On a recent road trip to west Texas, we made it a priority to visit Big Bend National Park. You can read my post about the entire trip here. Big Bend has been on our bucket list for a long time, having heard about its breathtaking landscapes and endless natural beauty. Humans have inhabited Big Bend since as early as 10,000 B.C. It’s simply incredible to me and we couldn’t wait to visit. Since we had our two dogs with us, I figured out how to safely visit the park and follow all the rules, and I put together these tips for visiting Big Bend National Park with your dog so that you can too!
Dogs are not allowed on hiking trails, but they can go wherever your vehicle goes. We chose to spend a day traveling through the park, stopping at various overlooks, and not attempting any hiking (we will save that for a future trip).
Planning Your Day
Visiting Big Bend National Park with your dog can easily take a full day or longer. We entered the park from the north end as we came from Marathon (get the park road map here). We followed the park road down to the Chisos Basin, where we stopped for drinks. There’s a visitor’s center there with convenience store provisions and a gift shop. Make sure to check the Big Bend website for any COVID closures. The center was open on our trip with limited entry and social distancing being strictly enforced.
All along the park road there are places to pull over, get out, and take photos. It was nice to be able to take our time and get out of the car periodically. It’s a HUGE park, so you’ll want to stretch your legs often.
Boots | Vest | Flannel (it was chilly to mild in late November 2020)
From the Chisos Basin, we drove down to the Santa Elena Canyon overlook. This was our ultimate goal. I don’t think you can come to Big Bend National Park and not see Santa Elena Canyon. It’s impressive! Bella and Lola loved hanging their heads out the truck windows and getting all the smells along the way.
Picnic at Santa Elena Canyon Overlook
If you’re traveling with your dog, this is the perfect spot to stop for a picnic lunch. If you arrive at Big Bend in the morning, you’ll make it to this overlook by lunch time. We weren’t in a big rush and were eating lunch by about 1:00 in the afternoon.
There’s a spacious parking area where you’ll see other people picnicking from their vehicles or at the picnic tables. We brought two camp chairs and ate our lunch in the flat area behind the parking spaces. It was actually really perfect. The views are outstanding and the dogs could get out of the car and enjoy some fresh air, too. You’ll see a lot of dog owners here and it’s a great place to get some photos.
We exited the park on the Terlingua side to see the Ghost Town. My previous post here has more info on that. It was a FULL day, but completely worth it. I just couldn’t believe that a place like Big Bend exists in Texas. It’s truly like the landscape of another planet. I’d like to return in the spring to see all of the cactus in bloom, but winter is also a great time to visit. Since it was a holiday week (Thanksgiving), the park was busier but still didn’t feel crowded. I was able to snap all the photos I wanted without feeling rushed.
What To Bring
Don’t forget enough water for yourself AND your dogs.
Bring waste baggies for your dogs and always remember to pick up after them!
Pack snacks (for you and your dogs)!
Bring a picnic lunch!
Chairs! We could have just sat on the back of our truck for our picnic but having a couple of comfortable camp chairs made it much better.
The moral of the story is that YES, it is possible to visit Big Bend with your dog. You just have to plan accordingly. I’m so glad we brought our two girls with us. It made the experience that much more special.
Have you been to Big Bend National Park?
Thank you so much for reading my blog this year! It means the world to me! I love what I do and getting to share it with you is such a joy.
xo – Erin
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Tips For Visiting Big Bend National Park With Your Dog appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com. If you see this content published anywhere else, please email cathedralsandcafes@gmail.com.
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