Santa Elena hike is worth every moment. Recommend bringing sandals, towel to dry off your feet if you want to get in the water

Spectacular canyon carved by the river. The shear cliffs reach a height of 1500 feet (457 meters) above the river. The views are stunning and the trails not for the faint of heart but worth exploring for the beauty it rewards. It gets hot here so always plan your hike with proper clothing, shoes, ventilated hat, and plenty of water. This place is a must see if in the Grand Canyon National Park.

An easy 1.7 mile hike to see the canyon. If you hike towards the end of the day you’ll have a shade and a cool breeze during the month of October.

Stunning view of the Canyon Bordering US and Mexico. Hike was pretty easy with some switchbacks. A quick 30 min to an hour hike until the end of the trail. We went here around november so Weather is pretty perfect as inside the canyon is a lot cooler.

A must do when visiting Big Ben! Absolutely beautiful! We didn’t canoe but will the next time we visit! We even saw wild horses!

Beautiful Canyon, easy hike.

This is a short hike with a spectacular view at the end. It is not a difficult hike and there are lovely views along the way. However when you get to the end of the trail, The views of the canyon are stunning! They are all some areas at the start of the hike which are a little steep.

It’s an awesome drive, beautiful Mountains rough dessert terrain cool weather 80 degrees when in San Antonio it was 101 07/29/23

One of the best hikes you can go in the big bend. The view was breathtaking. I rate this route as easy to moderate due to it contains some sudden climbs. All ways don’t forget your water bottle. If you are not confident of trying the Emory peak from the first try may be it’s better to try this one first

As a kid my parents would take us on vacations in Big Bend almost every summer. The hiking trails, Santa Elena Canyon, and Boquillas Canyon we're beautiful. We always stayed in the Basin in the camping area, either in tents or travel trailer. The memories have stayed with me and would love to go back again soon.

Such a beautiful place! Several hiking trail choices. Must see for sure

Camping here on Thanksgiving years ago. I took photos and painted a pastel of Casa Grande.

great views for sure. Felt like I was in Colorado for a little while

Greatest Wildlife and Mountain Views In Texas

Go down for sunset, but bring a headlamp for the hike back up. Beautiful

Nice hike, be aware this is a hike where you hike down into it and the return is uphill. Very nice hike, though suggest to do it the morning like most hikes in Big Bend.

amazing end to this trail. It does seem repetitive at first. But well worth the journey! The last half mile is a lot of cool stuff. I went before sunset and ended up being the only one on the trail... guess no one else wanted to walk back in complete blackness(a bit scary when by yourself)... be sure to bring a head lamp if you plan on doing this. Thankfully got to the end before the sun got too low(see photos). I wish I left maybe 30 minutes earlier though to enjoy the end more.

Google maps will get you to the right general area but will try to get you to the trailhead. There is no parking at the trailhead. When you turn onto the campground, follow the signs for hiker parking. The parking lot is about a 2-minute walk through the campground to get to the trailhead. It is a little difficult because there is no set path to get to the trailhead. This is a downhill hike. It's a beautiful walk with great views of the mountains, and there are lots of plants, insects and birds to see along the way. The hike back is an uphill hike, but it is a gentle upward slope. The bathrooms at the trailhead are very clean.

Out and back. The out is easier than the back, so just be aware if not in decent shape. To get all the way to the window may require some slight improvising toward the end. A few options for parking spots so just double check all your options for best available.

A beautiful and moderate hiking trail in Big Bend national park. The view and sceneries along the trails are amazing. There are several Rock formations and the terrain changes along the way. It's not that difficult trail . It's about 6 miles Round-trip. The terrain have several elevation changes. I recommend to bring a lot of water and get a hiking poles since it gets hot and there's several steep and rocky areas of the trails. At the end of the trail the view is amazing and all worthwhile..

