Best Trails in Big Bend National Park

Great trail. Likely to see mountain lion if traveled in the dark. Lots of uphill work. A little dangerous at the top. Can get slick and slippery with rain. Bring lots of water! Beautiful scenery.

This is a difficult hike, but it's worth every mile! Not only are the views from the rim breathtaking, but you'll also experience a variety of other beautiful landscapes along the way. There were still a lot of clouds at the rim when we arrive around 11:00 am, but thankfully, the sun burned them off pretty quickly after waiting around for a bit to try and get a better peak over the edge.

We saw a couple of bears about 3-4 miles in, but never any mountain lions.

It was fun but hot

Our family of four (ages 12 to 43) did this hike on a beautiful summer morning. We started at sunrise, which kept us in the shade for almost the entire hike. A mama bear and three cubs greeted us (from a safe distance on the next ridge) at the halfway point. The 1,100 foot elevation change is just about perfect for a half-day hike for casual hikers like us. The vegetation and vistas made for some great pictures. Also, the view of the basin from the top is fantastic. You end up on a rocky point with long, sheer drops on three sides. Stuff this hike into your itinerary in Big Bend. You won't be disappointed. Parking was full when we finished at 10am, but it was empty at 7am. Do this trail first thing in the morning and have breakfast at the top instead of at your tent or the Lodge.

Probably the most spectacular hike I have ever been on in terms of views. Unlike other hikes I have done in NC and SC, Lost Mine Trail has views in various directions for much of the hike. One doesn't even need to do the whole hike to see some great scenery. My only complaint would be that it's a very popular and busy trail with very little parking. We had to park on the side of the road about two switchbacks down the mountain, since the parking lot was full. Get there early! Still, very highly recommended.