Window Trail, Big Bend National Park

The center of Big Bend National Park is the start of many Chisos Mountain hikes, including The Window trail.  Here's what the park's website says about this satisfying day hike:

"Window Trail
Difficulty: Moderate; Distance:, 5.6 miles round trip
Begin at the Chisos Basin Trailhead
This trail descends through Oak Creek Canyon to the Window pour-off which frames panoramic desert vistas. During wetter periods Oak Creek may be flowing, and must be crossed several times. Use caution on this trail: the top of the Window pour-off is slickrock with no railings, and the return hike is uphill."

Click here for the list of mountain hikes in the center of Big Bend National Park, including some of the region's most iconic hikes! 

Cool Smith Spring

Natural spring and shade on
the Smith Spring Trail, Guadalupe
Mountains National Park

 

One of our favorite places to escape summer heat is in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  There's a short, relatively easy 2.3 mile looped trail through desert and arroyo at the base of the mountains, that also takes hikers to the this cool oasis at Smith Spring.  Click here to see more photos on our Flickr page.

More on natural springs in the Guadalupes, here.

This is what the park's website says about this hike:

"Smith Spring Trail
Begin this hike at the trailhead sign. Look for birds, mule deer, and elk as you walk this loop trail to the shady oasis of Smith Spring. Take a break here and enjoy the gurgling sounds of the tiny waterfall before continuing around to sunny Manzanita Spring. Scars from wildland fires of 1990 and 1993 are evident along the trail. The trail is rated moderate, with a round-trip distance of 2.3 miles. Allow one to two hours.
Manzanita Spring (only)
Begin this hike by turning right behind the ranch house at Frijole Ranch and follow the short, paved trail to Manzanita Spring (.2 mile). Return to Frijole Ranch on the same route. The trail is wheelchair accessible. Manzanita Spring is an excellent desert watering hole for park wildlife and a great birding location.
Please: Water is precious for park flora and wildlife species. Do not disturb the water in any way."

This trail is also part of our Peak Fitness Challenge, a joint program of our Texas Mountain Trail and our partners (Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Franklin Mountains State Park, GeoBetty.com and PhiDev, Inc. of El Paso.  What is the Challenge?  Pick a trail you want to hike, record your miles online, and you might win prizes for your effort?  It is free, it is fun, and you get to explore our beautiful Texas Mountains AND be healthier for it!  This trail is also a Texas Mountain Trail Heritage Hike! 

Roosevelt Stone Cottages in Big Bend National Park

In the heart of the Chisos Basin of Big Bend National Park are the Roosevelt Stone Cottages, which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the second camp in the park, which was established in 1940. Interested in the CCC?  Read more about their work in the park, here.

Today, the cottages have three double beds, plus a shower, microwave and refrigerator.  They are not air conditioned, but have a ceiling fan and benefit from their high altitude location in the Chisos Basin.  Plus, they have wonderful porches and special, private views of the mountains. 

Click here to learn more and get booking information!

Texas History Online Book Club by Texas PBS!

Join the first online book group devoted to Texas History!

Texas PBS is proud to announce the first online book group devoted to Texas History, in conjunction with the new Texas, Our Texas initiative.

The group will be a reader-led experience, with Texas PBS bringing in authors/experts and documentaries/artwork to create a multifaceted, educational and interesting experience for group members.

The first book discussion will be Jan Reid’s Let the People In: The Life and Times of Ann Richards.

Go to www.texaspbs.org/texasourtexas/

to become part of the inaugural discussion of this ground-breaking group!

Special Announcement:

Author Jan Reid will join the club for a web chat live from the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum Wednesday, May 29th at 8:00 pm. Find out more information about this special event at www.texaspbs.org/texasourtexas/

.

Connect on Twitter @TexasPBS

Travel Spotlight! 

Gage Gardens
Click on the photo for a
closer look!

On Tuesday, we headed to Marathon and visited Gage Gardens across the railroad track from the historic Gage Hotel.  Too many folks travel through Marathon and don't take the time to explore, and they're missing so much! 

The Gardens offer an oasis and a hideaway for anyone wanting to enjoy a quiet place for birdwatching, leisurely walks, or even a few minutes on the putting green! 


 

Blooming this week in Marathon's Gage Gardens

Across Hwy 90 from the historic Gage Hotel in Marathon and a half block to the east, is Gage Gardens.  A lovely place to visit any time of the year.  It looks particularly green and vibrant RIGHT NOW.  Take a look at what we saw there this Tuesday!

Twenty six acres of beauty for you to enjoy, in fact, it is a popular place for weddings and other special celebrations. The Gage Gardens is open to the public...step right in and enjoy!

Flowers for May Day!

Rainbow cactus blossom from the Cactus Greenhouse
at Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
and Botanical Gardens

Prickly Pear blossom from near Van Horn

Taken recently just north of Terlingua and Big Bend
National Park!

Did you know we're on Flickr and Twitpic, too?