Medium difficulty hike. One of those where the worst is last. Fortunately it was December and the high was only 70 degrees. I CANNOT imagine doing this in the summer when it's 100!! Gorgeous views. Lots of benches to rest along the way. Just a little over 5 miles round trip. Beautiful blue birds. Unfortunately looks like people feed them because they literally would fly down to a bench and sit next to you looking like they were expecting a handout. The view at the end is amazing! Wish I could see water pouring through that window. It must be spectacular! Oh and I must post that right near the end is a little hole in the rocks with a chess piece in it...a castle. I wonder what the significance is.

Such a beautiful trail with views for days! I’d recommend hitch hiking to the trailhead from the chisos basin visitors center parking lot, the other guests in the park were all wonderful. ~2 hr in the afternoon

Awesome trail! Beautiful views, lots of elevation so plan for an upward journey. 4.8 miles round trip.

Make sure to do this first thing in the morning to enjoy the view and make sure on heading here before 7AM or else parking would be slim. Great hike for starters, good amount of switchbacks on the last mile stretch. Stay for 15-20 min on top and continue on your itinerary.

Absolutely beautiful Vista at the top, decent amount of elevation change throughout the hike. The parking at the trailhead is extremely limited. Arrived around 9:30 am parking lot and the side of the road was full with many cars waiting for a spot.

Lost mine trail is absolutely an amazing trail to hike. 100% don't give up and make all the way to the top. It is 100% worth it with the most incredible views. The views are breathtakingly beautiful.

Hiked the Lost Mine Trail while visiting Big Bend National Park, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. The views are absolutely stunning—from desert landscapes to mountain peaks, it’s nonstop scenery the whole way up. The trail is about 4.8 miles round trip and moderately challenging, but totally doable with breaks. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds, and don’t forget to bring plenty of water. It’s a steady climb, but the views at the top make it all worth it. If you’re only doing one hike in Big Bend, make it this one.

5 miles, 1100 feet of elevation gain, a short hike of 3 hours total with beautiful views at the top. Somewhat busy as it is very approachable, show up early to get a parking spot, I overnighted in the park for early access.

This is a nice spot to overnight in your car in the winter time, get a blanket for the night and wake up to a beautiful sunrise. Back in 2019, there used to be a US Customs office right by the river and you could get to Boquillas del Carmen in small boats run by locals to have lunch on the Mexican side. Not sure if this is still possible now. The mesas on the US side are pretty impressive , they are not very tall but the view from a few hundred feet of elevation is quite beautiful.

The Boquillas Canyon Trail is a must do hiking trail. The trailhead is about 4 miles from the Rio Grande Campground, that had restrooms, a store and WiFi. At the trailhead there is ample parking, and a vault toilet. The trail is out ant back, with the first part of the trail having stairs and a small switch back. Only the beginning is moderate, with the rest being easy. If the river is low, you can hike into the walls of the canyon. I saw wild horses and a honor system vender stand. There is zero cell and WiFi at this trail.

Really nice, easy trail in Big Bend. Great canyon views and views of the Rio Grande.

Such a cute, quaint town with great people. Super small and truly a unqiue place to spend the day

Heaven on earth!

Not as grand as Santa Elena, so do this first so that you're not underwhelmed. It's still beautiful.

The place has an enchanting effect ! Not to miss in Big Bend

Big Bend is a big place. Stop at the visitor center to find out where things are, and get fresh drinking water. You'll want to bring lots of water if you do any hiking at all. And make sure you fill up with gas as often as possible. It's a long way between stops, and only a couple of places in Big Bend have gas. There is a gas station next to the visitor center.

Panther Junction Visitor Center – Big Bend National Park I've been to Big Bend a few times, and each time I find myself returning to Panther Junction Visitor Center. It’s the main visitor center that stays open year-round, and during the summer, it's one of only two open (the other being Chisos Basin). The peace and quiet out here never gets old—there’s something calming about the desert landscape that keeps calling me back. The stars at night are absolutely breathtaking—so many and so bright that my photos never quite do them justice. On a clear night, you can even catch the Milky Way. It’s truly a stargazer’s dream. This visitor center is about 3.5 hours from where I stayed in Odessa. Coming from that direction, the visitor center is around 27 miles from the park entrance. Along the way, you’ll pass the Fossil Discovery Exhibit. The Persimmon Gap visitor is on the right as you enter the entrance. But close during the summer. The staff here are really helpful and friendly—you can get all the information you need to plan your visit. Whether it's your first time or your fifth, Panther Junction is a solid starting point for exploring the park—especially in the hotter months when options are limited. Thank you, Big Bend. I’m already looking forward to coming back.

