Big Bend is Back in Business!

Road into the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend
National Park

The Window and the wonderful Chisos Mountain Lodge

 Eager to get back here?  Back to the Big Bend?  Everything is open now and we're ready for you!
The Chisos Mountain Lodge is open, the campgrounds are open (links: http://visitbigbend.com/lodging/lodging-type/camping and http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm), the trails are open, the outfitters are ready for you, and even the Boquillas Crossing to Mexico is open!

Birding platform by Rio Grande Village

Travel Spotlight -the Rocking Chairs of the Hotel Limpia

Many of our travelers visit Big Bend and then head up
to the Davis Mountains on the same trip.  If you do, one of
the best places to relax in Fort Davis is the
historic HotelLimpia...on one of their many rocking chairs! 

To Stay Plugged In or NOT?

YES!  You can connect to the internet from the patio
of the Chisos Mountain Lodge in Big Bend National Park!
Chat with your friends as the sun sets in view of "The Window!"
But are you sure you want to plug in?



Here's a tip for your trip to the Texas Mountains:  bring your phone, or your tablet, but don't plug in!  This is your best opportunity to RELAX and enjoy the quiet, the unspoiled vistas, the uncrowded towns. 

We live in the most remote part of Texas, and sometimes connections are quite tenuous...you won't find connectivity everywhere.  But that's part of the charm and the value of BEING here. 

Now you can JOIN the Texas Mountain Trail...click HERE! 

Make your Holiday Reservations NOW!!

Our region offers some FANTASTIC places to stay, and they often (usually) fill up long before peak travel times begin.  If you're planning a Chritmas or New Years, or even Spring Break trip....call RIGHT NOW and make your reservations!  You might try properties on our Historic Hotels list or our cycle-friendly list...these are fine folks offering great places to stay.  Local Chambers of Commerce and Visitors Centers may be able to help...don't give up, just be sure to make reservations before you head to the mountains! 

Roosevelt Stone Cottages in the Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park

Courtyard of the Gage Hotel, Marathon

Hotel Paisano, Marfa
 

Seen on the Pinnacles Trail in Big Bend National Park on Sunday!

View of Big Bend National Park's "Window"
with blooming wildflowers!

Birding in Big Bend National Park

Birding in the mountain woodlands of the Chisos Basin

Big Bend National Park offers spectacular birding anytime of the year.  The diversity of the landscape--river, desert, mountain woodlands--provides a home for 450 species of birds, more than any other national park.  Want to find some great locations for birding?  Check out the Big Bend loop on the Far West Texas Wildlife Trail--a joint project of Texas Mountain Trail and Texas Parks and Wildlife. 

Here's a link to the Big Bend loop, with 12 sites for birding and wildlife watching.  Site 42 is pictured above, and site 44 is below.

Boardwalk at Rio Grande Village

 

Forever Resorts Honored for Environmental Achievement

Bill Wright, Acting Superintendent of Big Bend National Park (l) with Danny Ferguson, General Manager of Chisos Mountain Lodge and Forever Resorts in Big Bend National Park

 

Only one Environmental Achievement Award is given by the National Park Service, and this year we were so happy to learn Chisos Mountain Lodge in the center of Big Bend National Park earned the recognition this year.  We offer our hearty congratulations to Forever Resorts (a great partner of our organization), which manages the Chisos Mountain Lodge.  Despite the Lodge's remote location, it is an active recycler and goes above and beyond to be a good environmental citizen...that's why this honor is so well deserved.

Click on the image for a closer view!

Dennis McElveen's Big Bend Week

One of the benefits of staying overnight in the Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park--at the Lodge or the campground—is the stunning view of the setting sun through the Window.

We thank our guest photographer, Dennis McElveen, who’s shared his beautiful images with us all week.  Dennis captured this lovely shot, “ The sunset view was taken from the sunset vista near the visitors center in the Chisos Mountains area. We were hoping for a colorful evening with the light bouncing off clouds but this image popped from the clouds. The colorful sunset never appeared because of the distant storm we didn't realize was coming later in the night.”

Big, big Texas Mountain Trail thanks to Dennis for his generosity in sharing all these beautiful images of Big Bend.   Interested in seeing more of Dennis’ work?  Contact him at damfoto (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

Early morning sky, Chisos Basin

An early morning view from the heart of Big Bend National Park, from our balcony at cycle-friendly Chisos Mountain Lodge! 

No better place to check your email...the porch of Chisos Mountain Lodge!

As visitors to Big Bend National Park know, one of the benefits of being in the park is the feeling of being disconnected from the rest of the world.  However, if you MUST get online, there's no more scenic place to do it, than from the porch of Chisos Mountain Lodge in the center of the park!  There's an incredible view of The Window right from the porch's comfortable seating, and you're close to trailheads for hiking.  Next door is the lodge's restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they'll even prepare a pack lunch for your hiking or cycling adventures!

Today's Feature: Cycle-friendly Chisos Mountain Lodge

Big Bend National Park's hotel is a participant in our cycle-friendly program.  Here's a view of one of their comfortable, nicely appointed rooms (which also had a great view--we took the moon photo from our room's back porch!), with plenty of room to park your bike inside.  If you like to retire to a comfy bed after a long day on the trail or on you bicycle, consider staying at the Chisos Mountain Lodge!

Hiker/Cyclist Friendly Accommodations--some offer pack lunches for your adventures!

Recently, we stayed at the Chisos Mountain Lodge in Big Bend National Park, and took advantage of our own Texas Mountain Trail cycle-friendly program.  We ordered their Veggie Hiker Lunch the night before our hike in the park at the Lodge's restaurant, and found it delicious AND convenient on the trail the next day.  (Pictured here on the Sam Nail Ranch trail, off Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, a road with many hiking options, and one of the best bike rides in the park!)

The cycle-friendly program is intended to showcase hotels, B&Bs, historic tourist courts and other places to stay that are willing to offer special services to cyclists, such as secure in-room parking for bikes. Some will make you a pack lunch (sometimes with homemade treats like brownies!) and others will show you a local restaurant or store willing to prepare a sack lunch...a great benefit out in our wilderness!  All should have a bike pump ready for your use, and weather and regional cycling information.  Some may even offer sag support with advance notice!

For a full list of benefits and properties, please visit our cycling page:  www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike  We have cycle-friendly hotels participating in every corner of the region!

The Chisos Mountain Lodge Restaurant currently offers two hiker/cyclist pack lunch options, and both are delicious on the trail or on the road! 

Hikers Lunch

A Perfect On The Go Meal Option

Choice Of Turkey, Ham, Or Peanut Butter And Jelly

Sandwich On Wheat Bread With Apple Or Orange,

Bottled Water, Cookies And Chips

$8.95

and

Veggie Hiker Lunch

A Blend Of Chickpeas, Sesame Tahini, Garlic And Citrus Along with Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Black Olives,

Green Onions, And Green Leaf Lettuce

Wrapped In A Herb Tortilla With Apple Or Orange,

Bottled Water, Cookies And Chips

$10.95

Stay tuned...in future days, we'll post more about lunches and other services available from our other cycle-friendly hotel properties!