Off-Roading at Big Bend Ranch State Park - Trails Offroad™

Big Bend Ranch State Park in Texas is one of those hidden overlanding gems you hear about but never do. Let’s change that! Not to be confused with the better-known Big Bend National Park, Big Bend State Park (BBRSP) is a 4WD backcountry and overlanding paradise with scenic drives and challenging unpaved trails. Referred to as El Despoblado or the unpopulated or deserted place, some even call it the “Other Side of Nowhere.”

Located along the border of Mexico, separated by the Rio Grand River, in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in Presidio County, Big Bend Ranch boasts elevations ranging from 2,600 feet to over 5,000. Temperatures can reach 130 degrees in the summer and drastically change through the course of the day with 40-degree swings. The park receives only 10” of rainfall per year, with most of the rain falling during monsoons in the summer months.

The park offers peace and quiet. However, due to its remote location, it’s very difficult to visit just for a day if you want to drive all the amazing roads. You either need to camp in one of the numerous dispersed designated and reservation-only sites or stay in lodging outside of the park in Presidio, which requires a minimum one-hour drive in and out of the park each day you visit.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting:

Licensed Street Legal Vehicles Only:

The park only allows licensed street-legal vehicles. Side-by-sides and dirt bikes are not permitted within the park.

Permits and Camping Reservations:

Permits are required for camping and day-use. Visitors to Big Bend are asked to check in on arrival at the Fort Leaton or Barton Warnock Visitor Centers between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Permits must be displayed on the lower passenger-side windshield.  

Camping permits can be purchased on the Texas State Parks website. We recommend making reservations well in advance for the prime campsites. You can also make reservations at either of the two visitor centers during business hours.

After-hours check-in:

If you have a campsite along the River Corridor (FM 170), proceed to your campground and select a site. The following morning, check-in at a Visitor Center to alert park staff that you arrived and/or to make additional reservations.

If you have a campsite in the park interior, please call Barton Warnock VC at (432) 424-3327 or Fort Leaton SHS at (432) 249-1801 for instructions prior to arrival.

If you arrive in the park interior after dark and do not know where your site is, you may overnight at Botella Junction and call Barton Warnock Visitor Center or Fort Leaton the next morning. Note that we did have a cell connection at Botella Junction on our visits to the park.

Fuel and Supplies:

There are no supplies within the Park other than water, which can only be found at the Sauceda Ranger Station.

The nearest fuel and grocery store is in the town of Presideo. For reference, the drive from the Sauceda Ranger Station to Presidio takes about 1.5 hours. To help plan your fuel consumption, it was our experience that other than the Main Park Road, Casa Piedra, and Bofecillos Road, plan around driving less than 10 mph on all other roads.

Concerns on the Trail:

Driving Concerns:

The Park has two types of roads: maintained and unmaintained.  Both types of roads will most likely have some type of wash crossing, and during rain events, these roads will become impassable. Further, a couple of the roads are literally in a wash. While many of the unmaintained roads do receive traffic to keep plant life beaten down, others see little traffic and are very overgrown, causing extreme desert pinstriping to your paint. That means the two big takeaways are: Roads will be impassable during rain, and venturing down the lesser traveled roads means scratches to your paint.

Wildlife Concerns:

Rattlesnakes and tarantula are common in the desert and can be active year-round. Be careful where you step and place your hands.

Bears and mountain lions roam the area. Several campsites include bear boxes, where you can store your food overnight. If a site does not come equipped with a bear box, store the food in your vehicle with the windows up. 

Top Big Bend Ranch State Park Off Road Trails:

The park has hundreds of miles of roads. It would take a person about 7-10 days to drive every road in the park, so we have included here our Top 5 favorites that you won’t want to miss. 

#5 Casa Piedra Trailhead to Casa Ramon

Casa Piedra Trailhead to Casa Ramon definitely provides a measure of "adventure" and the element of the 'unknown" to the experience. Travelers will likely find themselves pausing to assess current conditions a multiple creek crossings, providing visitors with a true sense of exploration and adventure. When not evaluating obstacles, visitors will be treated with a spectacular view of the lowlands with glimpses of the Cienega mountains off in the distance. For those visiting the area who have the time, this route is a must-do if you want to experience this region of Big Bend Ranch State Park.

#4 Botella Road

Not many park visitors brave the adventure of exploring the unmaintained Cienega region of the park, yet for those who dare, taking Botella Road from the heart of the park to its northwest regions is sure to provide a taste of what lay ahead. Making its way up and over numerous hills, arroyos, and washouts, the trail most definitely isn’t the typical country road. As the route is not maintained by the park, come prepared for anything, as the only thing guaranteed along the route is an adventure!

#3 Gaule Road

Many say there are no mountains in Texas. Many say there are no majestic views in Texas. They’re all wrong. Even the majority of Texas residents are unaware of the beauty that awaits them in Big Bend Ranch State Park, but even fewer are aware of the awe-inspiring views from atop Guale Mesa at the end of Guale Road. Reminiscent of views like Top Of The World in Utah, the view from atop Guale Mesa is nothing short of poetic. Any traveler even considering a trip to Big Bend Ranch State Park should consider a run-down Guale Road an absolute must-do. Better yet – secure the highly coveted campsite at Guale 2 and enjoy the utter splendor of sunset atop the mesa.