The staff were super nice! I recommend asking them with anything including the help you need! Recommendations, suggestions, opinions, etc... When we visited, a lot of the major trails were closed due to the heavy rain, but they gave us recommendations on what other trails were still open and ones we could check out. They also told us which ones are the must hike spots. Overall, we had a great experience!

Cute visitor center. No coffee tho lol. Great souvenirs! You can get the water bottle stickers here and lapel pins, books, postcards etc

Great stop! Rangers were very friendly. Very informative video about the park playing on a loop. Lots of descriptive displays about the terrain, animals, history, and dinosaur remains found in the park. Large selection of souvenirs, tshirts, books, and postcards. Outdoor lots of native plants. Clean restrooms and plenty of parking.

Great place to get info on your trip to the Park. They have some cool things to purchase as well! Very friendly and knowledgeable! Don't hesitate to ask questions if you are unsure of anything, especially during summer!

Everyone was supper helpful and friendly. This park definitely a worthwhile short term visit. You can only look at so many rocks and prickly things. Until the inevitable realization. They are all the same. At that point. Go to the river and throw rocks at Mexico. Ton of fun.

The road to the trail is more suitable for vehicles that can drive off-road, not great for sedans. The hot spring is quite small but nice and it's not much of a trail, more so a very short walk to the hot spring. The sunset was gorgeous

Great little hike to a small Hot Springs that still gets a lot of use. I enjoy reading the history and how this was a very popular draw considered for healing powers. The regular trail is only 1/2 mile round trip. However, the loop trail is better at around a mile and gives you a better overlook of the Rio Grande and view of Hot Springs pool from above.

I think it's definitely worth it if the rio grande is not too high. We were there in early June 2025 and the river was so high that it went over the old walls of the bathhouse. For example, the water from the hot spring became very dirty (brown) and colder. You can clearly see where the hot water comes out of the ground. Nice walk to the hot spring but first check if the rio grande is not too high before you arrive there with swimming gear and have to return disappointed. The route to the hot springs is also not for everyone. Narrow roads on dirt road, not accessible to large cars.

The trail was fine...but there are significantly better trails in the park. The hot springs are so crowded that there's not much of a chance you are actually going to get to experience them. The old buildings there are interesting. If spending multiple days in the park, go ahead. If your time is limited, I would concentrate on other hikes.

The other reviews are spot on. The pool is small but the river Is accessible in the same spot. We did get to see a few wild horses drinking at the rivers edge. Just a heads-up, this trail isn’t ideal for dogs, especially in the heat. We cooled off with a quick dip in the river and then headed back out on the 4x4 trails.

Hot springs canyon is an absolute must do in Big bend. We had the most amazing time here. The water is 105 F. It felt amazing on a December afternoon. There is a dirt road you need to take to reach the parking lot. Then about 0.25 miles walk to the spring. There is a restroom located in the parking lot. There are no changing rooms etc available.

Its a 2 mile gravel road to the trailhead. If it has rained recently, you will need a high clearance vehicle. Once there, there is plenty of parking and a single vault toilet. Do not leave any valuables inside of your vehicle. The dirt trail leading to the hot springs is less than a 1/2 mile. Old abandoned buildings on the trail, makes for some great pics. Once you see the Healing Waters sign, its only another 100 feet to the springs. The hot springs are not very deep, but hot and refreshing. Recommend

Moderate 2.2 mile hike roundtrip. The first mile is flat and easy. The last .2 mile is a steep climb uphill on rocky terrain. Sturdy shoes are a must! Beautiful views at the top! Not crowded at all in the evening. It’s 7.7 miles down grapevine road before you enter the parking lot for balanced rock trial. That road is very rocky and narrow.

