APRIL 10 first time to BIBE

[Juke Box Hero]

First post ever.  I am from the DFW area, but on April 10, I am leaving for my first trip to Big Bend.  Here's my itinerary...

4/10 - Drive to DMSP.  Go to Star Party that night.
4/11 - Go on Observatory tour.  Another night at DMSP.
4/12 - drive down to BB from DMSP.  Set up camp at Basin.  Do Window trail.  Sunset at Window View.
4/13 - West side...Cattail Falls, Castolon, St. Elena canyon.  Dinner in Terlingua.  Back to Sotol Vista for sunset.
4/14 - Lost Mine trail in the a.m., then east side...Boquillas canyon, RGV, Hot Springs.  Sunset at RGV nature trail.
4/15 - break camp.  Drive home.

Anything unreasonable here?  Missing any must-do's for a 3-day-er?

[catz]

First post ever.  I am from the DFW area, but on April 10, I am leaving for my first trip to Big Bend.  Here's my itinerary...

4/10 - Drive to DMSP.  Go to Star Party that night.
4/11 - Go on Observatory tour.  Another night at DMSP.
4/12 - drive down to BB from DMSP.  Set up camp at Basin.  Do Window trail.  Sunset at Window View.
4/13 - West side...Cattail Falls, Castolon, St. Elena canyon.  Dinner in Terlingua.  Back to Sotol Vista for sunset.
4/14 - Lost Mine trail in the a.m., then east side...Boquillas canyon, RGV, Hot Springs.  Sunset at RGV nature trail.
4/15 - break camp.  Drive home.

Anything unreasonable here?  Missing any must-do's for a 3-day-er?

Yes--you have to allow a day to hike to the South Rim.  I would do that instead of what you currently show for the 14th, except you can still fit in the Hot Springs after getting back from the South Rim (and you'll appreciate the Springs even more after doing the long hike to the Rim).

[sleepy]

I think South Rim may still be closed for peregrine falcon nesting at that time.  check me on that.

[ambersdad]

I think South Rim may still be closed for peregrine falcon nesting at that time.  check me on that.

According to everything I've read the NE and SE trails are closed from Feb 1 - May 31 for the falcon, but they don't close the SW Rim.  You can use Boot Canyon and the SW Rim for a loop.  That's what I have planned.

[mule ears]

I think South Rim may still be closed for peregrine falcon nesting at that time.  check me on that.

According to everything I've read the NE and SE trails are closed from Feb 1 - May 31 for the falcon, but they don't close the SW Rim.  You can use Boot Canyon and the SW Rim for a loop.  That's what I have planned.

You are correct, the NE Rim trail is even open from the Boot Canyon trail (down near Boot spring) to near NE4 campsite, but closed from there on around the SE Rim to the end of the Boot Canyon trail where it hits the SW Rim.

[Juke Box Hero]

First post ever. I am from the DFW area, but on April 10, I am leaving for my first trip to Big Bend. Here's my itinerary...

4/10 - Drive to DMSP. Go to Star Party that night.
4/11 - Go on Observatory tour. Another night at DMSP.
4/12 - drive down to BB from DMSP. Set up camp at Basin. Do Window trail. Sunset at Window View.
4/13 - West side...Cattail Falls, Castolon, St. Elena canyon. Dinner in Terlingua. Back to Sotol Vista for sunset.
4/14 - Lost Mine trail in the a.m., then east side...Boquillas canyon, RGV, Hot Springs. Sunset at RGV nature trail.
4/15 - break camp. Drive home.

Anything unreasonable here? Missing any must-do's for a 3-day-er?

Well, here's how it actually played out...

4/10 - Drive to DMSP.  Go to Star Party that night.  Exactly as planned.
4/11 - Go on Observatory tour.  Another night at DMSP.  Exactly as planned + hail storm.4/12 - drive down to BB from DMSP.  Set up camp at Basin.  Do Window trail.  Sunset at Window View.  No Window trail today.  T-storm instead.4/13 - West side...Cattail Falls, Castolon, St. Elena canyon.  Dinner in Terlingua.  Back to Sotol Vista for sunset.  Actually, I did all of this plus Window trail in the morning.
4/14 - Lost Mine trail in the a.m., then east side...Boquillas canyon, RGV, Hot Springs.  Sunset at RGV nature trail.  Instead of LM, I did Emory Peak.  Holy crap!  That's a long hike.  Went to east side in the afternoon, but it was stormy (HS road closed).  Got my 6 quarter shower though.4/15 - break camp.  Drive home.  Yep.