Kim and Rhonda's Adventures

Big Bend Natinoal Park, is about 54 miles south of Marathon, Texas. Our adventure took us to the Chisos Basin. This beautiful park has good roads and access and offers a great campground. The campsites have a picnic table (some covered, some wood, some metal, some concrete) and either a fire ring or a BBQ stand where you can have a charcoal fire - no wood fires are allowed. Although there are heated restrooms with flush toilets and a place to wash dishes, there are no showers. Metal storage boxes are furnished to store food items safe from critters.

The Chisos Basin Complex, located under "Casa Grande" mountain, hosts a ranger station, complete with bookstore, gift shop, and information center where hikers can pick up permits and campers pay site fees. There is also a convenience store (bring your own charcoal and save about $8 per bag!), a lodge, and a wonderful restaurant. In the building housing the restaurant, there is another book store and gift shop, as well as the check-in desk for the lodge. Here, there are nice flush toilets in the restroom, but no showers.

The restaurant serves wonderful food and the view is awesome. The breakfast buffet ($12.95) is worth every penny. On the menu are eggs (cooked several ways), bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, gravy, diced potatoes, grits, oatmeal, cereals, milk, juice, fruits, and yogurt. Both lunch and dinner options include an all-you-can-eat salad bar and gourmet choices on the menu.

The well maintained trails are awesome. There are information and lookout points throughout the park. And don't be surprised if you see a herd of deer or a pack of javalinas meandering through your camp or the lodge area.