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Big Bend Ranch State Park Lajitas TX

joanie7 — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:56:27 +0000

Madera Canyon Campground Big Bend Ranch State Park

Big Bend Ranch State Park is located in far West Texas very close to Big Bend National Park. You do not just happen upon this park – it is a trip that you have to plan and make an effort to visit. So what is there to do there and where should you stay?

Big Bend Ranch State Park is the largest state park in Texas. The landscape that you’ll be camping and driving through is the rugged Chihuahuan Desert. You will see plenty of ocotillo cactus, rugged mountain ranges, and hot desert sand. Sunrises and sunsets can be quite stunning and are well-suited for the visiting photographer.

There are trails throughout the park for those who want to get out and explore. Trailheads however do not always have a trailmap or any information about the trail, so be sure to ask at the visitor center for trail information. In addition, turnoffs to the trails (or campgrounds for that matter) can be hard to spot as signs are small and not always next to the entrance or facing the correct way on the road. On your visit, a good idea is to dub someone in your car navigator so they can keep an eye out for things you want to visit! One of our favorite stops in the park was the Contrabando Movie Set very near the Lajitas park entrance. Several movies including Dead Man’s Walk, Journeyman, and Streets of Laredo were filmed here.

Contrabando Movie Set at Big Bend Ranch State Park

Another nice thing about visiting this park is that you’re not going to be on top of other visitors. The park encompasses 300,000 acres and is quite out of the way, meaning you’ll pass relatively few other visitors. One thing however that we were disappointed to see was litter strewn intermittently along the roadside.

On your visit expect it to be hot if you are visiting during the summer – average July temperatures average 99 degrees! January however can get as low as 36 degrees, so go dressed accordingly.

Camping
There is camping at Big Bend Ranch State Park, however it is all primitive – meaning you will not find any sites with running water and electricity. For those wanting to do backcountry camping – you’ve found the right place! There are plenty of campgrounds for you to choose from.

If you’re wanting to do car camping, your best bet is to go to one of the campgrounds that have a self-composting toilet, that way you will not have to purchase one of the portable potties from the visitor center.

On your visit, you can camp in the “interior” of the park or within view of the river. In the interior of the park you’ll find self-composting toilets at South Leyva. Check with the park for additional campgrounds with toilets on the interior. The campgrounds along the river (not on the river!) with the composting toilets are Colorado Canyon, Madera Canyon and Grassy Banks. These campsites each have one or two loops of campsites (no electric or water) where you can pull in your car and set up your tent.

If you’re coming in through the Barton Warnock Visitor Center, the closest campground is Grassy Banks. Expect to find these sites fairly small, relatively close together, and fairly unscenic with no view (despite the name, you will find no grassy banks!!). In addition, on our visit we noticed horse manure in and around our site, as well as trash in the surrounding brush.

If you’re wanting to camp at one of the three river campgrounds mentioned above, a better bet is a couple of miles up the road at the Madera Canyon campground – where you’ll find both a lower and an upper loop. If you camp on the upper loop you’ll get nice views of the surrounding canyon.

The campsites at the park all have a picnic table and a fire-ring (check with the ranger however to see if there are any fire bans). None of them have shade, tent pads, or any other features. The composting toilet is generally on the outer edge of the loop, and there are trash cans scattered throughout. On our visit, we found that the toilets were relatively clean (for a composting toilet) and stocked with plenty of toilet paper.

Getting there
If you are coming in from Alpine, TX, take 118 South to Study Butte. From there turn right heading west on 170 West past Terlingua into Lajitas. In Lajitas you want to stop at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center to pay your entrance fee, get a camping permit, and pick up some maps.

If you’re coming in from Marfa, TX, take 67 South to Presidio. At Presidio, turn leaving heading east on 170 east into Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Fees
At the time of this writing, if you do not have a TX state park pass, the entrance fee was $3 per person, in addition to $8 if you are overnight camping. Regardless of if you’re car camping or primitive camping, you will need to get a camping permit from the visitor center. So plan accordingly!

Get more info at the official Big Bend Ranch State Park website.