Need a high clearance vehicle to get through the road to Balance Rock. Overall another short hike to the rock formation at the top which is worth wait and a stop to have a snack or hydration before going back. Had fun taking a picture of myself airborne on the rock formation because just love the outlook of the scenery and creative I was. Hike is mostly flat until the last quarter mile little incline but easily doable.

One of my favorite hikes & views in BBNP. The road is treacherous, be sure to have enough clearance on your vehicle. Saw lizards and a scorpion, close toed shows needed for sure. Climb up the mountain next to Balanced Rock for a great perspective.

Absolutely beautiful hike! The beginning of the trail is fairly easy (I probably could have taken a jogger stroller on). It was about 0.80miles. The last 0.25 is a scramble up a Rocky Mountain side. You’ll need both hands free to climb- BUT totally worth the views! We spent about 30 minutes at the top just enjoying & eating snacks! Also note- the road to this travel is a gravel road for high clearance vehicles- extremely rocky & bumpy. You’ll have to take it slow, which takes you about 40 minutes to get down 6 miles.

Excellent hike with jaw dropping views! This was one of my favorite hikes in the park. There is no shade on this trail. We went in the morning and only passed a couple of people on the trail. We had the entire “balanced rock” area to ourselves. Relatively flat trail until you get the the end. Some rock scrambling is required to get up to the balanced rock.

Fun hike, but the last .2 of a mile is not easy and scrambling on hands and knees up the rocks. Well worth it for the views! Was hot in February so for summer doing this early morning is advised. Best to have a high clearance vehicle to drive to the trailhead.

Lots of boulders and unique desert scenery. The iconic Balanced Rock is larger in person! The drive to the trailhead parking is very rough.

This was a really nice hike to the highest point in the park. We started at 8:20 am on 11/6 and most of the way up we had shade which was really appreciated as it got pretty hot on the way back down when there were a lot more sections of sun. To get to the very top of the peak, there is a short scramble on hands and feet that I was a little nervous to complete but it was totally worth it and manageable.

Crazy view from the top of Emory Peak! Very fun hike to the top, balancing difficulty and enjoyment. Extremely scenic; can’t recommend enough!

Amazing views from the top of Emory Peak! Definitely not for the faint of heart. Going up isn't that bad. Climbing down backwards is a bit sketchy. Pro tip- Make sure to take plenty of water for your hike up and especially back down.

Beautiful views from on top. Right about 8,000 feet

Hard Trial!!! Go with the proper planned with water and necessary costumes. Once you reach the peak it’s an awesome movie you feel like standing above all the big bend peaks. That feel is extraordinary. Well worth it. Took us just under 8 hours including the hour plus we spent at the top. You definitely could do this in under 6 but we took it at a slow and steady pace. The final half mile of the trail is very technical with lots of rocks to navigate. We had to stow our trekking poles and slowly work our way to the top. Once at the top it took us a little to figure out what way to go to climb to the peak. But going around the right (northern) side seemed the best way to go. We were able to climb at more of an angle instead of going straight up the center which was more of a vertical climb. I was able to do it with my relatively large backpack. It definitely isn't for the faint of heart but the "scramble" up was worth it. The hardest part was finding a way up. Also it's the right (northern) peak not the left (southern) peak.

Where are we going? See the highest part of that mountain? That's where! What an outstanding hike... but be prepared! Here's what you need to know. #1. You're gonna travel about 11 miles #2. The elevation gain is about 2500 feet #3. It's a there and back trail so the elevation loss will be about 2500 feet #4. It will take around 6 hours... give or take an hour #5. To get to the peak can be confusing at the end... you will have to do a little climbing. So yeah... be ready for an amazing and beautiful hike. It's a crazy journey that can be pretty challenging if you do not realize what you are getting into. Water, food, and a way to protect yourself from the sun are super important things and trekking poles can be pretty helpful coming back down. Be aware of your surroundings and keep the park clean!

