Video
Preparing For Your Trip to Big Bend National Park
Transcript
Big Bend National Park is more than just a park.It's a massive collection of over 800,000 acres of desert, mountains, and river canyons.
And it's terrain can be as unforgiving as it is beautiful.
Your journey to Big Bend should begin with the right preparation. Do your research and call or visit the official park website to learn about the park, make reservations, and to get the most up-to-date details.</b>
Weather information is updated hourly, with current alerts at the top of every page. Check the homepage before every visit.
Don't show up without a reservation.
Lodging, campground, and most backcountry sites must be reserved in advance, as they're often fully booked, especially during the busy season of October through April.
Showing up without a reservation can cause frustration in finding a last-minute place to stay, most likely outside the park.
Weather conditions in Big Bend can change quickly, so pack for a range of temperatures and conditions.
Sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, layers of comfortable clothing, and sturdy shoes are a year-round necessity for outdoor exploration.
Winter visitors should pack for temperatures below freezing to above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Groceries and supplies are expensive and hard, if not impossible, to find in or around the park so stock up before you hit the road. Make sure to bring a few refillable water containers. There are places to refill them throughout the park's developed areas and campgrounds.
You'll stay hydrated while cutting down on park waste. Reduce, reuse, refill.
What you bring to the park is just as important as what you don't. Bringing your pet may limit some of your activities in Big Bend. Your pet can only go where your car can go.
Since pets are not allowed on trails, open ground, or on the river, and you can't leave them unattended, we recommend that you leave them safely at home.
When it comes to getting around the park, Big Bend has over 120 miles of paved roads suitable for well-maintained vehicles of all kinds.
Be aware that electric vehicles currently have very fewcharging options inside or outside the park.
The park also offers over 180 miles of unpaved backcountry roads to explore. These are maintained for sturdy, high-clearance, four-wheel drive road-legal vehicles, not sedans, minivans or RVs.
Weather can change some road's drivability, so check with a ranger on current conditions and be sure to have a spare tire and know how to change it.
Big Bend is rugged, wild and delightfully distant from most of our everyday lives. That means you're likely to experience limited to no cell or data signals in and around the park.That's what makes the park so special.
With a little preparation, this is your chance to disconnect to reconnect. Your chance to be open and curious about exploring one of our nation's most dramatic and wild landscapes, protected and preserved for you and generations to come.
Be prepared and be amazed by Big Bend National Park.
Description
Are you ready to go to Big Bend National Park? Wondering how to prepare, what to pack, and what you'll experience? Check out this video for great tips to make the most of your adventure!
Duration
4 minutes, 10 seconds
Credit
Big Bend Conservancy / NPS
Date Created
01/08/2024
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