Current road conditions

Forty-five miles of the unpaved roads are classified as “improved dirt roads.” The improved dirt roads, like the Maverick Road on the west side of the park, are passable by most vehicles during much of the year. But the fact that a road is “passable” does not mean that this is an ideal road for today’s low clearance passenger cars. The terrain in Big Bend is extremely rocky and even a recently graded unpaved road can mean a slow rocky ride that can be hard on vehicles. Almost any amount of rainfall will produce a rough washboard surface on the dirt roads. If you are not willing to submit your vehicle to this kind of punishment, you are better off avoiding all of the unpaved roads in Big Bend National Park.

NPS\Big Bend National Park

In the "Black Gap"

The remaining unpaved roads are classified as “primitive dirt roads” and are considerably more primitive than the improved dirt roads. Most of the year, the primitive dirt roads like the River Road on the south side of the park are passable only by high clearance and/or four-wheel drive vehicles. Some of these roads, like the Black Gap Road, are not maintained and require determination and considerable driving skill in order to successfully traverse them.

The extremely rocky terrain and the changing condition of these roads means that even the strongest high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle will face a number of challenges while on these routes: boulders and washes, rough washboard areas, sandy areas that can quickly turn muddy after rain, and an abundance of thorns to threaten your tires. Occupants in a vehicle on these routes will find themselves extremely isolated and, other than whatever shade is provided by your vehicle, exposed to the elements of the Chihuahuan Desert. Because many of these roads are infrequently used and patrolled, you must be prepared to deal with any challenges or emergencies that arise.