Big Bend National Park

National Park Service

Exploring the backcountry



Rugged, Wild, & Remote
Mariscal Canyon Rim
Big Bend's backcountry areas provide excellent opportunities for hiking, backpacking, camping, driving unpaved roads, and river running. Permits are required for overnight camping, horse use, and for floating the river. Click one of the topics below for more information.

Hiking and Backpacking
Explore Big Bend by foot

Chisos Mountains 
Backpacking Campsites

Current Trail Conditions 
Just what has our trail crew been up to?

Backcountry Roadside Campsites
maps-descriptions-photos

Driving Backcountry Roads
Be prepared for rugged travel

Floating the Rio Grande
Get Wet!

Current Backcountry Road Conditions
How rough are those roads?

Bringing Horses to Big Bend
giddy-up

Bicycling in Big Bend
Big Bend by pedal-power

  PERMITS & REGULATIONS

    Maps and guides are available at the BBNHA Web Page Book Store