Family Trip to BIBE

[randell]

I have decided that since I have not been to Big Bend in a year, it is time to go.  I really do miss the place.  I proposed a family trip to my wife gave the ok for a late October trip. 

In trying to do things the kids will enjoy, I came up with the following:

Boquillas Canyon (short hike, sand pile, river banks to play on)
Hot Springs (short hike, water to play IN)
Camp at Terlingua Abajo and/or K-Bar and/or Croton
Visit the Basin for the exciting drive
Check out the Tuff
Santa Elena Canyon (short hike, awesome canyon, river bank to play on)
Burro Mesa Pouroff
Balmorhea (never been, water to play in)

I was contemplating getting a guide service to go through a half or one day tour but I really don't want to have to add all that extra driving to Terlingua/Lajitas.  The thought occurred to me that we could take our own canoe and not have to worry about being on the guide service schedule (and it would be MUCH cheaper).  If I did this I was thinking about just putting in at the Santa Elena Canyon river access near Cottonwood campground and going upstream for a few miles.  Of course, this would depend on river levels but from what I understand if the flow is under 7 feet/mile, the upstream paddle would be easy going.  If I understand this correctly, this means I can check here and if the average is at or below 7 Gauge height, feet, we can look forward to a pleasant paddle (correct me if I am wrong).

Advice?  Suggestions? 

[SHANEA]

Advice? Suggestions?

Canoeing sounds awesome.  However, just make sure...

Children: Beginning June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.

  http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_sa.html or get them a passport.  http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

[SHANEA]

Balmorhea - they do have nice/neat motel type rooms to rent there - I imagine they fill up quick.  Actually, the entire park generally fills up quickly.  It's a nice "rest stop" between El Paso and Houston.  Snorkle, mask, fins are a definite plus  - not much fun w/o them.  Scuba tank to blow bubbles would be good too.  Take plenty of bread to feed the fish.

[randell]

Balmorhea - they do have nice/neat motel type rooms to rent there - I imagine they fill up quick.  Actually, the entire park generally fills up quickly.  It's a nice "rest stop" between El Paso and Houston.  Snorkle, mask, fins are a definite plus  - not much fun w/o them.  Scuba tank to blow bubbles would be good too.  Take plenty of bread to feed the fish.

Good call.  I probably would have forgotten the snorkle, mask, and fins.

[oldfatman]

It has been nearly two years, but if the Mexican restaurant in Balmorhea is still there it was really good food.  Heading into town from the state park, it was on the right just after you get into town.  It was in an old house about a block from the main street.

[Goldilocks]

Your sons might want to  work on their Jr. Ranger badges. That could be fun. You might also check out the ranger programs for that week. A picnic at Dugout Wells with a walk on the nature trail is fun and he can learn to identify lots of the different plants there. It is also fun to keep a list of all the different animals and birds you see during the trip. The book "Who Pooped in the Park" is also a lot of fun, especially for boys. They can identify all the different kinds of scat they see.  Have a great time!

[fartymarty]

Good call.  I probably would have forgotten the snorkel, mask, and fins.

Ahhh....now comes the dilemma: When you do the obligatory family group photo of the mass John Travolta pose, is everybody wearing "fine hats", or snorkles masks and fins?.....or maybe all four? 

[SHANEA]

Balmorhea (never been, water to play in)

and of course no trip to Balmorhea is complete w/o the obligatory stop at Fort Davis AND high atop Mt. Locke is the McDonald Observatory - can you say STAR PARTY!   

[randell]

Balmorhea (never been, water to play in)

and of course no trip to Balmorhea is complete w/o the obligatory stop at Fort Davis AND high atop Mt. Locke is the McDonald Observatory - can you say STAR PARTY!   

We attended a star party in 2006 and our kids were too young.  We spent all of our time chasing them around trying to keep them from knocking the telescopes down.  They may be a little more mature now but I don't think they will be ready for another star party until they are 7 or 8.   Good idea, though.

[Sotol Vista]

anybody know if the steps to Santa Elena Canyon have been repaired yet? When we were there in October they had been destroyed by the flood.

Randell, you may want to check into this, would hate for you to get over there an not be able to go back into the canyon

James

[SHANEA]

Good idea, though.

and they have a new program too - Lunar Viewing Program

[mcarlini]

anybody know if the steps to Santa Elena Canyon have been repaired yet? When we were there in October they had been destroyed by the flood.

Randell, you may want to check into this, would hate for you to get over there an not be able to go back into the canyon

James

I was out there in February and was able to hike the canyon without a problem, had to hop over the creek a bit, but the trail was open and lots of folks were out.

[mountaindocdanny]

Randell,

We took the 6, 5, and 4 year old to a star party at the observatory this summer and they had a great time. I was nervous with the telescopes, but they behaved like champs and were very careful. We left a little early, around 11:15, but had a lot of fun.

-Danny

[randell]

Well, the water was too high to canoe so we just winged it. Here is a summary video.

Smaller version

[Al]