Big Bend National Park COVID-19 Status & Updates

Big Bend National Park will partially open for day use on Friday, August 7th.

The park will determine further reopening and closures according to the local and regional status of the pandemic, following the advice of the federal, state and local public health officials.

Please note: Reservations are not needed to enter the park, but normal entrance fees will be collected at all park entrance stations. America the Beautiful Annual Passes, Senior Passes, and Access Passes will be honored. Entrance stations are open.

Group sizes are limited to either five people or a single household. A state mandatory mask order remains in effect in Brewster County, Texas, where the park is located.

For this first phase of reopening, access is restricted to certain parts of the park.
Some paved roads are OPEN, including:

From Persimmon Gap entrance to Panther Junction
From Maverick entrance to Panther Junction
Fossil Discovery Exhibit
Road to Chisos Basin

Most trails that begin from the open paved roads are OPEN for hiking, including:

Dog Canyon
Lost Mine
Window
Window View
Basin Loop
Laguna Meadow
Pinnacles
South Rim
Emory Peak

Amenities available include:

Toilets along the open roads
The Panther Junction Store & Gas Station

Parts of the park remain CLOSED until further notice, including:

Paved road from Panther Junction to Rio Grande Village
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
All unpaved roads
All river use
All campgrounds and backcountry campsites
Off-trail (cross-country) travel or camping
Backcountry trails not accessible from open paved roads
The Chisos Basin Campground road and overflow trail parking
All visitor centers
Chisos Basin Lodge & Restaurant
Park stores and gas stations, except the gas station at Panther Junction
Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is closed to all river use. Texas has suspended commercial river operations statewide.

Be Prepared for Summer in the Desert:

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 dangerous levels until after sunset. Hikers should stay off trails in the afternoon and carry (and drink) plenty of extra water.