Fort Parker State Park, Mexia Texas

joanie7 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:29:28 +0000

Visit our Fort Parker State Park Photo Gallery

Fort Parker State Park is named for Fort Parker, a nearby historic settlement established in 1833 and site of the well known Comanche Indian raid of May 1836 during which Cynthia Ann Parker was captured. One of the largest remaining tall grass prairies in Limestone County mingles into dense woodlands providing a pleasant, shady respite from Dallas 80 miles to the north or Waco 47 miles to the west. In 1939 the CCC built a 729 ft dam across the Navasota River creating the 7oo acre Fort Parker Lake. Canoe rentals are available seasonally at $25 for 8 hours or $15 for a 3 hour minimum. Swimming is unsupervised from a small beach or you may fish from the banks of the lake, the dam or from one of the two fishing piers. Common catches include crappie, bass, catfish or trout in season. The Springfield 1.5 mile multi-use loop trail is for hiking or biking. The .5 mile one way Bur Oak nature trail through the woods rewards the bird watcher as many different species swoop through the trees. We observed bluebirds, cardinals, an indigo bunting and a red-tailed hawk. The 1.5 mile each way Bainscreek Trail brings you up close to the herons and other shorebirds and wading birds frequenting the park. The trailer camping loop (sites #1-25 water & electric) is well situated along the lake shore however most of the sites are close together and smaller suited for small trailers or pop-ups. If your trailer is 25 ft or longer call ahead to see if one of the few larger spaces is vacant. 10 inviting shelters are set into a hillside overlooking the lake. Primitive car camping sites #40-49 are a short drive down River Rd. A vault toilet is in the area. Tip: You may paddle 3 miles on the Navasota River to the Confederate Reunion Grounds. Allow 3-4 hours. Call the park 254-562-5751 to inquire about the availability of shuttles.

Chisos Basin Campground Big Bend National Park

joanie7 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:19:23 +0000

We drove out to Big Bend National Park for the day while we were camped at Fort Davis State Park. You may ask what you can do in Big Bend National Park if you are only going to be there for the day and the drive to get there is 150 miles each way. The answer is not a whole lot however we did have a purpose for the side trip. We have signed up to volunteer at Chisos Basin Visitor Center for three months in the summer of 2009 so we wanted to check out where we would be working and living. We drove from Fort Davis on Hwy 118, through Alpine and on to Terlingua and Study Butte to the entrance on the west side of Big Bend National Park. We stopped in at the Panther Junction Visitor Center first then headed up the 6 mile narrow windy road to Chisos Basin with it’s sharp curves and steep grades. The visitor center is small but interesting with exhibits and items for sale. The campground is nothing more than a rocky outcrop. At 5,400 ft above sea level the summer weather is pleasant and it is of course surrounded by the magnificent Chisos Mountains however the camping spaces are small, not level and have no amenities. (By this I mean water and or electricity.) There is a comfort station with flush toilets but no showers. There is a sink for dishwashing only. Trailers up to 20 ft are allowed however this campground is really best suited for the tent camper. There is a campground host site with full hook ups (they frequently have openings for campground hosts) however this site was also rocky, not level and no shade.

Davis Mountains State Park Fort Davis, Texas

joanie7 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:01:12 +0000

Visit our Davis Mountains State Park photo gallery

At a mile above sea level Davis Mountains State Park is the coolest place to be in the hot Texas summer. The Davis Mountains, the most extensive mountain range in Texas were formed by volcanic activity 65 million years ago. Located in Jeff Davis County, 1 mile north of the town of Fort Davis on Texas 17 then 3 miles west on Texas 118 the 2,700 acres of the Davis Mountains State Park offers great family fun. There are 9 miles of hiking and nature trails, one of which connects with a trail to the Fort Davis National Historic Site, a mountain bike trail, an equestrian trail as well as Skyline Drive, a scenic mile high drive especially popular for star gazing. Birders will be kept busy with the wide variety of species living in the park. We observed mockingbirds, cardinals and an oriole right from our campsite. We filled a hummingbird feeder twice in one week to satisfy the hungry demand of these tiny birds. Wildlife viewing is also a treat. In the early evenings mule deer make the rounds of the campground and will fearlessly approach to see if you will offer them a handout. It is illegal to feed any wildlife in the park so please don’t do it. A ringtail (often referred to as a cat but actually a member of the raccoon family) silently made his way by our campsite early one night. Skunks and raccoons frequently check the dumpsters. Javelinas (pig-like animals) hurry though in large packs, young in tow to see what they can forage. We observed a family of the elusive Montezuma Quail scurry across the road one afternoon, the young bouncing along after the adults like ping pong balls. Jackrabbits may be spotted sprinting through open areas. After a hard rain the red velvet mite emerged in numbers from it’s underground tube to hunt for insects only to disappear as the rain moved out. Campsites are full hook-ups, water and electric or water only. There is a 4 mile (minimum) hike -in camping area offering primitive tent sites. Access to this area is up a mountain with an 800 ft elevation change. Primitive equestrian sites are also available with 10 miles of back country hiking trails to explore. An interpretive center is open daily from 2P-4P and an amphitheater offers programs on the weekends. The 27 sites with electric, water and sewer are divided into two loops. Sites #1-16 are situated on a level loop while #17-27 are on a hillside loop. Most of the sites have shade, a covered picnic table and a fire ring. We stayed in site #14 which was large and fairly level. On this loop sites #11-16 face a hillside while #1-11 partially face another camping loop. On the hillside loop site #22 looks nice and level and faces a trail Most of the 34 water and electric sites offer some shade. A few are large enough for a trailer but most are better suited for tents or pop-up trailers. There are also 33 water only sites for tent camping. This is a popular park in the summer so be sure to make a reservation in advance. Warning! Do not leave your pets unattended as the javelinas have been known to attack and on occasion kill dogs or cats. The Indian Lodge, an historic Pueblo Style full service hotel built by the CCC between 1933-1935 is in the park. In the area is the Fort Davis National Historic Site, one of our country’s best preserved frontier forts. 13 miles west of the park is the University of Texas McDonald Observatory one of the major astronomical research facilities in the world. It is open daily and offers solar viewings, guided tours and star parties. The nearby Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center hosts botanical gardens, a greenhouse, gift shop and hiking trails. And finally, a 74-mile scenic loop (State Hwy’s 118 and 166) winds through grassland basins, canyons and woodlands of the Davis Mountains dotted with pine, juniper and oak. Interesting Fact: The Davis Mountains are named after Jefferson Davis, U.S. Secretary of War and later President of the Confederacy.

