carry a satellite messenger, a map and extra water in your vehicle. Canyons flood during storms. Watch for rattlesnakes, and tell someone your route.
Know before you go
Backcountry sites need permits. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm road conditions, closures and permits with Texas Parks and Wildlife before you go.
- Coordinates
- 29.5318, -103.9902
- Magnetic declination
- 6.2° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 2
Airstrip
Visitor centre
On the trail 43
Trailheads
Campgrounds
Picnic site
Sights 36
Waterfalls
Lake
Heritage sites
Points of interest
Peaks 17
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Fall, Winter, Spring
- Difficulty
- Moderate to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- FM 170 (the Camino del Rio) along the Rio Grande between Lajitas and Presidio for the river district; the interior, around the Sauceda ranger station, by a long dirt road from Presidio.
- Water
- Almost none; carry all you need and extra in your vehicle.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- None in most of the park. Carry a satellite messenger.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Emergencies: 911 by satellite device where there is no signal.
- Permits & regulations
- An entrance fee applies. Backcountry and primitive campsites need permits and reservations through Texas Parks and Wildlife.
- Leave No Trace
- Camp only at permitted sites, pack out everything, protect springs and tinajas used by wildlife, and leave artifacts in place.
January
- Below-freezing nights
- Day-to-night swing of 32°F (18°C)Day-to-night swing of 18°C (32°F)
February
- Day-to-night swing of 32°F (18°C)Day-to-night swing of 18°C (32°F)
March
- Day-to-night swing of 34°F (19°C)Day-to-night swing of 19°C (34°F)
April
- Day-to-night swing of 31°F (17°C)Day-to-night swing of 17°C (31°F)
May
- Hot days
- Day-to-night swing of 31°F (17°C)Day-to-night swing of 17°C (31°F)
June
- Hot days
July
- Hot days
August
- Hot days
September
October This month
November
December
- Below-freezing nights
- Day-to-night swing of 31°F (17°C)Day-to-night swing of 17°C (31°F)
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Big Bend Ranch Sp station, 7 miles (11 km)11 km (7 miles) away at 4,140 feet (1,262 m)1,262 m (4,140 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
-
Big Bend National Park
The Chisos Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert and Rio Grande canyons in far west Texas, under some of the darkest skies in the Lower 48.
-
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Peak, the top of Texas at 8,751 feet (2,667 m), rising from the Chihuahuan Desert, with fall color in McKittrick Canyon.
-
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Vast caverns under New Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert, with the Big Room, summer bat flights and backcountry above.
-
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
Jagged granite spires above Las Cruces, New Mexico, with spring-fed canyon walks, a range crossing and remote desert peaks.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
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