Big Bend Ranch State Park tends to get overlooked when compared to its big brother Big Bend National Park. I myself was guilty of this (and still am to some extent) on my 1st 2 visits to the region. On this 3rd visit, I made it a point to spend a day in the State Park. However, I only explored the river road section from Lajitas to Presidio. I didn't go deeper into the more mountainy region of the park. Here are some of the points I explored. Barton Warnock Visitor's Center- This is where you pay your fee to enter the park, if you aren't stopping to see things then you don't have to pay. It's only like 5.00 per person so don't be a cheapskate. There is a gift shop to get your refrigerator magnet or t-shirt plus a little garden area and small museum about the region. Contraband Movie set- This is about 45 minutes down the scenic river road from Barton Warnock VC. Beware of free-range cattle! It's just a little place to stretch your legs and check out a few buildings used for filming a few B-movies. Plus, there is a few picnic tables if you want to eat by the river. Closed Canyon Trail- 15-20 minutes from Contraband Movie Set. This was the highlight of the day for me. It's only like a 2-mile round trip hike over mostly flat ground through a gorgeous canyon. The canyon is much much cooler (temperature not hipness) than outside the canyon. There is a little (really little) rock scramble to get over before there is a sign that just says, "The end". Hoodoos Trail- This is only about 5-10 mins from Closed Canyon, so we did it on the way back from Presidio. The Hoodoos is said to be a 1.1-mile roundtrip trail but it's all open so there is not a real defined trail that I could see. So you can just walk around the cool looking rock formations and Rio Grande river and take in the nature. There is also a drive-up overlook if you don't want to walk Fort Leaton State Historic Site- 30 mins from Hoodoos. Cool historic fort that wasn't for military use. It was just a family who wanted a spot along the route to El Paso to sell goods and protect his family. Cool place to walk around and take pictures and learn about the region in a different time. Highly recommend the ride from Lajitas to Presidio. Plenty of points of interest along the route and places to grab a bite once in Presidio. Next time I will make may way more into the interior of the park. read more

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Big Bend Ranch State Park is rugged, remote, and absolutely stunning. With dramatic canyons, vast desert landscapes, and abundant wildlife, it offers a true backcountry adventure. Less crowded than the national park, it's perfect for hikers, photographers, and solitude seekers. Be prepared this is wild Texas at its finest. read more

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What we saw of this park was breathtaking for its beauty and majesty. We took the border highway from the east side of the park to the west with the Rio Grande to our left for the majority of the drive. The splendor of the mountains, hills, the lush river valley - all of it was a sight to behold. For convenience there were a good number of rest stops along the way as well as viewing points and hiking trails. It was so hot and we were on a mission to get to Marfa the day we drove through, but we intend to go back and get in on this site, which is as beautiful as the National Park on the east side of this one. read more

Big Bend Ranch State Park is often overlooked as people over visit it's National Park neighbor to the east. However, when it comes to epic terrain, beautiful lands, awesome wildlife & flora - Big Bend Ranch State Park is just as good. In fact, in my book it is better because it is less visited, more remote, and you often have tens of thousands of acres all to yourself. The facilities are clean & well maintained. Plenty of places to camp, get wet, hike, take pics, etc. This has GOT to be on your bucket list of State Parks to visit. Make sure you get there, get a map, and have a FULL tank of gas. read more

Big Bend Ranch State Park - One of many beautiful picnic spots along the Rio Grande river. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Presidio, Texas

I recently spent five nights in Big Bend Ranch State Park and was badly disappointed. To begin with, there is not a single foot of paved road anywhere in the entire park. To get to even the "most accessible" campsite, one must endure a grueling 27-mile trial by ordeal over one of the worst gravel roads I have ever seen. Even at 10-15 mph, my SUV and the small camper it was towing were jostled, vibrated, and tossed mercilessly for more than two hours before reaching the Ranger Headquarters. Both vehicles suffered damage. The roads only get worse from there. And the night sky was a sad let down. I never did see the "bright diamonds on black velvet" I remember from my time in the Arizona desert. Instead, for reasons I cannot fathom, there was a faint blue glow around the entire horizon even hours after the moon had set; the stars overhead seemed washed out and were not impressive. Perhaps there was dust or other pollution in the upper atmosphere. But for whatever reason, what I saw suggests that those seeking a truly impressive dark sky should look elsewhere. read more