We have left Petrified Forest National Park

joanie7 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:25:01 +0000

A photo gallery of Petrified Forest and Painted Desert including the Wilderness Area will be posted soon. We are back in Texas, currently at Davis Mountains State Park in West Texas. We will be posting on this state park as … Continue reading → Related posts:

Back Country Camping Petrified Forest National Park

joanie7 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:16:41 +0000

There are no campgrounds in Petrified Forest National Park. If you want to camp in the back country wilderness you must obtain a free permit (for up to 14 days) at Painted Desert Visitor Center, Painted Desert Inn or Rainbow Forest Museum at least one hour before the park closes. At the north side of the park the entrance to the 43,000 acres of wilderness area is at Kachina Point adjacent to the Painted Desert Inn. 300 ft of steep switch back trail will take you to the desert floor. You may set up camp once you have crossed the Lithodendrom Wash approximately one mile in a westerly direction. On the south side of the park the wilderness area is located at mile marker 24 known as The Flats. Head west into the 7,000 acres for at least one mile before you set up camp. You must pack in everything you need and pack it all out. There is no water in the wilderness areas. Carry all the water you will need. Recommended is one gallon per person per day.

Lake Arrowhead State Park

joanie7 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:23:15 +0000

Lake Arrowhead State Park in Clay County is just 18 miles south of Wichita Falls, Texas. At 524 acres this is a small park on a very large (16,200 acres) reservoir with 106 miles of shoreline. Fishermen are drawn to the large abandoned steel oil derricks that dot the lake and yield the fish. Lake Arrowhead State Park participates in “Loan A Tackle Program” where the park lends fishing tackle to the visitors. A Kids Fishing Contest and an Adult Rough Fish Contest are held in June. Check the park calendar for current schedule. When not fishing there are 5 miles of mostly flat and grassy trails shared by hikers and equestrians to enjoy. If you bring your horse there are 4 equestrian campsites. 48 campsites with water and electric as well as 19 sites with water only are spacious and partially shaded. We stopped at this park on our way home from Utah in the summer of 2008. Close to Hwy 287 it is a welcome respite from the roadside highway campgrounds. Tip: Lake Arrowhead State Park is home to an active black-tailed prairie dog “town.”

Guadalupe River State Park

joanie7 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:02:01 +0000

Visit our Guadalupe River State Park Photo Gallery

All of the Texas Hill Country State Parks are great family destinations and the Guadalupe River State Park (1938.7 acres) in Spring Branch Texas is no exception. Located on 4 miles of one of the most picturesque sections of the Guadalupe River high limestone bluffs and giant bald cypress line the spring fed river as it winds through the park. Natural rapids flow into tranquil swimming spots before disappearing around the bend. Tubes may be rented in the parking lot of the day use area before you venture the two miles down to the river. Claim a riverside picnic table (shady ones go first) and watch as the tubers and paddlers put in to begin or take out to finish their float trips. Fishing is popular as well as a 5.3 mile multi-use trail for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians although you may not camp with your horse overnight. Bird watching and nature study are popular past times. A 3 mile hiking trail paralleling the river is enjoyable and will connect you to the campground located high above the river in case of flash flooding. The campground offers 40 electric and water multi use sites, 37 tent sites with water only and 9 walk in primitive tent camping sites (not more than 100 yds) with water in the area. Summer is hot and shade is at a premium in the water and electric sites. The water only tent sites have some shade and are isolated and quiet. This park has a spacious feel and offers lots of family activities. It is located only 30 miles north of downtown San Antonio and is crowded in summer and on weekends. You should definitely make reservations. Tip: The Honey Creek State Natural Area is at the entrance to the park. It is open by guided ranger tour only Saturdays at 9A.M. Call to reserve your spot.

