First time visitor to Big Bend with kids - suggestions, please

[ryancb]

My family and I are visiting BBNP for the first time next week, coming from Schertz, staying two nights in the Chisos Mountain Lodge. I would love some recommendations on hikes, drives, etc.

We will have our kids with us - 5 and 3 years old. We've taken them hiking many times, but we're not looking to take on any of the longer, strenuous hikes (we save those for when it's just the adults); we simply want to focus on having fun and being out in the natural, remote beauty I've heard so much about.

Here are a list of things I'm considering:

Hikes
The Window Trail
Chisos Basin loop
Boquillas Canyon
Santa Elena (or at least driving to the overlook and bumming around)

Drives
Dagger Yucca drive on the way into the park
Ross Maxwell scenic drive
170 out of the park

We're also heading to the Davis Mountains for two nights after our BBNP stay, so if anyone has suggestions for that area, they are certainly welcomed.

Thanks!
Ryan

[wclavey]

Thinking about doing this with kids, I would suggest a few things that they might like... on the Ross Maxwell, make sure you do the turn-offs for Castelon (visit the general store & see the old steam pump), Sotol Vista, Mule Ears, and a few of the other places I may just otherwise drive past.  They should enjoy those.  Get the 5-yr old a disposable film camera and let him/her take point & shoot pictures at all these places - - they will love it when they get the pictures back.  Go all the way down to Santa Elena canyon, park and walk out through the river reeds to the river itself.  It was very low (2 months ago) and they would probably enjoy actually walking on the river bed.  The walk to and around the Sam Nail ranch could be fun for them - - the vegetation will be way over their heads but the path is easy and they can go right up to the old adobe walls.  Likewise, visiting Dugout Wells and seeing the windmill would be nice.  If you have time, a trip to the Terlingua Ghost Town and all the old adobe buildings and the general store there are fun for all ages.  They should like the story about the goat who was mayor...

In Ft. Davis, I think they would probably enjoy a visit to the actual historic fort - - you could probably spend a few hours there with them walking around.  They might be too young to visit the Observatory but you can save that for your next trip in a few years.  I'm not sure what else I would recommend for little kids in Ft Davis.  The scenic drive around Ft Davis is quite nice, but it takes a few hours...

[catz]

The Window Trail may be a bit strenuous for a 3 year old.  It's 4, maybe 5, miles round trip from the lodge area and the way back is all uphill.

Regardless, take them to Grapevine Hills and the Balanced Rock.  It's an easy, level hike, about 3 miles out and back from the parking area.  The Balanced Rock is an iconic part of the Park.

You should at least consider the Lost Mine Trail.  Probably not all the way to the end but at least to the overlook into Juniper Canyon (about a mile and a half from the start).   

Stop at the Homer Wilson Ranch overlook and then go down to it.  The Ranch house itself is interesting and you can also go a short distance on the Blue Creek trail, through the red rocks (two miles round trip from the Ranch).  As you approach the Ranch house from the road, the Blue Creek Trail goes to the left.

You can hunt for pictographs and petroglyphs at the far western side of the park (you actually have to go into Study Butte to get to the trailhead).

 

[steelfrog]

I am a little nutty, perhaps (6 kids--took a 3 y.o. a couple years ago up Hunter Peak and down via Bear Canyon; have taken a 6 y.o. up Casa Grande and will take my 5 y.o. and 7 y.o. up it this spring--just took 7 y.o. around the whole Rim last weekend), but I think Lost Mine Trail all the way to the top would be great for them; just budget most of the day, get a good breakfast and take plenty of snacks; the LMT has a fun interpretive guide all the way tot he top--there are about 25 little wooden markers with a little book you can get at the trailhead that has associated information; kids have fun finding the markers; the trail is about 2.5 miles to the top but once at the top you MUST continue straight along the ridge to the end; some of the best views in the park and you won't regret it.

Window trail also good--3 miles RT from the campground; just be prepared for the 800' vertical on the way back up.

Grapevine hills is a great suggestion.

Burro Mesa Pouroff from the Ross Maxwell drive has some fun rocks for them to climb around on

Fun to hike out at least part of the way to Mule Ears

Boquillas Canyon for kids is much better than Santa Elena--a lot more to do; also do the hot springs while you are down there.

Get Laurence Parent's book and also get a Trails Illustrated map to the park

PM me if you want me e-mail address and we can correspond by e-mail

[Raoul Duke]

If you go to Boquillas Canyon, your kids will love playing in the huge sand slide that flows down from the cliff about 1/4 mile into the canyon.  Bring cardboard so they can slide!

[ryancb]

Thanks, everyone, for the rapid feedback! Love all the recommendations.

I hadn't considered it for some reason, but I'm really liking the idea of the Lost Mine Trail...especially after seeing some professional photographs of the hike. Wow. We'll have a backpack to carry the 3 year old if she gets tired; I'm not terribly concerned with the 5 year old's stamina (he took a hiking pole and went all the way up Enchanted Rock a couple of years ago with us behind him, never once asking for help).  I'm also favoring the Grapevine suggestion...I think the kids will love that one.

I've got the Laurence Parent book, as well as Enjoying Big Bend National Park: http://www.amazon.com/Enjoying-Big-Bend-National-Park/dp/1603441018. Also planning on getting the Trails Illustrated map (which I'm assuming are much more beneficial than any of the park maps).

Any other suggestions are certainly welcome!  Can't wait...only three more days...