it's worth it alone just to see the sky at night. i'd check the moon phases and plan your travel around a full moon if i were you. the mountain hiking, deafening silence up top, pristine landscapes... of all of my travels, this is top three easily.
No rain, coolish temps, I would go if I were you. https://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:79830.1.99999?sp=MUR063
The night sky is what got me so interested in going there. The first time I got to really make out the Milky Way it blew me away. I typically pick most of my campsites based on a combo of campsite quality, distance and light pollution. I was planning on going during a new moon to see more. Just curious, why would you plan around a full moon?
That's hard to say. While best weather is probably early Spring, that's also the busiest time and hardest to find a good campsite. There's always the Rio Grande Valley or Cottonwood campsites, but everyone prefers the Chisos Mountains. It's not too hot in the fall, but that's also the rainy season, which the mountains are more prone to raining. If you plan on the Spring, the Chisos Mountains has some reservable campsites but you need to reserve it like a year ahead. If you don't want to camp, you can stay at the lodge in the Chisos Mountains, too. I'd actually recommend not going around a full moon. A full moon causes so much light pollution and drowns out the stars. Everyone knows what the moon looks like. You want to see the stars that you don't normally see in the city.
I don't know. The last time I was there was in March, and it got up to 103 degrees during the day. That was down by the river. If you are going now, stay in the higher elevation campgrounds. I've been to a few of those, and to me, they don't compare in beauty, and all, but the temperature would probably change my perception of the whole thing. Of course whether changes all the time, so I have no clue what the exact weather is at different locales in the park.
was wondering what you and duncan were talking about. my wording was off. "plan your travel around a full moon" not "during". my bad. i stayed at the lodge in the center of the mountains, so no camping. plain rooms, no tvs, no distractions.
I've been many times during the week between Christmas and New Year. I've been one during the spring time. For me the Christmas time trips were far superior. The gravel pit campgrounds are by far my favorite. They are more primitive with no running water or restrooms at all. They have great privacy, and at that time of the year they are warmer which is great during the day (low 60's) but at night it can be below freezing, and sometimes even in the teens. I've staid in the mountain areas during the winter, and at those elevations, it's actually dangerous. It was almost unbearable. Those are my personal experiences and preferences for the kind of camping that suits me. It might not be the same for everyone. It depends on how primitive you want your camping.
When I went to Big Bend, I stayed in Alpine. Alpine is not anything special, but there really aren't any cities with significant amenities near the national park anyway. The small cities are all pretty fun to visit, like Fort Davis, Marfa, and the sand dunes in Monahans. I also enjoyed going to the UT McDonald Observatory for one of their events. In Big Bend itself, I recommend climbing Emory Peak and make the short scramble to the radio tower on the very top. The Window is an easy hike and a great view. You can also take a short drive into Mexico to one of the river towns for lunch or dinner.
So I decided to go and booked 4 nights at the Chisos Lodge. thurs-mon. Now I need to get some hiking shoes/figure out what to pack.
How much was that? I've been debating this for the longest just not feeling the drive. I might do this or Frios River Cabin
If you are not sure what hiking shoes to get go to REI. Good selection and knowledgeable staff. Pack layers. The temperature swings at BB are dramatic. It's one of my favorite places. Have fun!
