Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. On a bright and sunny day, if you start down to the river early in the morning, and don't start your return until late in the afternoon, you will be able to enjoy the play of light and shadow across this magnificent desert landscape to the full. Disclaimer: Some links, codes, or contact information contained either in the description box of my videos or within the videos may be affiliate links, meaning I will make a commission on purchases you make through my link. Chimneys Trail - Consider the Wonders To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. In this video, we highlight worthy stops along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park.SUBSCRIBE to our Channel to Get More RV Travel Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgpt8QoBulsvazRdyvWE7w?view_as=subscriber?sub_confirmation=1Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingOurDreamNowShop our favorite RV related products and accessories at our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/livingourdreamnowDisclaimer: Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. LivingOurDreamNow is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates/Amazon Influencer Programs, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees or commissions by advertising and linking to amazon.com. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We finished up with the Canyon drive because it was nearest our outlet back to Alpine. Most of the things to do fall within these regions, with a few outliers here and there. The dive is beautiful and it changes with the sun. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Highlight: Flat and scenic desert trail to rock formations and Indian petroglyphs. Driving the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend NP We entered the park from the west side Maverick Junction and were on our way to Chisos Basin so this drive is right on our way. There is one brief climb but its worth itthe views over the Rio Grande are breathtaking. We also saw quite a few mule deer. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Another option for extending your hike, is to head northwest 1.5 miles from the chimneys to the huge cottonwood tree that marks Red Ass Spring. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Note: This road is suitable for standard cars, however, an SUV or a vehicle with high ground clearance is ideal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Just after the road drops down from Sotol Vista, there are two places worth stopping. Santa Elena Canyon and Boquillas Canyon are some of the more popular paddle trips in Big Bend. Youll also see Mule Ears poking up over the horizon, as you drive north on Ross Maxwell Drive, a few miles south of here. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. At the end of the trail, you are standing at the base of Burro Mesa and the spot where the water pours off of the cliff during rainstorms. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We have 3 young children so we are thinking we need 2 days to see everything we want to see - where do you sleep there? Views are not as spectacular as when you are actually hiking these mountains, but if you don t like hiking, this is a good option. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Its short, its relatively easy, there is a brief section of rock scrambling that is fun for kids and adults, and it features one of the most unique rock formations in the park. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. The cliff walls, divided by the muddy Rio Grande, soar into the blue desert sky and are not to be missed. Instead of going back the same way, you could also go on the Old Maverick Road, a dirt road that runs between the Maverick Junction park entrance and Santa Elena Canyon. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The road is not terrible, but be careful. Be sure to stop and enjoy the views at Mule Ears Overlook, Sotol Vista Overlook, and Tuff Canyon along the way. You can see, Cell phone coverage is almost non-existent throughout Big Bend National Park, and for that matter, in the nearby towns (like Terlingua) as well. Take a short walk down to the river to see the canyon up close. Theres a ranger station and store here, but I passed by every time, and never drove into town to see what was there. This trail ends a spring, so it does not take you all of the way to the Mules Ears. You can also do some amazing stargazing at Big Bend National Park, known as one of the most outstanding places in North America to do it. 8 miles from Castolon there is a canyon overlook that offers a view down in the Rio Grande. Along the way you'll have several nice viewpoints. We spent the day in Big Bend and drove every paved road in the park. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks Golf Courses. Worth BBQ & Beer Food Tour, Tour to Lake Chapala, MAGIC TOWN of Ajijic from Guadalajara, The Petersens at The Little Opry Theatre in Branson. Visit the National Park Service website for more information about the drive and the hiking trails along the way. If you want to leave the crowds behind, your best bets are Ernst Tinaja, Balanced Rock, and Mule Ears Spring Trail. We stopped a lot. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. If you have limited time in the park and can only choose a few trails, More Information about Big Bend National Park & Texas, Read all of our articles about Texas in our. Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only indoor, non-camping option located on the park grounds. