The land that makes up Big Bend Ranch State Park was formerly one of the largest ranches in Texas. At over 300,000 acres it is now the largest park in the Texas State Park system. River Road runs along the border, and is often listed as one of the most scenic drives in America.
Known as the other side of nowhere, Big Big Ranch State Park is also one of the least visited parks in Texas. While gaining in popularity every year, the park still only receives about 17,000 visitors per year, in stark contrast to some of the most popular parks like Garner which clocks a half a million visitors per year.
With its immense size and remote location, the park has very little light pollution. It is a designated International Dark Sky Park, which makes it a popular location for stargazing and astrophotography.
Location:
Big Bend Ranch State Park is located in West Texas, near the Big Bend National Park. It is located in between Terlingua, Texas and Presidio, Texas, along the border of the United State and Mexico.
The park is large enough to have two main entrances. Both entrances are on FM 170, which is also called River Road.
The entrance on the east side of the park is the Barton Warnock Visitor Center. It is located near Lajitas, Texas and is on the side of the park closer to Terlingua and Big Bend National Park.
The entrance on the west side of the park is Fort Leaton State Historic Site. This entrance is close to Presidio, Texas.
Cost:
The entry fee for Big Bend Ranch State Park is $5 for per person over the age of 13. There is free admission for people ages 12 and under.
There are additional fees for camping in the park that vary depending on the level of campsite.
To save money when visiting Big Bend Ranch State Park, I recommend looking at a Texas State Parks Pass. The pass costs $70 a year. The benefit of the pass is that it allows the pass holder, and any passengers in their vehicle to enter the park without paying the day use fee.
Do you need to pay park fees for River Road?
You do not technically need to pay a day use fee to drive on River Road (FM 170) if you are just passing through the park and not stopping.
However, if you do stop at all and get out of your vehicle, you need to have an entrance permit on the dash of your car, or else run the risk of a hefty fine. There are so many wonderful places to stop and take photos or walk around along the road, that you will probably want to stop at least a bit.
Since admission is so cheap (or even free for pass holders) it makes sense to go ahead and register for a permit when entering the park so you can explore some.
Gas:
Top of your tank before entering the park! The park is enormous, and you don’t want to run out of gas. Near the west entrance of the park, get gas in Presidio. For the east entrance of the park there are gas stations in Lajitas and Study Butte.
Best Time of Year to Visit Big Bend Ranch State Park
The best time of year to visit the park is from October to March when it is cooler. February is the ideal time to visit the park, because the temperatures are more manageable, and some of the flowers will be in bloom. It also allows you to avoid the crowding that occurs during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break.
Do not underestimate how hot it can get in the park during summer months.
Reservations:
You can make reservations for either day use, or camping.
If you are planning a trip to Big Bend State Park and intend to camp, you need to make your camping reservations as soon as possible. Campsites, and also hotels in general, can get booked up long in advance in the Big Bend region.
If the park is at capacity, you could get turned away without a reservation for day use as well. Since it is so hard to get to the park, you should also make a reservation for day use.
If the park is at capacity, you can still do the scenic River Road drive provided you do not stop your car and get out.
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Camping at Big Bend Ranch State Park
Campsites at Big Bend Ranch State Park range in price between $10 – $16 per night, in addition to the day use fee for accessing the park. A yearly state park pass offers significant discounts.
The facilities for camping at Big Bend Ranch State Park are more limited than at most of the Texas State Parks. All campsites are primitive camping, the ones that are drive-in may require a 4×4 vehicle.
It is required to get a permit to camp in the park, and reservations can be competitive to get. Attempt to make any reservations for camping in the park as far in advance as you can.
For your safety, I recommend calling the park in advance and speaking with a ranger and reviewing rules and safety protocols before camping in the park for the first time. This is a remote area with lots of wildlife.
Safety tips:
Water
Bring significant amounts of water into the park. You will go through more than you think. Without enough water you can get into significant danger very quickly. I use a five gallon refillable jug, and a collapsible platypus container. In addition to my regular water bottle.
Sun Safety
Bring plenty of sunblock and a hat with a wide brim as well as polarized sunglasses.
Maps
Don’t head out without a physical map. Ranger stations will have paper maps available with hiking trails on them.
Phone Service
Don’t expect to have uninterrupted cell service throughout the whole park. Some of the roads around the park will have bad phone service as well. Make sure that you have an offline copy of all maps, and know how to get where you are going if you do not have access to google maps, including where to find gas.
What is there to do at Big Bend Ranch State Park?
World Class Stargazing
River Road offers access to excellent stargazing locations. Try Contrabando Trailhead, Big Hill, or the Hoodoos.
Big Bend Ranch State Park has been designated as a gold tier level dark sky park by the International Dark Sky Association. Some portions of the park have measured a Level 1 on the Bottle Scale which measures night time darkness. This is the highest ranking that exists for star gazing.
Significant protective measures have been taken to eliminate light pollution within the park and in surrounding areas throughout West Texas. The McDonald Observatory is located about 130 miles from the park.
The Rio Grande
River Road runs alongside the Rio Grande river. All along the road there are picnic places or spots to fish.
There are also access points to get into the river for rafts and canoes. There are companies that offer guided tours and equipment rentals.
Seeing Nature and Animals
There are many different types of animals that live in the park. While black bears and mountain lions do exist, and should be taken seriously, they are not the most common. Other more common animals include snakes, lizards, bats, deer, javelinas, rabbits, foxes and coyotes.