For your browsing pleasure, we've got some photos of the region stored on Flickr, here.

And here, on Twitpic!

Huisache flowering at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Garden

A closeup of this lovely shrub tree blooming at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Garden last week! Learn more about the Huisache here.

We also took a few minutes to scope out their cactus greenhouse!  Here's few pics, and page down for a surprise!

Hey!  What's that?  A Clif MOJO bar!  Leave us a comment to this post about keeping energized on your own adventures in the Texas Mountains and we might just send you one!  (And thanks to our friends at Clif MOJO for sending us a little stash of bars to share over the next few months with our friends and fellow adventurers!) 

Apache Plume at CDRI

Last week, we enjoyed an impromptu hike at Fort Davis' Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Garden and saw the Apache Plume in bloom in the garden.  Read more about this lovely plant here.

We headed out on the Modesta Trail, too, for a thoroughly satisfying hike around boulders and madrone trees. This 1.75 trail is rated moderate to difficult, but is a great one with permanent springs and interesting geology.

Thanks to Stonewear Designs for their comfy and
ready-for-anything Liberty Skort and Echo top!

Catch us on Instagram!

We're now sharing photos of the region on Instagram!  Follow us at http://instagram.com/texastrailgirl for immediate postings where we travel through the region.  We often pull off the road for wildflowers, or pull out the office cell phone when we're enjoying a particularly great lunch somewhere in the region.  True to its name, instagram is the most instantaneous way to follow our travels!

Birding on the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park

All week we're celebrating National Park Week, and today we're at the birding platform at Rio Grande Village in Big Bend National Park!  Click here to read about birding in the park, and here to read about birding at Rio Grande Village.

Chamizal National Memorial in El Paso

This week we're celebrating all our region's National Park facilities.  Chamizal National Memorial is El Paso's National Park property, celebrating peace between the United States and Mexico.  From the Memorial's website:

"Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These park grounds stand for peace; the peaceful settlement of a 100-year border dispute between nations. Not one shot was fired; not one war was waged. The memorial celebrates the culture of the borderland that helped to peacefully navigate an international argument."  Learn more here.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park's Manzanita Springs

We're celebrating National Park Week, and you can too...free admission through April 28th! A place for birds and animals to gather, Manzanita Spring near Frijole Ranch in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  Click here to read more. 

See the barracks, Fort Davis National Historic Site

We're encouraging folks to visit our Texas Mountain Trail region's national parks this week.  Why?  Free admission for National Parks Week through April 28!  Pictured here:  Fort Davis National Historic Site, soldier barracks.

Big Bend National Park Vista

This week is National Parks Week, with free admission through April 28.  Take some time to visit our national parks, including Big Bend!  Here's a vista seen to the north of the road entering on the western edge of the park near Terlingua!

Van Horn's Iconic Mountains in Fog

On the left, Turtleback Mountain just northwest of Van Horn.  Also visible from town (and from I-10) is Six Mile Mountain on the right, called that because it is approximately three miles from town, or six miles roundtrip!

Church at Shafter

The lovely church in Shafter (on Hwy 67 between Marfa and Presidio) was the setting for the opening scene of the 1971 Michael Crichton story, the Andromeda Strain.  Watch the trailer here.

Davis Mountains State Park's Indian Lodge

One of the most sought after reservations in our region is a night's stay at Fort Davis' Indian Lodge, in the center of Davis Mountains State Park.  The Indian Lodge, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s continues to charm visitors with its quiet and scenic mountain location.

From the Lodge's website:

"Indian Lodge is a full-service, historic hotel with 39 rooms, a restaurant, a meeting room, and a swimming pool. Rest, relaxation, good food, swimming, mountain biking and hiking are among the activities the Lodge has to offer. The Lodge is located within the boundaries of Davis Mountains State Park and guest have full use of the recreation & educational activities available at the park. There are foot trails into the mountains that cross Davis Mountains State Park and a scenic trail to the Fort Davis National Historic Site.

Blooming TODAY~

Blooming today outside Marfa's Post Office!

Travel information online!

Looking for travel information for the Texas Mountains?  Stay right here on our Daily Photo blog, or visit our website, www.texasmountaintrail.com

Looking for heritage travel information across the state of Texas?  Consider connecting to our partner heritage trail organizations, from our own Texas Mountain Trail site:

East Texas--Texas Forest Trail
Gulf Coast--Texas Independence Trail and Texas Tropical Trail
North Texas--Texas Lakes Trail
Panhandle--Texas Plains Trail
Central Texas--Texas Brazos Trail and Texas Hill Country Trail
West Texas--Texas Forts Trail and Texas Pecos Trail

Our funder, the Texas Historical Commission recently released their own statewide site, too: www.texastimetravel.com

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT!

Today we'll be on Marfa Public Radio's Talk at Ten, talking about the region's Texas Master Naturalist program.  Are you interested in joining this year's class? 

Click here to read about the program and learn how to apply!