News Release

Chisos Basin Campground Temporarily Closed Due to Bear Activity

NPS

News Release Date: August 12, 2022

Contact: Annie Gilliland, 432-477-1110

UPDATE September 12, 2022
Chisos Basin Campground Reopened
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Effective 12:00 PM (noon) Friday, August 12, 2022, the Chisos Basin Campground and Chisos Basin Group Campground in Big Bend National Park are closed to public use until further notice. This emergency closure is due to significantly increased bear activity within the campground area. 

Over the course of the last two weeks, the bears have moved from the Window Trail into the campground itself, feeding on mesquite beans, a natural food source. Due to the abundance of mesquite beans in the campground, the bears have become territorial and shown signs of aggression. To keep these bears wild and safe, limiting human food sources and bear-human interactions is paramount.  As such, the campground will be closed until the bears move on to other natural food sources.     

All incoming reservations have been cancelled or relocated and the park is working to accommodate displaced campers. Big Bend Superintendent Bob Krumenaker said, “National Park biologists continue to monitor the bear activity and we will re-open the campground as soon as it declines to normal levels in this area. While we regret the inconvenience, protecting both the bears and park visitors is essential. Right now, the bears are hungry and a bit testy and we're going to give them the space they need to be wild bears.”   

Entering this closed area, even on foot, is a violation of Chapter 36, section 1.5 of the Code of Federal Regulations.  

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