This was our first trip with the RTT mounted on the new truck, but not our first trip to Big Bend National Park in Texas. Last February we were here with our RTT on top of our Nissan Armada. That was our maiden Overlanding journey and it was the trip that made us want more. We are taking our new freedom in baby steps and the addition of the RCI truck bed rack works great for carrying our RTT and all the gear we need to be self reliant off-road. The next step is to do a small lift/level and replace the Goodyear AT tires with a set of Cooper AT3 XLT tires. But, we aren't waiting and have several trips planned for the remainder of this winter, spring and summer. We came back to Big Bend National Park because the weather was right for December and there is so much to see and explore here.
It will always be a great winter destination! Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park Map
It will always be a great winter destination! Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park Map
Tuff Canyon, a short fun hike that takes you down into a canyon that is full of volcanic rock and ash that reflects the violent past of the area. Get close to walls of ash with huge rock boulders enclosed and see various lava rock formations formed over millions of years. An amazing show of how the surrounding lands were formed!
Primitive Campsites at Big Bend National Park are first come first serve and are reserved on the day you arrive using a permit system. The price for a permit with our Senior Pass was $6 and that could be for 1 day or 14 days. We selected 7 campsites on that permit. Here are some of the campsites we used.
THE NIGHT SKY
IS BIG AND DARK HERE
The Big Bend National Park is considered a Dark Area and great for looking into the heavens. Each night was an experience with a full moon rising to shooting stars from a meteor shower going on at the time we were there. Before the moon comes up, the Milky Way is easy to watch moving across the sky. When the moon came up it illuminated canyons and mountains unseen before it's bright light reflected to the ground. Camping in these remote primitive campsites allows for very little light pollution and a new experience outdoors.
images from big bend ranch state park
Big Bend Ranch State Park lays next to the south-western edge of Big Bend National Park and is entered from Study Butte on Hwy 170. Just the drive on Hwy 170 is very scenic and a couple hikes on the south side are quick and fun, like Closed Canyon. There is RV camping in many areas along Hwy 170 and in the State Park right on the Rio Grande.
HANDS UP and HANDS OFF seen here are pre-historic hand prints of the people that lived here.
More pictograph art from the people that lived in the area a long time ago.