Big Bend Hot Springs Trail [CLOSED] is a 1.2 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Big Bend National Park, Texas that features hot springs and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round.
Big Bend National Park charges a fee to enter. Fees are $30 per vehicle or $25 per motorcycle. If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $15 per person. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $55. Note: As of December 2020, this trail is closed indefinitely due to COVID-19. Please see the park website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/big-bend-covid-19-status-updates.htm A short trail to a mineral hot spring.
park along side the River Road east. walk down a wash to the Rio Grande. Join the trail at the river and follow river down to historic hot springs.
Beautiful & easy trail! It was pretty empty when we went people would filter in and out every ten minutes. We couldn’t stay in long, we prefer the cold Rio Grande next to the springs! My favorite part was the short walk to the Rio! Right off the path behind the picnic table you will find a beachy area to dip in the cool water! We saw some kids taking a dip on the Mexico side splashing & enjoying as well. So peaceful we stayed for an hour & another family brought chairs to join!
This is a perfect trail for all levels! My mother is in her 70s and my sister has back issues, so when we visited the park for my wedding, this was the perfect trail for us all to share together. We ended up going at different times, but my mother and sister loved the trail and walked it easily, enjoying the ancient pictographs on the way. My new husband and I watched the sunset and met new friends. The hot springs are always my favorite part... Big tip: Go at night!! For some reason they are just so much more magnificent at night. This was my first time going to the hot springs before the sun went down, and I swear I passed them up because they didn't "look quite right." The night really brings the beauty out if this magical place.
Due to a flash flood on Thursday the hot spring was overflowed by the River so we were not able to take a dip but the trail gives incredible arid desert views along with pictographs on the shale was an incredible experience. The trail itself is very walkable but the heat could be a factor in summer months.
Narrow drive to the parking area so take it slow! Easy walk down to the hot spring. You can see old pictographs on the cliff to your left. Cool if you’ve never been to a hot spring before. Would recommend going earlier in the morning so the air isn’t hotter than the spring.
Just went to have a look at the Springs. Hot water when it’s 100 outside had no appeal to me
Easy hike from the lowest parking area. Check with the park rangers for current road conditions before you attempt the drive. You cannot make the whole drive in a long vehicle (RV) or a wide vehicle (Dualie or truck camper). Really enjoyed the hot springs. Met lots of people from all over the world!
Great way to unwind after a full day of hiking. Didn't really see the loop and just took it as an out and back trail to the hot spring. Some historical buildings along the way and pictographs as well. The trail we took to the hot spring was very muddy most of the way due to recent rain so consider than with your footwear. The unpaved road to get there is narrow and very bumpy at times. Not sure if a sedan would cut it but maybe if youre careful with the potholes. Nobody was there at 6pm when we arrived on labor day so that was perfect for relaxing.
Easy trail. There's some historical buildings & some pictographs up on the side of a cliff. The hot spring is ...well not my cuppa. It had about 8 guys drinking beer in it. Just......no. Enjoyed the trail. It's good for families with small children. Just don't let them near that cesspool - oops - hot spring! The drive there is nerve racking. The road is gravel & halfway there splits. You're driving on a narrow gravel one way road through a ravine until it comes together again. The parking lot is generous, but was full when we went on a late Sun afternoon in April.