Highly recommended for anyone wanting a genuine Dark Sky stargazing experience!…read more Our family of 4 visited Big Bend National Park as part of a cross-country trip and wanted to experience stargazing for the first time. We found Astro Mucho through a google search and called for more details. Immediately it was easy to sense Devo's enthusiasm and friendliness even over the phone, and we booked a tour. He was very communicative prior to the event, checking in about weather conditions and special considerations for our handicapped son to ensure he would be comfortable and be able to participate fully. We arrived to the site (only 10 minutes north of Terlingua) where we found an intimate set up with comfortable chairs and groovy mood music that set the tone for our celestial experience. We lucked out and were the only 4 guests that evening (think it usually may be up to 10 guests per event). We found the laser pointer helpful during the guided tour of the sky. Everyone got a pair of binoculars to use and a red light flashlight as a gift. Good mix of telescope time, real time astrophotography (on a tablet), background astrology info, and guided tour of the sky/ constellations. Devo was patient with our questions and was knowledgeable. Devo nailed it!!

Visiting Big Bend National park for the first time to support the community and enjoy the beautiful…read morearea and the dark skies. Found out about Far Flung through different posts on nobigbendwall.org. Had a beautiful day canoeing down the Rio Grande. Guides were so knowledgeable about the area and are skilled water sport guides. Highly recommend you support this community and enjoy the different tours Far Flung has available. Thanks to Lauren, Brandon and everyone else that made us feel like old friends.

Really fun trip cruising 19miles down the Santa Elena canyon. Our trip was only confirmed a day…read moreprior because this particular trip has water dependency, since the water had been low so they couldn't tell if we were able to do it. But there was a heavy rain two days before our trip so we were very lucky to be able to do this. The booking is very easy, receptionist always returns your call. And our tour guy is so funny and kept us entertained all day. We didn't have to do anything just sit back and enjoy the view, he does all the work for us. There are small rapids but nothing would rock the boat. Highly recommend this route since you are cruising through international river and one side is Mexico one side of the canyon is America. It's just amazing to see the canyon from the water and with changing scenery throughout the whole trip.

Just finished our canoe trip down the Rio Grande with our guide Therese - she was very…read moreprofessional, knowledgeable and a joy to have as our guide. Great afternoon float, river was low but very enjoyable.

Well I have to throw my hat in as number seven that gives Marcos, and Rio Aviation top marks. We…read morewere a bit late, due to bad GPS guidance. A quick call to Marcos and we were back on track. When we got to the airport Marcos was waiting for us and waved us in. After exchanging salutations and going over the regulations, we were off. With great information, and amazing views the one hour flight was pure delight for my family, and I. We are already talking about doing it again when we come back to this area.

Definitely a "must do" if you're in Study Butte/Terlingua!!! Weather is always a factor when…read moreflying, and Marcos was so accommodating to make sure the conditions were just right for the flight. Had to switch days, which we had flexibility to do. Marcos Paredes definitely puts his knowledge as a former park ranger to use. Very professional, knowledgeable, and a fount of information about the area. And a great pilot on top of that. An hour flight would be fun, but so glad we opted for two hours.

Outstanding RV Stay in West Texas - Maverick Ranch RV Park, Lajitas…read more Texans are known for their hospitality, and the staff at The Maverick Ranch RV Park in Lajitas, TX absolutely lived up to that reputation. Friendly, polite, and helpful, they made check-in and check-out quick and informative--handing out maps with local highlights and always being available if needed. The park itself is well-equipped: * Full hookups * Spacious, pull-through RV sites * Clean bathrooms with showers * Laundry facilities * Heated pool * Paved roads and level pads for easy setup The bathrooms were consistently clean and always available--huge plus. The lodge is a real highlight. Think "Texas-sized" with multiple leather couches, a poker table, dining space, and a full kitchen. It connects to a large laundry room with plenty of machines and seating--making laundry day feel like less of a chore. Connectivity was surprisingly solid given the remote location near the Mexico border. While our hotspot struggled to get even two bars, the park's Wi-Fi came through just fine. A few tips for travelers: * There's no ice machine or propane refill on-site, but the nearby market carries both. * STOCK UP in Alpine before heading down--gas, propane, drinks, and food are all pricier here. * Most RV sites include picnic tables and fire pits. Bring your own firewood unless you want to pay $10.99 per bundle. * There's no shade, so make sure your AC and awning are ready to go to war with the sun. Exploring the area: * Lajitas is about 20 miles from Big Bend National Park--the main reason most people come. * Don't miss Terlingua Ghost Town (~15 miles away) for a fun local vibe. The Boathouse offers cheap beer, live music, and friendly locals. Nearby, High Sierra Bar & Grill has great food and seriously good chili. * For stunning scenery, drive the 50-mile stretch to Presidio--incredible views and the cheapest gas in the region. Nighttime Pro Tips: It gets pitch black out here. The park has well-marked, smooth roads with reflectors, but bring a soft flashlight and use low beams when arriving after dark. They have a no-outdoor-light policy after 9 PM--great for stargazing, so respect it and enjoy the night sky. Final Thoughts: The Maverick Ranch RV Park delivers excellent value, especially given its remote location. Yes, prices are a bit higher due to that, but the amenities, atmosphere, and proximity to Big Bend make it more than worth it. After a long day hiking or exploring, a refreshing dip in the pool is the cherry on top.

We stayed here four nights for Spring Break. We enjoyed the site, it was clean and quiet. The kids…read moreloved the heated pool. Everything we needed was here. The laundry facilities were fine...I just wish they had coin machines as the office was closed so I had to drive to the hotel and buy rolls from the front desk. Wi-Fi was mostly good. A little spotty. Cell service was 1 bar, but it worked. It was nice that we could charge stuff back to our "room." It was a great stay! Thank you.

