Current Conditions

Updated Monday, June 08, 2015

Short term, temporary closures, such as road closures due due flooding, are listed on the Big Bend Daily Report, posted daily on the website homepage, as well as at visitor centers and campgrounds in the park.

Information included here addresses longer-term closures, such as the Southeast Rim for peregrine nesting, campsite closures due to bear activity, or closures due to construction.

 

Camping & Backcountry Campsites

• Temporary closures of the following park areas will be in effect Beginning June 1, 2015: Cottonwood Campground car and group campsites; all but the first loop of the Rio Grande Village Campground; all Rio Grande Village group campsites; and the Old Maverick Road backcountry car camping sites.

  The closures will will be progressively lifted beginning October 1st with all facilities to be re-opened by November 1st. The closures are due to short-term staffing shortages and are for visitor and employee safety, as well as park resource protection.

• The Southeast Rim Trail and a portion of the Northeast Rim Trail from the Boot Canyon/Southeast Rim junction to a point just north of Campsite NE-4, and all Southeast Rim campsites as well as Northeast campsites NE-4 and 5 are closed from February 1–May 31 for Peregrine Falcon nesting.

• Technical rock climbing on rock faces within 0.25 mile of known peregrine eyries, as posted, will not be allowed between February 1 and July 15.

 

Roads & Highways

• All park roads are currently open.

 

Trails

• From February 1–May 31, the Southeast Rim Trail and a portion of the Northeast Rim Trail from the Boot Canyon/Southeast Rim junction to a point just north of Campsite NE-4 will be closed for Peregrine Falcon nesting.

 

Fire & Smoking Restrictions

• Groundfires and woodfires are prohibited throughout the park.
• A smoking ban is in place at Panther Junction and in the Chisos Mountains/Basin until further notice. Smoking will only be allowed at designated smoking areas (buildings with ash tray) for these two areas.