Camping in Big Bend Territory

[Jim J]

Spent the last three days at Lost Alaskan RV Park Just North of Downtown Alpine, TX on Hwy 118. The campground is very nice, quiet, clean and has all the expectged amenites as well as an RV wash area ($) and a star watching area (bring your own telescope). It is True that the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas.

We just got back from the McDonald Observatory where we toured the two larger telescopes, had live presentations on the nature of the universe and then went out to look at the night sky identifying many of the constellations and heavenly bodies, followed by star gazing through many small (12 in to 22In) telescopes set up for visitors.

Other interesting things to do nearby are Ft Davis, home of the buffalo soldiers, (Have lunch at the old time drug store in Ft Davis) and the Chihuahua Desert Reserch Center. They have an intersting botanical hike, an excellent mining museum, and several longer more strenuous hikes.

In Alpine the Sul Ross University Big Bend Museum (Free!) is one of the best museums I have ever been in, giving a history of the area socially, Politically, economically, and geologically.

The Reata restaurant in Alpine offers a fine dining experience unexpected in such a small town but the local ranchers like good food and one of them started it. THe meals feature fine cuts of steak as well as locla favorites sush as Chicken Fried Steak, Carne Asada and a pleasant surprise was fresh seafood. The dessrerts are as sinfula s the main coourses are wholesome. After dinner , we took a short drive west of town to view the Marfa Lights. The night we went, the party was already over as the lights were out.

Tomorrow we head south to Terlingua to visit Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande river. More then.

[GettinAway]

I just got back from there. I absolutely love BB NP.
We were tent camping, because I'd hauled a dual sport motorcycle down there. We went all over the National and State Parks.
Can you take a 25' up to Chisos Basin? There is a nice CG up there. They have peach cobbler with cinnamon ice cream!
Worth the drive.. Ha, the views from up there are great.
Have fun, I'm looking forward to following along.

Jeff

[casa3805]

Please keep posting, we start our trip around the Big Bend Area on Saturday. Should be in Terlingua on Monday night!

[xrvr]

Thanks for the info, am heading there sometime in the future. Good ASing. jim

[utee94]

My Dad is from Alpine, I love the area. Definitely looking forward to taking my Airstream out to BB someday soon, my wife has never been and has no idea what she's been missing. Thanks for keeping us posted, and keep the pictures coming.

-Marcus

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by casa3805

Please keep posting, we start our trip around the Big Bend Area on Saturday. Should be in Terlingua on Monday night!

Check out the old cemetary in Terlingua. One of the nicest campgrounds I have stayed in was at Lajitas, pretty cheap too. There is a world famous restauraunt nearby I think called "The Cave". Also in Presidio there is one campground. Not terribly scenic or fancy, but the friendliest I have been, and cheap. Good base for Big Bend Ranch State Park which is a lot more primitive (especially the roads) than the NP. I would not take an Airstream into BBRSP.

The photos are from Study Butte, Big Bend Ranch and the Terlingua Cemetary.

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

... Can you take a 25' up to Chisos Basin? There is a nice campground up there. ...

Chisos Basin is a very different setting from the rest of BBNP. It certainly warrants a visit for anyone coming to the park, especially to hike the trail to The Window. The road going up there has a 15% grade with some narrow turns near the top. It was posted for a 20' trailer maximum. The NP campgrounds at Cottonwood and Rio Grande Village can accommodate any size.

[Ahab]

We drive by that area every Christmas season on our way to Annapolis. Thank you, we will make sure to spend some time there.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Check out the old cemetary in Terlingua. One of the nicest campgrounds I have stayed in was at Lajitas, pretty cheap too. There is a world famous restauraunt nearby I think called "The Cave".

There is another restaurant in Terlingua called Starlight.. It's a very unique place, with a neat history. The "Cave" or Kiva is great. You should try to go to both while you are there..

I thought the road up to Chisos Canyon said something about length limits..
20'... I think I'd still try to go up there, especially if it's hot. It must be at 5,000 ft up there, the weather would have to be cooler..

[desertair27]

We just got back from the Lajitas/ Terlingua area and had a great time. We stayed at the Maverick rv park in Lajitas which is a short walk to downtown Lajitas.
The golf course is suppose to be world class and you can borrow a golf cart to take a tour of the very scenic course.
I'm told Lajitas is Spanish for flat rock and that make sense as there is white flagstone everywhere.better pack sunscreen, it's usually in the 80s and 90s this time of year.
take a bicycle or motorcycle and enjoy the many offroad trails starting by the Lajitas airport.
Great place but I wouldn't go in the summer unless you plan on some rafting in the Rio Grande as long as she's got some water.It's can be 110-115 degrees and there ain't much shade anywhere.

[nilesrob]

The local sheep in BB are a little bit gnarly, but they fry up well!

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by nilesrob

The local sheep in BB are a little bit gnarly, but they fry up well!

Those are Javelina right? I bet they taste like chicken!

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by desertair27

Those are Javelina right? I bet they taste like chicken!

Yes, they are javelina. Looks like they're standing guard over that generator...

[nilesrob]

Javelina - the other white meat.

[Jim J]

The desert got rain sleet and snow as we were leaving and it should be in full bloom this week.

[casa3805]

Just got back from Seminole Canyon, Terlingua, Ft Davis, Kerrville, and reluctantly...back to Corpus. Hundreds of pics but here are a few. Sunset in Seminole Canyon, Sunrise in Terlingua, Vintage kin with Grandson, On the road to Ft Davis, Peach Cobbler preps, Dinner to go with the cobbler in Kerrville, Starlight Theatre in Terlingua.
Wowza that was fun...

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by casa3805

Just got back from Seminole Canyon, Terlingua, Ft Davis, Kerrville, and reluctantly...back to Corpus. Hundreds of pics but here are a few. Sunset in Seminole Canyon, Sunrise in Terlingua, Vintage kin with Grandson, On the road to Ft Davis, Peach Cobbler preps, Dinner to go with the cobbler in Kerrville, Starlight Theatre in Terlingua.
Wowza that was fun...

WOW! Awesome pictures! Looks like you guys had some fun.