Big Bend National Park Will Open for Day Use on Friday

BIG BEND, TX – Big Bend National Park reopens for day use Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. 

The park in southwest Texas will determine further reopening and closures according to the local and regional status of the pandemic, following the advice of the federal, state and local public health officials.

Reservations are not needed to enter the park, but normal entrance fees will be collected at all park entrance stations. America the Beautiful Annual Passes, Senior Passes, and Access Passes will be honored.

Group sizes are limited to either five people or a single household. A state mandatory mask order remains in effect in Brewster County, Texas, where the park is located.

For this first phase of reopening, access is restricted to certain parts of the park.
Some paved roads are OPEN, including:

• From Persimmon Gap entrance to Panther Junction
• From Maverick entrance to Panther Junction
• Fossil Discovery Exhibit
• Road to Chisos Basin

Most trails that begin from the open paved roads are OPEN for hiking, including:

• Dog Canyon
• Lost Mine
• Window
• Window View
• Basin Loop
• Laguna Meadow
• Pinnacles
• South Rim
• Emory Peak

Amenities available include:

• Toilets along the open roads
• The Panther Junction Store & Gas Station

Parts of the park remain CLOSED until further notice, including:

• Paved road from Panther Junction to Rio Grande Village
• Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
• All unpaved roads
• All river use
• All campgrounds and backcountry campsites
• Off-trail (cross-country) travel or camping
• Backcountry trails not accessible from open paved roads
• The Chisos Basin Campground road and overflow trail parking
• All visitor centers
• Chisos Basin Lodge & Restaurant
• Park stores and gas stations, except the gas station at Panther Junction
• Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry
• Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

Shoreline access to Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River reopens August 7, while river use remained closed. Texas has suspended commercial river operations statewide. 

Be Prepared for Summer in the Desert:

Visitors to Big Bend must be prepared for the extreme summer heat of the Chihuahuan Desert. During the summer months, temperatures in the park’s lower elevations and river areas typically exceed 100 degrees by late morning, and remain at dangerous levels until after sunset. Hikers should stay off trails in the afternoon and carry (and drink) plenty of extra water.