Excellent hike and views. Quite strenuous, especially the last 50ft, which requires climbing steep boulders and rocks with sheer cliff edges close by. We completed Emory peak as part of a two day hike around the south rim. There are bear boxes and a composting toilet located 1.5 miles from the top which we utilized both;). Leaving our packs at the bear box and just bringing water/snack made the hike up to the peak much more enjoyable. My 12 year old son and I went to the top, but use your own judgement since the last 50ft are very steep and require reaching and climbing, so much so that there were several adult males in other groups who chose not to climb it. This is an excellent hike with awestriking views even if you refrain from this last section. It truly gave us the opportunity to lift up our eyes and see who created these magnificent works of art!

Such a nice hiking trail. Very well buildt, perfect signage and well tended. Never lost track of the way, even without a map or gps. Very clean as well. But of course the best is the view. It is amazing and there so many nice spot along the way where you can enjoy the astonishing landscape all around. Highly recommended!

This is a long days hike but very worth it. We hiked the pinnacles trail first and looped back through the meadows at the end. Highly recommend starting early to avoid climbing in the heat. It was a beautiful hike with many impressive lookouts, I would recommend for any novice hiker!

Hiked on 10/21/20-10/23/2020. We stayed in Pinnacles site 1 for the first night, the second night we hiked to the southern rim to get a glimpse of this beauty and then camped in the Colima site 1. Both campsites had bear boxes and plenty of space. Unfortunately these pictures don’t do the view justice.. you’ll have to go for yourself. Bring plenty of water!

The trail is challenging, expect to finish it in one day. The end results are worth it .. Dramatic views of the Rio Grande River, Santa Elena Canyon, numerous valleys and mountains . It’s feels as though you are on top of the world.

Hike October 4th 2020 beautiful weather awesome hike

I have rode the South Rim Trail a few times. The most recent time, I took my children. For them to see the ' untouched by human' senic beauty was a thrill for me. The best part, it was a clear day. Since the South Rim is the place where you can see the most in the WESTERN HEMISPHERE, being clear weather is the most important factor. I have never hiked the trail. Most hike up on one day and return the next. I was amazed with all the animals who had no fear of us. Squirrels and birds are straight out of our hands. Big Bend National Park is delightful with its diversity of things to see and extremes in landscapes.

Wonderful time, it was over cast most of the time.

This short trail leads to the ruins of a homestead with a few walls visible, two windmills, and some corrugated metal structures. My daughter (13) said it was her favorite trail in the park- surprising but you never know with kids! The trail is easy to walk and follow with no elevation but allot of sun. Parking is in a pulloff along the road. I think we were in and out in about 20 minutes.

Short easy walk to keep the blood circulating. Love old metal water pump windmills. My grandparents had one. Loved the twirling sound and the water was always the best.

Very cool, historic spot with some remains from the ranch. A short hike from the parking lot led to a green oasis where the family had their home and a fruit orchard. Well marked trail.

A step back in time. Amazing story of a life lived in isolation.

Very easy walk from the road. The windmill still pumps water!

short trail exploring old ranch site. visited Jan 2021 after snow storm

Short 5 minute hike into a lush area with pecan and date trees. It has a small bit of the ranch house. Well worth the stop.

Beautiful campgrounds near hiking trails. Active wildlife all around the campgrounds! It is about 15 to 20 degrees hotter at this location as opposed to the Chisos campgrounds. Just letting you know because I didn't before I made our first trip

I was there for tent camping in May 2025. They had closed most of the camp sites for the season, so there were only about 5 other camp sites that were occupied while I was there. It was already getting hot during the days (mid 90's most days). The campground is kept clean. The sites are nice...most of the sites have a covered picnic table which is nice to provide shade. The bathrooms are very basic, but were kept clean while I was there. No shower facility is not great for longer stays. There is a nice, short nature trail that starts from this campground. It leads to the Rio Grande and an overlook that gives a beautiful view of the valley and of the mountains on the Mexican side of the border. There is also drinkable water available in the campground which is nice. I enjoyed seeing the Javelinas and donkeys/horses grazing through the campground. I would say the best sites for tent camping are the even number between around 28-36. Night skies are definitely a must see.

