Marufo Vega / Ore Terminal Trails

Beginning location for three different trails

NPS/CA Hoyt

Quick Facts

Location:

2.5 miles down Boquillas Canyon Road

Amenities

2 listed

Parking - Auto, Trailhead

Dogs and other pets are not allowed on any trails in the park.

Three trails begin from this trailhead.

One, the Marufo Vega trail, is a rough ascent into the Dead Horse mountains that features a loop, a portion of which parallels the rim of Boquillas Canyon. The trail plus the loop is approximately 14 miles (22 km) in length, with about 3,800 feet (1,158 meters) of cumulative elevation change.

The second trail that branches off is the Ore Terminal Trail, which follows the route of the ore tramway that came from the Puerto Rico mine in Mexico to the terminal at the top of a ridge above Ernst Valley. This trail is about 8 miles (13 km) in length, with about 800 feet (244 meters) of elevation change.

The third trail is the Strawhouse Trail, which terminates at the Telephone Canyon Trail to the north. This Strawhouse Trail is about 14 miles (22 km) one-way, with about 1,600 feet (487 meters) of elevation change.

All of these trails are best experienced in temperatures below 80 degrees (26 Celcius).
 

Accessibility

These three trails traverse rocky ground covered in loose pebbles, making it necessary to place your feet with care. In addition, all of these trails involve large elevation changes - hiking poles are recommended to assist with balance.

The dirt parking lot provides parking for about 5 vehicles.

Hike Smart
Bring plenty of water!
Carry 1 liter of water per person per hour that you plan to hike. The importance of carrying enough water in this hot, dry climate cannot be overstated!

Eat
Your body needs food for energy and salts and electrolytes to replace what it's losing from perspiration. The dry climate at Big Bend means that sweat often evaporates almost instantly; your body is likely losing lots of moisture and salts without you even realizing it. Eat plenty of salty snacks to keep your body's salt-to-water ratio in balance.

Sun protection
Carry sunscreen and use it liberally. Hats are also strongly recommended. It may seem strange to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants in hot weather, but many hikers choose lightweight, breathable clothing which covers their arms and legs to protect themselves from the sun. 

Don't leave people behind
If you're hiking in a group, make sure the person in the back always has someone to help.

Be aware of wildlife
Keep an eye out for snakes, and remember to maintain a safe distance between yourself and all wildlife. Animals in the park are wild and should never be approached, harassed or fed.

Don't stack rocks
Cairns are stacks of rocks which are sometimes used to mark trails in areas where they are hard to follow. Randomly stacked rocks can lure hikers off the correct trail.