To visit the larger State park in texas was a big accomplishment for us The views are breathtaking. I love roller coasters, but my tummy was a little uneasy going through the steep hills and winding roads. Felt a bit dizzy, and yet enjoyed every moment. A must see for sure! read more

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As traveling to Big Bend Country becomes more and more popular, lots of people still hike in Big Bend National Park, but skip Big Bend Ranch State Park. I'm guilty of it, too. I didn't make it to the state park until my third trip to West Texas, even though I'd drive Highway 70 every single time! If it's your first time in Big Bend Country, I highly recommend exploring the whole region (rather than sticking to just the national park) if you have the time! Highway 70 is one of those things that is totally worth doing if you have an extra day! We usually start in Terlingua, drive west on Highway 70 to Presidio (through Big Bend Ranch State Park), then north to Marfa, then east to Alpine, and then back south to Terlingua. (Sometimes we make whole circle. Other times we start in Terlingua and spend a few nights each in different towns.) Big Bend Ranch State Park is beautiful. (Comparable topography to the national park), but it's even more rugged (if you can believe it). If you're stopping for hikes (rather than just taking in the sites as you drive through, which is wonderful on its own), I recommend you stop one of the visitor centers. They have specific maps geared to each of the hikes. And you will need these. On this particular trip, we only had time for one hike - Closed Canyon. It was so hot I thought I might die (late September), but it was beautiful. It did seem to not be very hiked - this hike is right off Highway 70, making it easy to stop at, and yet we didn't see another soul. (Some of the other hikes are supposed to be beautiful, but take quite a bit of time to reach - just like in the national park - but I'm sure the drives are beautiful here, too!) Also, the tepid water in the canyon had attracted A LOT of bugs. Wasps were everywhere. It was a little scary. Not a fan of wasps. After that hike, we continued along Highway 70 to Presidio, where we stopped at Fort Leaton State Historic Site, which is included in the entrance fee you pay if you'll be exploring the park. This fort was under construction and the smell of guano was overwhelming, but it was an interesting historical stop for this Texas native, who was embarrassed to nothing absolutely nothing about the history contained within the fort. Worth a stop! read more

Big Bend State Park is such a vast state park. The roads are not paved, you've been warned. I like the space, hardly saw many people over the long weekend. There are so great trails and spectacular views!! The state park is about 2 hours from the national park. It does take a good amount of time to get from the entrance to the trails. Bring an extra tire, check your tires before you take the trek. The park has 238 miles of trails. Stayed the first night at the overnight spot because it was too far of a drive into the park at nighttime. The second day we went to our spot at South Leyva Campground which is close to headquarters as well as the showers. There are eco toilets at the overnight spot as well as South Leyva Campground. This is not like a porta potty but nice clean toilets. There was no smell!! The wind out at Big Ben was crazy!! Closed Canyon Trail, Cinco Tinajas Loop, Soitario Viewpoint are great hikes. Go to a high spot for sunset!! Big Big State is beautiful! read more

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Absolutely fantastic state park! Possibly my favorite in Texas. Many trails, with several being off the main road and easily accessible. Stunning views on the drive from Lajitas to Presidio! And who knew we have hoodoos in Texas?!? Do not miss this park if you are visiting the area. read more

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Well worth the drive down 170. Beautiful scenery and lots of places to pull off and get photos or just soak it in. There were several hiking and camp sites too. Photos just don't do it justice. read more