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Beautiful road, many places to stop and take a picture. (including Ross Canyon). Location The Chimneys Trailhead is located on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park. Loved it!!! However, if you plan to visit multiple national parks, it may make sense to purchase an America the Beautiful pass. It is about three miles to Castolon from there. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). (And you might want to rent a 4x4 if accessing every nook and cranny of the park is a must.). This is at no extra cost to you.Disclaimer: Our videos are for entertainment purposes only. Also the Willowtree Campground has end of the road has a grocery store and restrooms. We stopped along the way and took plenty of time photographing the scenery - especially the view across the Rio Grande (and the folks coming and going both ways across the river). Our favorite trail was the Santa Elena Canyon Trail. A flat tire out there could ruin your day. Distance: .75 mile round trip (1.2 kilometers), Trailhead: Begin at Tuff Canyon Overlook on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Distance: 1.6 miles round trip (2.6 kilometers), Trailhead: Begins atterminus of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, 8 miles west of Castolon. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive: 196 Reviews, Map - Texas | AllTrails It's named for Big Bend National Park's first superintendent and geologist who served from 1944-1952. We also have detailed guide on how to hike the McKittrick Canyon Trail to Pratt Cabin, the Grotto, and the Notch and the Permian Reef Trail is one of the most underrated hikes in the park. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. There are a couple of old ranch houses and sites along the road that are worth a short walk. Despite being mainly a route for an exciting car adventure, the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive offers many opportunities for a day full of short, fun hiking excursions through some of the park's most remote, dramatic scenery. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive This is a beautiful 30 mile drive in the western part of Big Bend National Park. These days, the national park is an outdoor adventure paradise with a distinct array of ecosystems, including a desert, mountain and river region. The cacti and assorted shrubs were just beautiful and many were bursting with blooms. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive 4.5 321 reviews #5 of 51 things to do in Big Bend National Park Scenic Drives Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying By paxa " A most scenic drive to an even more scenic trail " Oct 2022 At the end of it is the Santa Elena Canyon with an easy 1.6 mile out and back trail that's one of the highlights. A most scenic drive to an even more scenic trail. This is a standard paved National Park Service road with great scenic views of rocky vistas and pretty desert wildflowers. Your email address will not be published. This is one of the best hikes in Big Bend National Park. That turnoff is immediately followed by another one, the Sotol Vista Overlook, which overlooks the tail end of the Chisos Mountains. Bicycling Bicycling Lightly traveled roads and varied terrain make Big Bend a premier bicycling location. As mentioned, you can even visit Mexico at Boquillas Crossing (not open during the pandemic). However, roads are desolate, so be prepared if you're driving in the dark or in adverse weather conditions. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We didn't see any water even at the Rio Grande Overlook. We were here in a heat wave (hit 116!) However, as my friend said when drove along the river "Dang" because here you did not simply see the cliffs, you could feel them lording over you. There's a really neat old home in the middle that you can stop and visit. It's very scenic with several short hiking trails and overlooks along the way. Around the 15th mile, the Goat Mountain and the Mule Ears both represent underground volcanic activities millions of years ago. You can also learn more about the national parks and get a FREE printable checklist in our US National Parks Checklist. Some of my favorite pictures of the trip are dawn outlines of these features. Description Big Bend National Park charges a fee to enter. Easiest trail in the Basin there. Santa Elena Canyon, one of the highlights of the park, awaits visitors at the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Read all of our articles about Texas in our Texas Travel Guide and the United States in our United States Travel Guide. Chisos Mountains 357 Mountains By GroverR If you do these, you really do see the Chisos as you hike 15 miles around Emory peak but you get 2,000 vertical feet. 99% of travellers recommend this experience. If you are short on time, skip the Rio Grande area of Big Bend and put your time into Chisos Basin and the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive areas. One ranch site, on the west side of the drive, not too far after the Ross Maxwell begins - sorry I can't remember its name - is a nice walk with an old wooden windmill for atmoshpere - there I saw a black bear in a thicket near sunset. The area that is now known as Big Bend has a rich history that spans centuries between the Spaniards, Comanche Indians and Mexican farmers. AllTrails | Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive: 204 Reviews, Map - Texas

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