Bird watching is a very popular activity in the park. The diverse habitats in the park provide for a lot of opportunities to see different types of birds. Ojito Adentro is the primary birding spot within the park. There are over 300 species of birds in the park.
Bighorn Sheep can be seen near La Cuesta. For decades people have worked to reintroduce this species into the area, and their efforts have been successful. After completely vanishing from the park by 1960, they now live in the Bofecillos Mountains.
Trails
There are many trails through the park. Many of them are multi-use for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking.
The trails come in different levels of difficulty, and make sure you check the level of difficulty before you venture out. Bring with you a map, more drinking water than you think you need, and appropriate clothing for the conditions.
Dogs are not permitted on most of the trails in the park. There are a few trails near river road where they are allowed on a six foot leash. Overall, it is not recommended to bring dogs into the park.
What to do near Big Bend Ranch State Park
Lajitas, Texas
Go golfing, or just relax at the spa.
Located between Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park, Lajitas, Texas is a ghost town, that is now mostly a golf resort with a spa. The town used to known for having a beer drinking goat by the name of Clay Henry as the mayor.
Located between Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park, Lajitas, Texas is a ghost town, that is now mostly a golf resort with a spa. The town used to known for having a beer drinking goat by the name of Clay Henry as the mayor.
Terlingua, Texas
This ghost town sits just outside of Big Bend National Park. The Chisos Mining Company came into the area in 1903 and the town grew up around the mine. The area boomed during World War I, but by the end of World War II the mining company had gone bankrupt and almost no one was left living in the town.
Since 1967, the ghost town has been home to the Terlingua Chili Cookoff which is the first weekend of November.
Visit the Starlight Theater and Saloon. Situated in the center of the town, you can drop and get dinner or even just visit the very extensive souvenir shop next door. Right outside is the historic jail.
The town has a historic cemetery, with iconic graves. The simple markers and stone grottoes are crowded together into the small cemetery make it a popular spot for photographers.
Marfa, Texas
Located about an hour and a half outside of the park, Marfa is a popular tourist location within the Big Bend region. The town has a lot of artistic and cultural draw. A number of well known movies were filmed in Marfa, including Giant, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood.
The town square has a stunning historical courthouse, and you can walk to a number of shops and cafes. There is a thriving art scene, with galleries, art installations and even an art supply shop. Please note though, that the famous Prada Marfa art installation is actually located in Valentine, Texas.
There are a number of hotels in the town as well as a lot of short term rental houses listed on Airbnb.
Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory
At over 110 miles from the entrance to the park, it is perhaps a stretch to refer to Fort Davis, Texas as near Big Bend Ranch State Park. However, it is so often included as a stop either before or after the park when people plan big road trips that it seems reasonable to include it.
The town has hotels and diners near a historic courthouse. There are the ruins of Fort Davis which is a national historic landmark from when the community was an extreme westward outpost.
It is also a great place to stay when visiting the McDonald Observatory. The observatory offers star parties for viewing the stars with special telescopes.
Visit Big Bend National Park
The Maverick Entrance Station to Big Bend National Park is 20 miles from the Barton Warnock Visitor Center at Big Bend Ranch State Park. This is the largest park in the National Park system, and it is amazing.
Where to stay when visiting Big Bend Ranch State Park
Finding a place to stay near Big Bend Ranch State Park can be challenging. During peak visiting times, such as Thanksgiving or Spring Break, accommodations in the area can book up fast.
Stay in the park itself
The best place to stay for visiting the park is in the park itself at one of the primitive campsites. However these places book up quickly and also do not have the amenities that most state parks campsites have in Texas.
Big Bend National Park
The national park is only 20 miles from the sate park, and if you are doing a longer trip in the national park it is quite possible to go to the state park for a day. However getting reservations to camp at the national park can be quite competitive during peak times.
There are four main campsites within that national park, and some of them take RVs.
There are also options for backcountry camping, for the particularly adventurous, as those can only be reached by 4×4 vehicle or on foot.
Lajitas, Texas
Lajitas Golf Resort is located very close to the entrance to Big Bend Ranch State Park. It is a nice facility with hotel rooms, golf, a spa and general store. The resort offers activities such as trail rides and zip line adventures. There is also the ability to charter direct flights from Houston.
Maverick Ranch RV Park is affiliated with the resort, for people traveling by RV.
Terlingua / Study Butte
There are a number of hotels and RV parks in the Terlingua and Study Butte area. Due to their proximity to both parks, they tend to fill up fast. This area has close access to entrances to both parks, and also facilities like gas stations. Many of the places are listed on short term rental sites such as Airbnb or VRBO.
Terlingua is known for having unique places to stay, such as Basecamp Terlingua. They offer bubbles, tents, tipis and other interesting options. Bubbles are very hard to get.
Presidio, Texas
There are not many hotels in Presidio. It is located on the west side of the park, further away from popular tourist activities in Terlingua.
Riata Inn Presidio Texas is a simple, but well maintained motel with a pool. The rooms are large and clean.
Further away places….
With the rise of tourism in the area, it can be difficult to find lodging during peak times.
If you are really struggling to find a place to stay, look at Marfa, Texas or Alpine, Texas. Ideally you would stay closer to the park, and visit these towns either before or after a trip to the park because of how far away they are.