Big Bend Ranch State Park
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The ultimate Texas getaway - Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) is where you go when even Big Bend National Park seems too crowded . The 311,000 acre ranch was purchased by the state in 1989 and only fully open to the public in 2007. Its interior headquarters at Sauceda Ranch is reached by a 27 mile dirt road that filters out all but the most dedicated visitors. Dirt roads, bike and hiking trails and exquisitely remote campsites are the hallmark of Big Bend Ranch State Park.
The paved River Road section of the park along TH 170 from Presidio to Lajitas is one of the most memorable drives in Texas - and especially popular for bikers in the spring and fall.
Get information and maps and plan ahead at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/big-bend-ranch
The paved River Road section of the park along TH 170 from Presidio to Lajitas is one of the most memorable drives in Texas - and especially popular for bikers in the spring and fall.
Get information and maps and plan ahead at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/big-bend-ranch
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78 imagesBig Bend Ranch State Park home to a wide range of cactus of the Chihuahuan Desert. Spring is the prime time for flowers, each in their own time. -
21 imagesPrecious water is held in a chain of Cinco Tinajas near the head of Leyva Creek. These waterholes provide reliable water for wildlife, birds and insects for much of the year and are replenished by a small spring. -
17 imagesClosed Canyon trail takes you into a narrow slot canyon on an easy 1.4 mile out and back hike. It drains into the Rio Grande / Rio Bravo del Norte which can only be reached by a technical climb down to river level. It's cool in the summer time compared to the surrounding area. -
18 imagesThe Contrabando Movie sat sits along the Rio Grande / Rio Bravo del Norte near the base of Fresno Creek. Constructed for the film 'Uphill all the Way' in 1985, it was later used for several additional productions including 'Lone Star' and 'Streets of Laredo.' Severe flooding in 2008 caused damage to most of the set - leading to its demolition in 2015 for safety reasons. Only the Casita building remains as shown in the more recent photos. -
7 galleriesFresno Canyon is a major drainage bisecting Big Bend Ranch State Park, separating the Solitario from the Llano highlands and many canyons on the west side of the park. A steep drive down Fresno Canyon reaches many scenic landscapes and historic locations including Manos Arriba pictographs and the Crawford-Smith Ranch. -
23 imagesGuale Mesa is a vast high plateau in the central region of Big Bend Ranch State Park. Water tanks, pipes and spigots remain from the days when ranching was a way of life on the mesa. Rancherias and Tapado Canyons drop away to the south, exposing the rich valley of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte with the mountains of Mexico beyond. -
3 imagesAlong the River Road section of Big Bend Ranch State Park, easy trails reach to HooDoos near the edge of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte. -
23 imagesSaudeco Ranch, 27 miles in on a dirt road , is the park headquarters for the vast 311,000 acre Big Bend Ranch State Park. In addition to the ranger station, you'll find a small store with books, maps, snacks and ice. There are no groceries or gas - plan ahead and bring what you need. Across the yard is a bunkhouse that sleeps 30, with men and women on opposite sides. Car and 4WD campsites are located through out the park as well as remote campsites for backpacking. -
22 imagesThe Las Cuevas historic site is located along the main Big Bend Ranch road near the crossing of Bofecillos Creek. It shows extensive habitation dating back 3,000 years. -
24 imagesPictographs highlight the hike to Lava Escondito Spring off the Cinco Tenajas Trailhead. Under a protective rock shelter is a wall of ancient artwork along with nearby grinding stones and other artifacts. The area is near a spring and creek offering precious water and protective shelter. La Mota Mesa is nearby, offering a highly visible landmark for the area. -
30 imagesLeyva Creek runs to the northwest in central Big Bend Ranch State Park. It offers excellent horseback and hiking access and has many seasonal water holes or tinajas. Here are a selection of photos from a spring hike when the tinajas had precious water and the cottonwoods were beautifully green. -
11 imagesRemote Ojito Adentro Spring provides a reliable water source in the parched Big Bend Ranch State Park. A short desert hike and rock scramble reward the hiker with a quiet grotto with dripping water and growing ferns. -
23 imagesBig Bend Ranch State Park's River Road traces the Rio Grande / Rio Bravo del Norte from Fort Leaton, near Presidio, to the Barton Warnock Visitor Center near Lajitas. The river offers a precious lifeline in the Chihuahuan Desert that has brought people together for over 10,000 years. -
12 imagesBig Bend Ranch State Park includes the River Road, one of the most scenic drives in Texas as it follows the Rio Grande / Rio Bravo del Norte from Presidio to Lajitas. Highlights include Fort Leaton, Closed Canyon, the Contraboando Movie set ruins, close up access to the river and the Barton Warnock Visitor Center near Lajitas. The well known Big Hill climbs to an iconic view of the river as it flows through the rough Colorado Canyon. -
14 imagesHeadquarters for the interior section of Big Bend Ranch State Park is Sauceda Ranch, a sprawling complex that served as the home for the largest ranch in the area. After a stint as a hunting lodge, the bunkrooms and dining room facilities are available for park visitors. They offer a comfortable stay in one of the most remote areas of Texas. -
5 galleriesThe eastern portion of Big Bend Ranch State Park is home of the immense Solitario - a collapsed lava dome surrounded by uplifted rock layers and canyons. The rolling hills of its interior belie its violent creation. -
55 imagesBig Bend Ranch State Park encompasses two distinct regions and ecosystems. The River Road from Presidio to Lajitas closely follows the Rio Grande / Rio Bravo del Norte and includes floodplains, farm fields and riparian habitats. The vast interior section includes a variety of desert habitats ranging from river level at 2,300 feet to the Oso Mountains at 5,135 feet. BBRSP can magically bloom when the spring rains are just right.