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My wife and I stayed at BBRSP in late February. We started with several days in the interior of the park. The Saucedo Ranger Station and Visitor Center was staffed by some really nice and helpful paid and volunteer staff. We were in a campsite within a couple of miles of the station, but had no other campers within miles of us! The quiet and stark beauty of the desert is unforgettable. Sunsets are worth paying for. The visitor center had plenty of potable water and ice and was probably one of the better stocked small stores (trinkets as well as essentials) that I've seen in the state parks, which is good because it takes 1 1/2 hours to get there on a rocky road. I'll contrast the excellence of the staff at Saucedo station with the staff and visitor's center at the Barton Warnock center. Barton Warnock is worth skipping for other activities and the staff there seems to hate life and it's reflected in their attitudes and customer service. We'll definitely return, but only to the interior of the park. read more

Biggest state park in Texas! I've camped at Grassy Banks and Los Ojitos. At my drive in primitive site, Los Ojitos, the driveway was two miles long. Perfect place for peace and quiet. read more

This has got to be the most beautiful state park to drive through. As another "Yelper" said, if you make the effort to go to Big Bend National Park, but don't take the 4 hours to make the round trip to Presidio, then you are really missing out on an amazing drive. The view is beautiful, but I would suggest anyone who gets carsick easily to not eat before making it - there are some VERY steep grades including at the overlooks. There were times we felt we were on a roller coaster! This state park actually has two entrances. The one shown on this map is actually Ft. Leaton and on the west side of park. On the east side of the park, in Lajitas, there is a nature center that explains the flora and fauna of this west Texas desert. The park itself is closer in style to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. There are some very short trails near the movie set, at Closed Canyon, and one near some "hoo doos" on the west side of the park. Other trails are a full days hike (one- way) through the park. But even if you don't decide to stop and walk around, the view itself is worth the drive. read more

Admittedly, I sometimes overestimate my ability to successfully complete certain endurance events while keeping my limbs intact. This year's 60-mile MTB Epic Ride, the last and longest ride in the annual Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest held in Big Bend Ranch State Park, was no exception. Big Bend Ranch SP is beautiful, but it's not something a native Houstonian mountain biker is used to. Think soul sucking sand and gravel, nasty cactus, loose rocks on 16% grade half mile winding uphills, and babyheads on screaming downhills. It's gnarly stuff! Combine the terrain with winter temps in the 90s and you have the perfect recipe for a painful, bloody, and EPIC day on your mountain bike. The park is huge and can be terrifying when you're out there on your own. I went through a few panicky moments where I thought I was lost and lugged my mountain bike a mile back only to find that I was perfectly on track. Ouch. All that cactus leads to a lot of flats. Be prepared with plenty of extra slime tubes and a pump - CO2 doesn't really cut it. Take a map and plenty of food and water. There's no cell phone service and I heard stories of people getting lost out there, so a whistle might also come in handy. Before attempting the Epic, you might want to ride the Rincon Loop to get a mild taste of what's to come. Big Bend Ranch is the pinnacle of Texas mountain biking, and it's completely worth the nine hour drive from Houston. read more

Big Bend Ranch State Park is Texas's largest state park. We spent Thanksgiving day rafting down the Rio Grande. We rafted through the beautiful Colorado Canyon, successfully maneuvering Panther and Little Panther rapids. We did not see one human other than those in our group of six; however, we spent the day with lots of turtles and ducks. Although it is not advised, we pulled our raft onto a beach on the Mexican side of the river for lunch. I am glad we did as we saw a beautiful side canyon offering more geological delights. read more

Its a great park, but be advised, the roads are rough and there is nothing inside the park. I stayed at the Bunkhouse and while it beat camping, the best thing about it was the food there. Very good and very reasonable. read more

One of my favorite places on earth. Love the canyons with the Rio Grande. The open (no fence) ranch land with wandering cattle. Bob Cats, tarantulas, scorpions, bats, hawks, etc. Unbelievable skies during the day and stars at night. It's not for everyone, but I treasure this place. i.e. My wife said I took her here to make El Paso look better. :) read more