Big Bend Natural History Association

***Self-Guided Trip Planning

Planning ahead is crucial to a safe trip. In addition to one or more of the following guidebooks, we highly recommend consulting the park's main website frequently for important safety updates.

It's Spring in Big Bend! Temperatures are extremely variable-- ranging from below freezing to the low 90s-- so come prepared for just about anything!

Visitation is matching or exceeding previous records, making flexibility the most important skill for a Big Bend trip in the busy season. Make a plan for each section of the park, so if it's crowded, you're ready to go see something fabulous where the crowds aren't.

Remember that you must have a reservation or permit to camp or park overnight anywhere inside or outside the park. There is no free first-come, first-served camping anywhere in Brewster County. All land outside the parks is privately owned, and camping without permission can lead to criminal prosecution. See the park website for information on how to make a reservation and a list of nearby options when Big Bend National Park is full.

The restaurant at the Chisos Mountains Lodge is open normal hours most days, including breakfast service, although there may be closures on short notice due to building repair needs. Call or stop by the Chisos Mountains Lodge offices to find out plans for the days of your visit.

Bringing a trailer or RV? It's best to go to your RV park first to leave your RV, and drive into the park in your tow vehicle. You're unlikely to find a parking spot large enough for an RV. The only place in the park where you might be given permission to leave a trailer is the Rio Grande Village visitor center at the far east end.

2019 Trails Illustrated Map: Big Bend National Park

2019 Trails Illustrated Map: Big Bend National Park

• Waterproof • Tear-Resistant • Topographic Map The largest protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National Park is a...
$14.95
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Backcountry Road Guide

Backcountry Road Guide

Thoroughly revised mile by mile, this new edition of the Road Guide to Backcountry Roads of Big Bend National Park now includes GPS coordinates as...
$4.95
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Big Bend Vistas: A Geological Exploration of the Big Bend

Big Bend Vistas: A Geological Exploration of the Big Bend

Big Bend Vistas: A Geological Exploration of the Big Bend by William MacLeod takes you along the highways and park roads in Big Bend National Park...
$24.95
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Chisos Mountains Trails Map 2020

Chisos Mountains Trails Map 2020

Revised in 2019 and in full color, this handy map includes a new inset map of the Chisos Basin Trailhead and developed area as well as descriptions...
$1.39
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Death In Big Bend

Death In Big Bend

Real Stories of Death and Rescue in Big Bend National Park by Laurence Parent. BACK IN PRINT!!! This Big Bend bestseller was unavailable for a while,...
$18.95
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Desert Hiking Tips: Expert Advice on Hiking and Driving

Desert Hiking Tips: Expert Advice on Hiking and Driving

  This pocket-size book might be a life-saver—or at least a time- and embarrassment-saver! Veteran outdoorsman Bruce Grubbs provides the...
$10.95
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Great Walks of Big Bend

Great Walks of Big Bend

Note: The Chisos Mountains walks in this guide are NOT affected by the spring-summer 2021 wildfire closures. All of them remain open as of May 2021....
$8.95
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Hiker's Guide 2021

Hiker's Guide 2021

Significantly revised, the 2021 edition is filled with full-color photographs and is a large format 8.5" x 11" for readability. New symbols...
$4.95
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Hiking Big Bend National Park 4th Edition

Hiking Big Bend National Park 4th Edition

By Laurence Parent. Hiking Big Bend National Park features 52 of the finest trails in Texas - from short day hikes to backcountry treks. With this...
$22.95
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Restop 2 Disposable Travel Toilet

Restop 2 Disposable Travel Toilet

Campers in the Chisos Mountains hike-in sites are now required to pack out human waste, and it's likely that this requirement will be extended to...
$3.45
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