Okay so here’s what it was like during the government shutdown. The campground was full and there indeed were rangers working on the park. Sure, they weren’t fully staffed, but they were around. The rio grande store was open and the gas stations were open too. The restrooms on the other hand were in okay condition. It wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t the worst as well. The visitor center was closed but the restrooms over there were open as well. All in all, I wouldn’t worry too much about campground facilities. Go ahead and have fun while you’re out there!

Just returned, traveled during the shutdown. Excellent location, you'll see cows, donkeys, javelinas, coyotes, road runners, and if you're lucky, the Rio Grande beavers. If you select an interior camp site, you'll share with cattle most of the time. They tend to hang out in the middle of the campground. The bathrooms (there are several through this area) were clean flush toilets. There's potable water, small propane disposal, and trash disposal. Excellent hike right by campsite number 18, you can walk to the river from there (we did not note any entry point into the water, but you can hike alongside it) The little store is a quick drive from here, or a nice walk (Not a quick stroll though) and it's open from 8a to 6:30p. They sell food, water, sodas, energy drinks, hot dogs, various food, some trinkets and souvenirs, extra camping supplies, and gasoline (unleaded and diesel) Awesome spot to camp, be sure to bring a camelback with you if you're hiking!

Worst campground experience. People driving in, out and around campground at night - all hours. Lots of noise and lights, with no privacy or separation. Absentee camp host who does nothing about said infractions. Main bathroom building was closed, for some reason, despite it being one of the busiest times of the year. All of which makes it impossible to enjoy the beautiful, serene surroundings. This is the Houston of campgrounds: car focused, busy, bright and noisy as hell. Feels like everyone is on top of one another. Cottonwood Campground is leagues better, more peaceful.

This a campground like no other campground I have experienced. I awoke to horses neighing and mules braying. Javelinas roamed through our site also. We visited in early March and the temperature ranged from 27 to 95 degrees. It was cold cooking breakfast outside but warmed up quickly. Take layers and lots of water. The bathroom was clean and had flush toilets.

We loved staying at Rio Grande Village. Some campsites, including ours, had sun shade covers over the picnic areas which was great for September/October heat. Great views of the area & the Rio Grande from the campground and nature trail. There were javelinas grazing through the campground while we were there which was quite amazing to just sit & watch them! We wanted to camp in Chisos Basin but everything was filled up, so Rio Grande it was. BUT I’m so happy we ended up staying here … it was like an oasis in the desert. Only downside is having to plan everything so carefully since you are 45 minutes+ from the basin. Keep that in mind when booking!

My family visited Lajitas resort over Memorial Day weekend and had a great experience at the entire resort. The zip line tour was an added bonus that made the stay especially memorable. My sister and I did the Quicksilver which was 100% worth it! The entire tour took around 2 hours which includes the trek up to the mountains, but the guides, Lloyd and Josh were very friendly and made the experience safe and enjoyable. The views from the top are amazing, I would highly recommend to anyone that visits the resort that likes exhilarating experiences to check this one out!

My sister and I recently ziplined here to do the Quicksilver Tour and had Josh and Joey as our guides. I’ve ziplined in other places and haven’t ever received the kind of service and safety as they provided. I would highly recommend this and if you are able to special request them, they will take care of you. The ziplines were all great and long with beautiful views. You have the ability to rent a GoPro for only $20 and it is so worth it to capture your experience.

Took my family ziplinjng at Lajitas Zipline Tours. Josh and Matt hosted us and they were fantastic; they were safe, professional, provided us with well maintained equipment, well kept facilities, and showed us a great time. Loved crossing over the canyons and seeing the gorgeous high-altitude views. Cannot wait to return next year.

Leslie & Josh were GREAT operators! Triple checking everything for our safety. Personable individuals and made this an amazing experience. This is a MUST do.

We had a great time on the Zip Lines, Adam and JT were super professional and knowledgeable of the area. Highly recommend this tour. Zip lines are amazing with great views and the equipment was very comfortable.

My husband and I did the Quick Silver tour on Thursday, and had a great time! Christina and Josh took great care of us, put safety first, were extremely professional, tons of fun— and even tolerated and maybe unintentionally contributed to our endless chatter! We'll be back next time...highly recommend!