#2 Los Alamos Loop

Los Alamos Loop is unique within Big Bend Ranch State Park. Perhaps easier to note what it is NOT – Los Alamos Loop is not the easy, simple dirt road – it is not a route for lower clearance vehicles – and it’s not a route to run alone. Rather, Los Alamos Loop is arguably the most technical, non-maintained route in the park, offering fun challenges at nearly every turn with plenty of articulation and off-camber sections to entertain most off-road enthusiasts. Winding through the hills around and through Panther Canyon in the extreme northeast section of the park, Los Alamos Loop is a must-do for any adventure seeker visiting the park! A vehicle with high clearance is required for this particular trail.

#1 Fresno Canyon

“Best overland trail in the state of Texas”? One could easily argue Fresno Canyon Road takes the prize. Spanning desert flatlands then descending into Fresno Canyon takes travelers back in time. Petroglyphs speak to ancient inhabitants, while abandoned farm ruins hint of old west settlers. Running in and out of arroyos, hugging towering cliff walls, and the view of massive cliffs within the hills of the Solitario to the east make Fresno Canyon Road an absolutely iconic drive. Make no mistake – for anyone looking for off-road adventure in the Big Bend region, let alone Big Bend Ranch State Park, Fresno Canyon Road is an absolute must-do!

Best Campsites at Big Bend Ranch State Park:

Camping in BBRSP is by reservation, and the sites are fairly dispersed. We like to call it dispersed camping by reservation. Here are our favorites from our trips into the Park. 

#5 La Mota 002

You won’t see a soul at this camp.  It is located at the very end of the road, and there are no hiking trailheads nearby.  Solitude is all yours!  It is a small site that rooftop tent campers can back into, although the ground slopes slightly downward. There is space for tents, and the shade structure and fire ring butt directly up to a free-standing rock. Anticipate wind with being at the edge of the saddle. Great views of La Mota Mountain from here. Maximum number of people is 8. Maximum number of vehicles is 2. 18’ maximum for RVs. The site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a grill. A toilet system is required to occupy this site which can be purchased at the visitor center.

#4 Lower Alamito

What is there to like about this site? It’s the trees!  Residing right next to Lower Alamito Creek the cottonwood trees provide shade and the sound of leaves blowing in the wind.  The ground here is soft, and nice and flat for tents and rooftop tents alike. Just beware: this site is going to be inaccessible during the rains.

#3 Gaule 001

Protected by canyon walls, this site not only protects you from high wind but also will be much cooler if you happen to be visiting in the warmer months.  This is a perfect site for those with rooftop tents, as you can park right by the picnic table.  The ground is about as flat as you can find on any of the sites.  Note there is no shade structure here. 

#2 Tascate 001

A beautiful site at the end of the spur road, complete with an old windmill and water tank to add to its ambiance.  The site offers two nice spaces for rooftop tents and has a well-shaded picnic table area.  

#1 Guale 002

It really does not get any better than this site for spectacular views!  There is no shade structure, but you can back right into the picnic table area. Guale 2 has it all — millions of years of volcanic geology to study views into Mexico, solitude, and sunrises and sunsets that will just astound you!  Book this one early! 

Nearby Attractions:

Wherever you are coming from, it's most likely going to be a long drive. Even though it might be a long drive, the drive-in or on your way home doesn’t have to be boring!  

Presidio:

Presidio is not only the nearest fuel and grocery for your visit, and it is rich with history.  There were humans living in what is now Presidio during the time of the Biblical Exodus and at the time of Egypt’s age of the pyramids. The Spaniards first settled the area as far back as 1535 which is 30 years prior to the oldest town in America being established: St. Augustine Flordida! It took a while longer however for Presidio to be an established town in 1683.

Terlingua:

The discovery of Cinnabar, from which mercury metal is formed, in the mid-1880s kicked off a mining boom that lasted until 1942.  Mining booms typically turn into ghost towns, and that is what Terlingua is most noted for today!  Ghost towns can be revitalized for other purposes, and in 1967, Terlingua was deemed the Chili Capitol of the World.  On the first Saturday of November, over 10,000 “chili heads” will converge on Terilingua for the International Chili Championship.

What’s more, if you are looking for more luxurious lodging while in the Big Bend area, Terlingua is it! Though Terlingua adds up to an hour drive time to reach the interior of the park, it's central location to both the national and state park, restaurant and lodging selections, as well as shopping and attraction options such as the historic Terlingua Ghost Town, make Terlingua a preferred destination for many

Marfa:

Marfa was founded in the late 1880s as a railroad water stop. Its first real notoriety came in 1883 with the mysterious “Marfa Lights,” which can be described as glowing orbs in the night sky. Later, modern artists found this tranquil West Texas town home and created some of the more interesting roadside art attractions in this part of the country.