Pedernales Falls State Park, Johnson City Texas

joanie7 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:40:26 +0000

Visit our Pedernales Falls State Park Photo Gallery

Pedernales Falls State Park in Blanco County is a great Texas Hill Country family destination. Just 35 miles West of Austin Texas it truly feels a world away. The park at 5,211.7 acres is spacious and spread out along the banks of the Pedernales River. The main attraction at Pedernales Falls State Park is Pedernales Falls. The river eroded through the rock canyon and drops 50 feet over a distance of 300 feet through the layered limestone. This area is set on the southwest flank of the Llano uplift (see Inks Lake State Park) The falls backdropped by sweeping hills can be viewed from a scenic overlook at the North end of the park. If you want to float the river or tube head to the parking lot 3 miles down the river. Steep stone steps and a 1/4 mile walk will take you to the swimming area. Be careful as you wade on the slick river bottom stone. Try your luck fishing for catfish after a river rise. And if you do see the river start to rise leave the area for higher ground immediately. Flash floods, swift and fierce are common in Hill Country. When you are done playing in the water there is plenty of hiking and wildlife viewing to keep you busy. Pedernales Falls State Park boasts 19.8 miles of tree shaded hiking and mountain biking trails, 10 miles of equestrian trails (you cannot keep your horse in the park overnight) and 14 miles of backpacking trails. Typical wildlife frequenting the park include white-tailed deer and coyotes. 150 species of birds have been identified in the park and of these 1/3 are permanent residents. A covered bird blind for viewing and photography is popular especially during the morning feedings. In the Spring the endangered golden-cheeked warbler nests in the park. Camping choices include remote back-pack or mountain bike in (2 1/2 miles) sites or 69 spacious water and electric sites with some privacy but very little shade.

Visit our Pedernales Falls State Park Photo Gallery

Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Texas

joanie7 — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:53:24 +0000

Visit our Inks Lake State Park Photo Gallery

Inks Lake State Park is a pleasant family oriented park in Burnet County just 60 miles north of Austin, Texas. This scenic 1201 acre park in Texas Hill Country is part of the Highland Lakes Chain (consisting of 7 lakes) on the Colorado River. Located on pink granite outcroppings of the Llano uplift, geology hikes are offered through the billions of years old granite hills. Hiking is also popular to the Devils Waterhole where swimmers jump off the cliffs into the cool clear water. Alternately you may join a canoe tour out to Devil’s Waterhole or rent a canoe or kayak at the Texas State Park Store and head out on to the 803 acre lake yourself. If you rent for 24 hours you may keep the canoe or kayak overnite at your campsite. Other activities include boating, water skiing and sailing on the lake, fishing from one of two lighted piers or ‘Fishing with a Ranger’ (2-3 times a week) also golfing on the 9 hole course operated by Highland Lakes Golf Club. Tee times are 1st come 1st serve. The golf course is located on park property with 6 of the holes lakeside, the entrance is outside the park. 7 1/2 miles of hiking trails for all skill levels include lakeside cliffs and hilltop trails. You will see many white-tail deer, wild turkeys and possibly armadillos and foxes. In Spring the area is blanketed with wildflowers including the Texas State Flower the Bluebonnet. In winter bird watchers keep a sharp eye out for bald eagles. Campsites at Inks Lake State Park consist of 9 primitive back-pack in 1.5 miles sites (no water, pit toilet on trail), 10 walk-in sites with water and electricity, 50 water only sites and 137 water and electric sites. Like Tyler State Park in East Texas, Inks Lake State Park In Hill Country is a wonderful park for families. Kids have a great time here with all the other kids and all of the activities. Also like Tyler State Park, Inks Lake State Park is popular and can be crowded. Be sure to make reservations. We loved the natural setting and scenic beauty of this park however please note the camp sites are set close together and will afford little privacy. There is very little shade so if you are camping in the hot Texas summer be sure to bring your own in the form of golf or beach umbrellas or a screen shelter.

Visit our Inks Lake State Park Photo Gallery