| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS | SUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS | MAPS | VIDEOS | BLOGS | MARKETPLACE | CONTESTS |
 |
|
|
|
Activities in Big Bend National Park, Texas
A canoe trip up the Rio Grande River with a hike up Fern Canyon one day and another day on a Jeep run down Old Ore Road to the Hot Springs.
Map Tools
Share Trip
- E-mail Trip
- Embed Map
- Social Bookmarks more bookmarks...
Download To
Create A Trip
Related Topics
Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.
| Author: | PnJTravels |
| Source: |
 on my Nextel phone
|
| Activity: | Other |
| State: | Texas (TX) |
| Distance: | 36.85 mi |
| Difficulty: | 2 / 10 |
| Rating: | Unrated |
On May 10, 2008 we took a guided canoe trip up the Rio Grnade River. We paddled up river about 3 miles before having a great lunch prepared by our guides. After lunch, we took a hike up Fern Canyon.
May 12, 2008 we went for a tour of Big Bend National Park on the back roads. We took the Old Ore Road from the north toward the river, stopping at the Ernst Tinajas and the J.O. Langford
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
Rio Grande River Canoe Trip
| Distance: 3.28 mi | Points: 183 |
We arrived at the office of Big Bend Rivers Tours at 7:45 am (yes, we were up that early!!), jumped into a van and headed out for an hours drive to reach the river. On the way, we saw several deer, a wild pig and lots of beautiful scenery. The guides unloaded the canoes and we carried them down to the river. We received a bit of instruction and then headed up river about three miles into the Santa Elena Canyons where the walls reach skyward 1500 feet. Paddling up stream was tough, but the scenery was spectacular. Once we reached our stopping point, our guides fixed us a very nice lunch. After a brief rest, we went on a hike up Fern Canyon. This was a fun experience as we waded through water holes, scaled up a rock wall with a rope, crawled up through a hole in the rocks that a small waterfall running through it and repelled across a rock wall on a rope. It was quite and experience. Then, it was back down stream in our canoes. This was a much easier and much more enjoyable not having to paddle so much, we even had a water fight or two. After the guides loaded up the canoes, it was another hour's drive back to town. The scenery was just as spectacular going the other way with the late afternoon sun on the mountains. This was a day full of new exciting experiences. Needless to say, we were all very tired after this day.
Hike up Fern Canyon
| Distance: 0.47 mi | Points: 32 |
We waded through water holes, scaled up a rock wall with a rope, crawled up through a hole in the rocks that a small waterfall running through it and repelled across a rock wall on a rope. It was quite and experience.
Jeep Run down Old Ore Road
| Distance: 33.10 mi | Points: 923 |
The road got its name from its use in the early 1900's for hauling lead, zinc, and silver ore from near Boquillas Canyon to the railroad yards in Marathon. We took a hike up one of the canyons to the Ernst Tinajas (Spanish for jar). There was still a little water in the Tinajas, but the rest of the area was dry. The canyon eroded by rushing water was quite a site. The road ended down by the Rio Grande River Overlook. We could not see the actual river, but you could tell where it was by all the greenery in the distance. The marker told us the names of the surrounding mountains way off into Mexico. Then we headed over to the Hot Springs area. Years ago, many people would come to the J.O. Langford Hot Springs Resort for medicinal purposes. Lorrie & Joyce walked into the Hot Springs and yes, it was hot about 105 degrees. We could only stay in there for a short time and then turned around and put our feet into the river to cool down
Points of Interest
Big Bend RV Park
Location: 29.331305, -103.532238Our base for 4 nights while exploring the Big Band Area
Santa Elena Canyon River Access
Location: 29.155497, -103.599036This is looking up river from our drop in location.
Up river a bit
Location: 29.163198, -103.607855The farther up river we went the higher the canyon wall got.
Steep Canyon Walls
Location: 29.163198, -103.628154The Canyon Walls even higher.
Our upriver stopping spot
Location: 29.161062, -103.642402This is as far up river as we will go in the canoe
Lunch on the river
Location: 29.160856, -103.642552Our guides prepared a great lunch for us.
Looking up river
Location: 29.160688, -103.643282This is looking up river past our stopping spot.
Joyce at Fern Canyon
Location: 29.159844, -103.642809Water seeps out of the canyon walls to the ferns.
Looking up Fern Canyon
Location: 29.158608, -103.641479Just one of the beautiful views we had hiking up the canyon.
Pat scaling wall
Location: 29.158083, -103.640503Pat scaling up a rock wall with a rope
Pat repelling rock
Location: 29.157877, -103.640159Pat repelling across a rock wall on a rope.
Joyce at waterfall hole
Location: 29.156659, -103.639033Joyce crawling up through a hole in the rocks where a small waterfall was running through.
Lorrie at waterfall hole
Location: 29.156649, -103.638947Lorrie crawling up through a hole in the rocks where a small waterfall was running through.
Pat at waterfall hole
Location: 29.162205, -103.607426Pat crawling up through a hole in the rocks where a small waterfall was running through.
View East from Old Ore Road
Location: 29.380754, -103.064890Late morning view of south-east mountains.
Ernst Tinaja Trail Head
Location: 29.258248, -103.010902This is the parking lot from where we took a hike up to the Ernst Tinajas (Spanish for jar).
Ernst Tinajas View
Location: 29.261767, -103.008928Ernst Tinajas
Location: 29.263938, -103.008328There was still a little water in the Tinajas, but the rest of the area was dry. The canyon eroded by rushing water was quite a site.
Rio Grande River Overlook
Location: 29.201828, -102.988243The road ended down by the Rio Grande River Overlook. We could not see the actual river, but you could tell where it was by all the greenery in the distance.
Rio Grande River Overlook Marker
Location: 29.201753, -102.988007The marker told us the names of the surrounding mountains way off into Mexico.
Rio Grande River Overlook toward Mexico
Location: 29.202540, -102.987471Hot Springs
Location: 29.177419, -102.996826Hot Springs area. Years ago, many people would come to the J.O. Langford Hot Springs Resort for medicinal purposes. Lorrie & Joyce walked into the Hot Springs and yes, it was hot about 105 degrees. We could only stay in there for a short time.
Hot Springs-River
Location: 29.177569, -102.996719When the Hot Springs got to hot we turned around and put our feet into the river to cool down.
Back to the Main Texas Trip Page
Location: 29.166552, -102.996826<a href="http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=57430">Click here to go back to the main Texas Trip page. Then click on the flag icon at Del Rio, east of Big Bend and you will be back on the tour. This flag may look like it is on the word San as in San Antonio.</a>
Related Trips
Comments Post a comment
0 Trip Comments
National Parks Hall of Fame
The best videos, photos, and beta
from Denali to the Smokies.
GearFinder
Find all the outdoor equipment you need.
Photo & Video Center
Essential gear, instruction, and more.
GPS Trails App for iPhone & Android
Locate, research, plan, and save trips on your smartphone.
