Big Bend Campsites in August

[slack]

A group of friends are planning on taking a trip to big bend state park in august.  This is all of our first trip there and were looking for some suggestions on where to camp and also where we could do some good mountain biking.  Any suggestions would be helpful.

[oldfatman]

Bring more tube patches you do not have enough.    There are roads all over the place to enjoy and provide nice spots to add more patches to your tube.

[TheWildWestGuy]

I think your nuts to think you can do "good mtn biking" in Big Bend in August.
You would be best leaving the bikes at home and bringing hiking/backpacking gear instead.  At least that way you could be up in the Mtn's where it's relatively cooler.   Please understand the Park in August commonly gets over 100 degree's and bikes are only allowed on the dirt roads (not on trails) and the dirt roads are very rocky and rough.  Throw in a few flats from cactus spines and you have a bad experience for everyone.  Big Bend is a great park but not a great place to Mtn Bike.  If you want to get off paved roads you have a few options:  River Road East or West,  Old Ore Road, Paint Gap Road, Maverick Road, and a few shorter routes but none of them are loop rides and all will be very hot (dangerously so) and probably sparsely travelled.  They have already found 3 bodies in the desert this year... TWWG

[RichardM]

I think your nuts to think you can do "good mtn biking" in Big Bend in August.
You would be best leaving the bikes at home and bringing hiking/backpacking gear instead.  At least that way you could be up in the Mtn's where it's relatively cooler.   Please understand the Park in August commonly gets over 100 degree's and bikes are only allowed on the dirt roads (not on trails) and the dirt roads are very rocky and rough.  Throw in a few flats from cactus spines and you have a bad experience for everyone.  Big Bend is a great park but not a great place to Mtn Bike.  If you want to get off paved roads you have a few options:  River Road East or West,  Old Ore Road, Paint Gap Road, Maverick Road, and a few shorter routes but none of them are loop rides and all will be very hot (dangerously so) and probably sparsely travelled.  They have already found 3 bodies in the desert this year... TWWG

Of course, the Big Bend Ranch State Park has more mountain biking opportunities than the National Park, but I'd still concur that August might not be the best time of year for that activity. I'd suggest contacting the staff at the state park and asking for their recommendations.

[RedBuffalo]

If August is the only time of year you can go and if you are set on mountain biking I would suggest riding out to Ernst Tinaja.  As mentioned, it will be a "crazy rough" desert ride and you'll need lots of water.  I'm assuming you guys have Camelbacks so you should be in good shape.  I think it's about 5 miles out on the Old Ore Road.  I do say that the ranch may be worth looking in to since they have more established. mountain bike trails.

Enjoy!

skd

[dkerr24]

If August is the only time you can go, wouldn't the mountains in New Mexico be a more enjoyable experience?   I can't imagine roasting in that desert sun in August on a mountain bike.

[BigBendHiker]

TWWG is spot on.

BIBE is brutally hot along the river and the high desert during July and August.  Absolutely brutal.  We have been to BIBE several times in July and August.  We limit our desert and river visits to the early morning hours...and are usually off those trails by 11AM at the latest as the heat really builds after that.

The high Chisos are another story - very comfortable, even in August. Daytime highs can reach the upper 80's or low 90's, but it does cool down into the 70's or 60's, so it is comfortable.  As a result, the hiking, backpacking and camping in the Chisos are very comfortable, even in the summer.  The chance of rainfall picks up during the summer.  We have had a couple of trips out there during the summer when we encountered rain, but it was over quickly.

One of the main advantages to visiting BIBE in the summer is that the park is very empty.  So, you would find good availability on the campsites in the basin, I would think...



BBH

[Picacho]

Check out the Desert Sports website for Big Bend mountain biking.  Sure it is hot in August, but if you get up early in the morning it should be bearable as the desert cools off fairly nicely at night.