Going again

[OldJeepr]

Planning for a trip to BB during parts of the last two weeks in April, and we're looking for some suggestions/ideas.  We've been out there several times over the years, and really enjoy the park.  Now, we're both past 70, so a lot of the things we used to do are in the 'remember when' category.  We'll 'rough it' at the Lodge in the Basin, that's a given.  The old bones and sleeping on the ground, for us, is not an option.  And after almost 50 years of cooking for me, eating out is a big part of her vacation.  We're thinking about some short day hikes.  We did Pine Canyon and the Window last year, and that's about the outer limit for our durability.  Of course, I'll hit some of the backroads in the Jeep again, and she'll ride along if it's not too rough.  (I love Old Ore and Black Gap - she'll find something else to do then.)  I'm just drawing kind of a blank on where we might want to / be able to go.
Thoughts so far:  Grapevine to the balanced rock - a place we've never been.  Mariscal Mine via Glenn Springs Road (she's never been there).  Wondering about Cattail Falls from near Sam Nail site.  Maybe Lost Mine?  What about Terlingua Abaja?   

[Tars Tarkas]

Thoughts so far:  Grapevine to the balanced rock - a place we've never been.  Mariscal Mine via Glenn Springs Road (she's never been there).  Wondering about Cattail Falls from near Sam Nail site.  Maybe Lost Mine?  What about Terlingua Abaja?   

  Mariscal Mine is well worth the trip.  Terlingua Abaja is fun to explore.  I'd suggest River Road in the park for an all day road trip.  We drive a good bit too.  Lajitas to Presidio outside the park is a great day trip too.  Easy enough to get to Presidio in time for lunch, then double back, or make Alpine and/or Marfa part of the trip.  Boquillas and Santa Elena Canyon hikes are pretty easy and requisite trips if you haven't done them already.  And Hot Springs... just off the top of my head.

  TT

[Sotol Vista]

I found a neat little canyon in January, its easy walking in a dry wash, and its not too far back in there, less than  1/2 mile. you probably won be able to make it past here as i had to climb up and around the water, now, if you dont mind getting wet you could walk right through it. It appeared to be almost knee deep in some areas. I dont know how easy it would be to get stuck in the wet sand/mud.



James

[Sotol Vista]

I just measured the distance on a map to where it is. Its about 2.7 miles past the Mule Ears view point turn off. If you get to Tuff Canyon, you went way to far.
the wash is on the left hand side of the road, you will park on the right hand side of the road. The wash does not look very interesting at all until you get round the first corner.

James

[Robert]

We must have walked right by your canyon a couple of years ago. There is a pullout just before where the wash crosses the road and we had cached food and water there for our trip. From there we walked over to Blue Creek and over to Bee Spring. But I never really even noticed much about the wash. Good catch.

[jim2]

ward spring is a good hike. relatively flat until you get right to the dike, the spring is in a thicket.  a five foot crawl will get you to where you can stand , the spring is right under a large evergreen sumac. cattail falls is a good one to, you begin in the lower desert ,climb into the sotol grasslands, and end in moist canyon. in the canyon itself maples, ferns and columbines all occur. three well defined ecosystems in one hike. grapevine hills is easy also, until  the very end.  to  get to the balanced rock there is a short steep part.  if you can do pine canyon you can do grapevine. burro spring is another good  hike, particularly in the afternoon , with the setting sun on burro mesa.

[jim2]

dripping spring is a pretty easy desert hike. i camped at pg4 and hiked from there, but you park in the gap opposite pg4 there is a small space, or drive the very rocky road beyond the campsite. the spring was a small waterfall the day i saw it, covered in ferns. a waterfall in the desert !

[OldJeepr]

Thanks folks - these are the kind of ideas I was hoping for.  As I mentioned before, we've been to the park several times over the years, but many of the places you have mentioned were overlooked.  We'll probably be putting some Spring in our steps (Dripping, Ward, Burro) and looking for that unknown canyon.  The Chimneys is probably out - we made an aborted try at that once - daughter got sick about half way and I ended up carrying her out, and I suspect it may be a little to hot to try this time.  Grapevine and Cattail are still on the list, as is Mariscal.  Planning is part of the fun, but we still like to wing it some, so having more options to choose from is great.  If you give us more things to see than we can get to, it's a great excuse for another trip.

[OldJeepr]

   Definitely the Mine.  Wouldn't want to put the NPS folks through a SAR to haul my carcass off the Rim.

[Homer67]

Oh man, bring on Mariscal/Cross Canyon!

[Burn Ban]

anyone mention 'indian head?' it is pretty 'easy' and 'totally awesome'

[chisos muse]

anyone mention 'indian head?' it is pretty 'easy' and 'totally awesome'

I agree! "Indian Head" is an "easy" drive with only a few "washboard" areas in the road. You will find many "kindred spirits" of the past to keep you "company" during your stroll amongst the "ancient kitchens" and common areas of the "inhabitants of yesterday".
A "true gem" indeed....

[OldJeepr]

Been doing some searches on Indian Head, and it is definitely on the list.  I'll be asking some questions in El Salon.