Souvenirs From The Road: Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas

One thing about our truck camper that we love and that is the remote places we can travel to and be cozy and comfy. What better way to start the year 2013 off than by traveling deep into the Texas Big Bend, more specifically Big Bend Ranch State Park. We came into the west entrance at Presidio after spending a cold night at Davis Mountains State Park, one of our favorite destinations. We stopped at Ft. Leaton to get our pass and they gave us a campsite at Aqua Adentro Pen. It's all gravel roads in the interior and it's slow travels.

The site here isn’t much to talk about. But….it’s the views anyway that are so spectacular. We have a cold, east wind blowing. But we have a fire pit that is somewhat sheltered. Went on a short hike and there isn’t a soul in site.

Ft. Leaton

Happy trails!

Wide open range!

Our first night's site, complete with a chuckwagon!

Getting ready for a beautiful sunset!

Day 2

It is windy and cold. Started the day with a good walk. Heading into Saucedo Ranger Station. We chose a campsite at La Posta. It is a single site in the middle of nowhere. Remote X 2! Got camp set up and went walking down a 4-wheel drive road close to camp. Awesome.

Dry creek bed

Looks like a skull rock

Our remote campsite

Yep, camp is in the middle of nowhere!

Treasures are everywhere when you walk down a dry creek

Our back porch scenery

Day 3

We celebrated the 365^th day of 2012 by a walk, breakfast tacos and an attempt to drive on the 4-wheel drive road beside camp. We decided to pull over and walk down the steep incline into the canyon. Really saw some incredible vistas. Took an afternoon hike to Cinco Tinajas. This takes you into a canyon to see the water holding tinajas.

We have stayed in a lot of remote areas, but this place sure beats all. I guess not many folks care to drive into remote campsites on a long, bumpy gravel road. The sunset tonight is beautiful. The stars are bright and the campfire is warm.

Factoid: Tuffy McCormick, Midland oilman, in the 1950's wanted a bigger ranch, so he bought one that was described as half the size of Rhode Island and among the 15 largest in the United States. He called it Big Bend Ranch. He arranged for the upgrading of a river access road, which is now the scenic Camino del Rio, by granting an easement to the TX Highway Dept. There were several more owners but eventually the TX Parks and Wildlife Dept. was able to purchase the ranch in 1988 from Hondo Corporation and Mr. and Mrs. Mischer, the owner of Lajitas Resort.

Views from our morning walk

That spec is our camper.

There's the truck at the top of the hill. Whew, it's straight up!

One of the water pools on the Cinco Tinajas hike.

A rock wall remain from the days before barbed wire.

A view of the Saucedo historical district.

We are so blessed to be able to camp and enjoy God's creation!

Day 4

Happy New Year! A very cold and colorful sunrise with the large moon still hanging out. We are leaving this site and headed down towards the Rio Grande River drive and will find a campsite there. It’s a 20 mile dusty drive back to Presidio on the bumpy gravel road. FM 170 is touted as one of the most scenic drives in America. We agree. Our first stop was to walk the Hoo Doo’s trailhead along the river. It was good, but the most awesome hike was the Closed Canyon trail. It reminded me a lot of Zion National Park. Pretty cool to walk into a canyon like that.

Chose a campsite at Madera Canyon. