ENP 32.1 Big Bend: Trip Report

The world may have changed since Danielle, Bryan, and the girls took their early February trip to Big Bend National Park in Texas, but hope for future family adventures springs eternal. With those eventual vacations in mind, Everybody’s National Parks presents the first episode in its Big Bend roundup. Painted landscapes, dark skies, and lessons in border policy await at the stunning junction where the US and Mexico meet. And this wouldn’t be a family trip roundup without eyewitness reports from Everybody’s National Parks junior ranger correspondents.

Discussion includes the following:

[00:01] Introduction to Big Bend podcast series.

[01:14] Danielle & Bryan set the scene - with a little help from TripPossible: Big Bend National Park, ENP Yosemite National Park series, ENP Yosemite TripPossible episode

[06:01] Know before you go: gateway cities El Paso, TX and Midland-Odessa, TX

[07:50] Know before you go: car rental issues, Avis

[08:40] Oil country: reflections on a drive through the permian basin

[10:18] Know before you go: when and where to stock up on supplies Terlingua, Marathon, Marfa

[11:23] Beautiful views and home base options: Chisos Mountains Lodge, Chisos Basin Campground, Chisos Mountains Lodge Restaurant & Patio

DAY 1

[13:08] West Side: Chisos Mountains Visitor Center, ranger programs, Fossil Discovery Center

[15:22] Touching extinction: K-Pg Boundary site

[16:22] East Side: Rio Grande Overlook, Rio Grande Visitor Center Rio Grande Village Nature Trail

[17:18] Know before you go: Boquillas, Mexico border crossing

[20:51] Boquillas Canyon Trail

[22:02] Nightcap: Ending the day at Hot Springs Historic Trail

DAY 2

[26:32] West Side explorations: Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Panther Junction Visitor Center

[28:04] West Side highlight: