News Release

Limited Lodging and Camping to Resume

Chisos Mountains View
The Chisos Mountains as seen along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

Subscribe RSS Icon | What is RSS
News Release Date: June 11, 2020

Contact: Tom VandenBerg, (432) 477-1107

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX – The National Park Service (NPS) announced today that: Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Public Health Service, Texas Department of State Health Services, and the public health authority for Brewster County, Texas, Big Bend National Park will resume additional visitor services, including opportunities for camping and lodging. Big Bend began a phased re-opening on June 1st, and this will be the next phase in a gradual, safety-based re-opening strategy.

UPDATE 6/17: The Chisos Mountains Lodge will remain closed. 
The Lodge will re-open on September 26, 2020.
Please contact the lodge directly for the latest updates: 

www.chisosmountainslodge.com or 432-477-2291 for more information.

Beginning Monday, June 15 the following facilities and services will be open:  

  • Chisos Basin Campground
    • (reduced capacity. Maximum stay 5 nights. Reservations required via www.recreation.gov).
  • Chisos Mountains Lodge to reopen 6/19. UPDATE 6/19: The Lodge will NOT be opening at this time.
  • Chisos Mountains Restaurant (take-out meals only)
  • All paved park roads.
  • Old Maverick Road, Grapevine Hills Road, Dugout Wells, Dagger Flat Road, and Terlingua Ranch Road.
  • Many front-country trails for day hiking (see the full list).
  • Chisos Basin Camper Store.
  • Panther Junction Gas Station and store.
  • Castolon Store (open 6/19).
  • Rio Grande for day-use river trips from paved road access points. Group size limits apply.
  • Restroom facilities.

The Chisos Basin Campground will be open at 70% capacity. Visitors must make reservations online through www.recreation.gov to arrange a campsite. There will be no first-come first-served camping or any overflow camping at this time. When the campground is full, visitors will need to make other arrangements for camping/lodging outside the park.

The Chisos Mountains Lodge, operated by Forever Resorts, Inc., will welcome guests at 50% capacity beginning Friday, 6/19. Overnight accommodations may be arranged via www.chisosmountainslodge.com or by calling 877-386-4383.  The restaurant will be open for takeout meals only. 

Big Bend’s phased approach is designed to gradually allow increased access, while maintaining employee, visitor, and local community safety, and to avoid overwhelming the area’s limited medical services. Park managers are carefully watching the COVID-19 situation. Increased cases throughout Texas, along with increasing stressors on local medical facilities warrant close monitoring. The NPS will maintain flexibility to expand, adjust, or contract operations as health conditions warrant.

Visitors to Big Bend must be prepared for the extreme summer heat of the Chihuahuan Desert. During the summer months, temperatures in the park’s lower elevations and river areas typically exceed 100 degrees by late morning and remain at very dangerous levels until after sunset. Hikers should stay off trails in the afternoon and carry (and drink) plenty of extra water. Check the latest conditions.

While many areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased in and visitor services will be limited. When recreating, the public must practice social distancing and cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged as recommended by the CDC. Visitors should practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding, and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

With public health in mind, the following areas and facilities will remain closed at this time:

  • Park Visitor Centers.
  • Primitive Backcountry Dirt Roads (Old Ore Road, Glenn Springs Roads, and River Road).
  • Paint Gap, Croton Spring, and K-Bar Roads.
  • Backcountry Camping and Primitive Backcountry Campsites.
  • Cottonwood Campground and Rio Grande Village Campgrounds.
  • The Hot Springs Historic Area and all associated trails are closed to entry.
  • Rio Grande Village Store and Rio Grande Village RV campground.
  • Boquillas Port of Entry.

Please visit Big Bend's COVID-19 Status Page for specific details of park closures/openings and regular updates of Big Bend National Park’s phased return to operations. The NPS will notify the public when additional areas open and more operations resume via the park website and social media channels.  Updates about the NPS response to coronavirus will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Tags: covid - 19 big bend national park


Last updated: June 23, 2020

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 129
Big Bend National Park, TX 79834-0129

Phone:

432-477-2251

Contact Us

Tools

Stay Connected