| Big Bend, Texas |
 Trail Name:Lost Mine Summary: |
| Highly Recommended One Day Hike |
| Trail Description |
| At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert, this huge, remote National Park is named after the bend in the Rio Grande that marks its southern boundary and border with Mexico. But Big Bend is not just about arid desert and cactus country, or even the river and its limestone gorges. Rising from the scorching lowlands are the cooler, forested slopes and dramatic canyons of the rugged Chisos Mountains, home to the Park’s finest hiking trails.
From the parking area at Panther Pass, the trail steadily ascends through pinyon, juniper and oak forest along the lower slopes of Casa Grande, with its distinctive, castle-like summit. There are wonderful views down Green Gulch along the way. After 1 mile, you reach the head of Juniper Canyon, where an overlook has an impressive view of the wooded canyon to the south and Pulliam Bluff to the north-west. The trail now switchbacks more steeply for another mile, before cresting the ridge between Pine Canyon to the east and Juniper Canyon below to the south-west. The ridge is followed for 0.4 mile to a promontory at 6,850 ft, which has panoramic views all around – some of the best in the Park. It is tempting to linger here for a while to soak in the views, but you will need to descend quickly from this high-point in the event of a thunderstorm. Rising above the promontory at the trail end is Lost Mine Peak. According to a Spanish legend, on Easter Sunday the rays of the rising sun strike the peak at the exact location of a rich silver mine. For another perspective on the Chisos Mountains, head to The Window. This trail descends into Oak Creek Canyon and leads to a distinctive cleft in the high cliffs that surround the Basin. On the return there are classic views of Casa Grande, particularly good in the late afternoon. Starting from the Chisos Basin Trailhead near the Lodge, distance is 5.2 miles/8.3 km out and back, elevation change -800 ft/244 m (climbs on return). It is also possible to pick up the trail at Chisos Campground, which reduces the total distance to 4 miles/6.4 km. |
| FACT FILE |
| Location: Big Bend National Park, south-west Texas. Entrance fee charged.
Directions: Hwy 118 from Alpine to the west entrance, US 385 from Marathon to the north entrance. The Park HQ and main visitor center are at Panther Junction, in the center of the Park, at the intersection of these two roads – 29 miles south of the north entrance and 22 miles east of the west entrance. Trailhead: Parking area at Panther Pass. At Basin Junction, 3 miles west of Panther Junction along Hwy 118, turn south onto a 7-mile paved road that climbs up the large canyon of Green Gulch to 5,679-ft Panther Pass before dropping down to the Chisos Basin (not recommended to RVs over 24 ft). Length: 4.8 miles / 7.7 km Trail Type: Out and back Elevation Change: 1,171 ft / 357 m Duration: 3 hours Trail Condition: Clear and well-maintained. Features: Canyon views, rock formations, flora and fauna. Climate: Best in early spring, late autumn and winter. Hottest months are usually May and June, with summer thunderstorms until October. Accommodation: Chisos Mountains Lodge in the Basin has motel units and stone cottages (reservations essential well in advance). The Basin also has the most convenient campground to the trailhead (first-come, first-served). The closest motels outside the Park are about 3 miles beyond the west entrance. Trail Notes: Trail maps and self-guiding booklet available at the visitor center. Take plenty of water. |
Popularity: 13% [?]