**This is a 3.5 star review.**…read more This place is really close to being off the grid, but there are just enough amenities to keep you comfy. It's also a fantastic place to take photos of the stars. The staff: Wonderful! Everyone I encountered made me feel like a million bucks. I encourage you to ask them how they ended up here, because their stories are wonderful. The room: We stayed in #28, which was close to everything, including the laundry, office and restaurant. I liked the convenience, but would've preferred a room a few hundred yards away so that I didn't have to dodge generators and power lines for my nightly photo shoots of the galaxy. -- The beds were comfortable, and the rooms were clean. Question though: Why would you put a refrigerator in the room and not a TV or microwave? Additional amenities: There is laundry here, as well as ice, snacks and a few essentials available at the HQ. Other comments: One other reviewer complained that this place wasn't close to Terlingua and listed Alpine on the GPS. He's right and he's wrong. First, it's called Terlingua Ranch Lodge, and it has a Terlingua postal address. Secondly, 40 miles is nothing to these folks. I talked to someone at the desk whose daughter attends public school in Terlingua and takes a 45-minute bus ride every morning. Finally, my GPS also says Alpine, despite that Alpine is 70 miles up the road. GPS also misspelled my last home address. So what! Nothing is close here! It's SW Texas, for crying out loud. -- I would highly recommend renting a car or SUV to visit this place as the last few miles of the trip on the ranch road is covered in loose rock. I experienced one window chip, and I'm pretty sure that there are some dents on the undercarriage. Thank goodness my credit card includes insurance on rental cars. And thank goodness someone advised me not to take my own car. Finally, though I highly recommend this place, I think they suffer from an identity crisis. On one hand, I can pretty much buy anything I need at the office; eat what I want at the restaurant; do my laundry; get decent internet access; take a hot shower, and set the room temperature to a comfortable 72 degrees to sleep on a nice mattress. This place obviously doesn't want to be known as "off the grid," so why not put TVs in the rooms and a microwave and coffee maker? Either way, I would certainly stay here again.

A nice rustic and pup friendly place to stay if you are visiting the Big Bend National Park or…read morestate park. The cabins/rooms are clean with the basic necessities... no frills. They have a nice pool onsite along with a great little restaurant serving up meals all day. Everyone on staff we encountered was friendly, helpful and welcoming. Be ready to disconnect or bring a good book, WiFi is spotty which is totally fine if you are out here in the first place (no cell service) we enjoyed ourselves!

I enjoyed the Candelilla House. The location was great, right in the middle of everything. It was…read morevery private, quiet and had an authentic old west adobe feel. The bathroom and shower are both in separate outhouses but as long as you have flip-flops or slippers that's not really a problem. The area has a lot of tiny cactus needles, though, so bare feet outside can be risky. The house has two queen beds and a futon. The kitchen area has a decent sized fridge, microwave and large sunk with an awkward faucet. The decor is fantastic. If you book here do your best to arrive before 8pm or you could end up sleeping in your car in the parking lot like I did. There is NO after hours contact and they're supposed to leave your room key on the door of the Terlingua Trading Co. but good luck! The manager was very apologetic about the check-in failure, refunded the night and heavily discounted the remainder of my stay.

Loved everything about staying here. Stayed in a smaller room the first two nights and in the…read moremansion the last. Perfect location from everything, walked to the restaurants and gift shop.

As someone who seeks out a trail ride every time we visit somewhere new...this was a trail ride for…read morethe ages. We did a early morning ride with Evo (gotta consider heat and horses) and his knowledge of plant life, history, suggestions for a scenic drive to Marfa, etc. made our excursion completely delightful. Evo also took a few moments to snap LOTS of pics of us (worthy of a picture frame). Evo was polite and respectful of our time and made the trip a nice way to end our vacation. The icing on the cake was Miss Dottie, the cattle dog who was a great addition for our ride.

We stayed in the Badlands Hotel at the Lajitas Golf Resort. The place had the vibe of the old…read morewest, which was really a cool experience. The staff here are outstanding. Very professional friendly, and helpful in any way that you need. The setting of the place is gorgeous (please see photos). There are mountains, the cacti, the sunsets. The golf course itself is really pretty as well. The restaurants on the grounds are all pretty good. Ultimately, it's a great place and I would not hesitate to stay here again on future visits!

If you like peace, solitude, dark skies, open space, and privacy, Tin Valley is the place for you…read more We spent 5 nights there and Ronda the owner was a wonderful host. There are only 8 sites and each site has electrical hooks up for both 50 amps and 30 amps. Ronda brought us water one evening and has a honey wagon as needed. A wonderful place to stay if you want to visit Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Terlingua, and see the darkest skies in the country. We'll have to return with the appropriate cameras and telescopes next time. It may be a little intimidating to get there, as it's 13 miles on a country road off US 118 and another 1.5 miles on narrow dirt road, but you will be rewarded for your perseverance. Tin Valley is a slice of paradise for those who seek it.

A wonderful place to stay, super friendly, amazing views, dead quiet at night, no city lights at…read moreall, more stars than you have ever seen. Plus a backroad into big bend, 20 miles of dirt then 22 miles down hwy 385, need to be smart in deep sand or have 4wd. 50amp electric, no sewer but dump station, also no water but they will bring it to you in a pump truck, they will also take way you grey water (with a different tank!) Located on a 100 acre ranch with its own mountain, lots of dirt trails, Old indian lookout at mountain top.