Jake and josh were amazing zip line instructors. Had a great time with my fiancé, and they made sure everyone was enjoying the tour.I was always scared of heights, have been zip lining before to face my height fear but always leave with the same fear BUT this place helped me beat my fear. The view was gorgeous. Don’t worry about having to record with your phone because they also have go-pro you could rent for a very affordable price. Every single one of us left the tour with a big smile on our faces. Will definitely come back zip lining and would recommend anyone to come here.

Great trail. Pretty easy. Bring cash to buy trinkets left by folks from across the border.

I would say a must-do in the park because the views all around the river and walking through the tall grass is what makes this park what it is. You can continue to walk straight out all the way to the river, but we just did the overlook loop, and saw everything we needed to see. Parking is just finding a non-camping spot along the side of the road somewhere, so it can be a bit difficult during the busy times of day.

We hiked this trail and watched the sun set all 4 nights we stayed in this campground. I rated it moderate because I have 2 bad knees and am out of shape. You can see the Sierra del Carmen turn colors with the sun set, Boquillas del Carmen and the Rio Grande at the overlook. Make sure to also take the spur down to the river before leaving. Do not miss this trail!

Absolutely amazing area to visit and camp. I would highly recommend a trip to this area and spend the time exploring the many trails. Main visitor building has junior ranger activites for the children to complete and earn badges. Got a chance to see a variety of wild animals, including coyotes. Will definitely be back to explore other parts of this park.

Beautiful lookout point over the Rio Grande. Photographers: Do not miss this for sunsets! I almost skipped it for another location, but I'm very glad I didn't! You won't find a better trade off of easy, short hike and gorgeous photo opportunities in all of Big Bend. Was a bit hard to find at first during the slow season as everything was closed and no traffic around. You have to drive into RV parking and head to the far back corner of the lot and you'll see a tiny trail head between some trees. It's a very short, easy walk. If you're a bit more adventurous, hike up the short hill for a spectacular view. It can be quite windy up there, so hang onto your hat. Nothing but sky and gorgeous landscape. As the sun sets, don't forget to look behind you, as the shadows dance across the face of the mountains. You can't get the same photo twice. For reference, these photos were taken in June.

This is a GREAT spot for a sunset. It was an easy hike with great views of the river valley and into Mexico. Worth the hike!

Nice and short, easy, but interesting trail with a small butte to climb, river to explore, and archaeological artefacts. Beautiful views. Short walk from the campground.

Built on a spot where paleontologist have found fossils. The exhibit buildings are open but have a roof. The displays are very informative and professionally done to educate all ages. Many of the exhibits are hands on to add to the learning experience. I very much enjoyed walking around and though the exhibits learning new things with each step. A must see if in the Big Bend National Park.

This is a great spot for families, or anyone really. There are interesting exhibits describing the paleontological finds in Big Bend, and also a really nice easy-to-climb lookout with a fantastic view. There are restrooms and a picnic shelter, and the picnic shelter area has some fun exhibits just for kids.

Really neat experience, like how it chronologically walks you through the different era of earth. The illustration were very high quality and the physical models were fun for the kids to see and touch. The build also offers a nice cool place and is environmental friendly design very cool architecture. Suggest you see this on way in or out of big bend national Park from Marathon area as it convenient right off the park entrance road to Panther junction cicitor center.

I’m an adult with a fascination for fossils and geology and this place ROCKED! One of my favorite stops in the park. Open air museum that had a great breeze and was shaded. Informational plaques detailing the fossil molds you’re looking at + the history of the lands of BBNP over millions of years. Short walk uphill takes you to a lookout.

Informative and interesting. There are outhouse style bathrooms here. They weren't clean at the time but still nice to have them available out in the middle of nowhere.

This is a waste of time. Hands down worse place in the park. All replicas and reconstruction filled with speculation with very little scentfic research quoted. Can't believe this is on government property such a disgrace.

Nice little dinosaur museum. Very nice location with beautiful elevated spot for a 360 view of the surrounding area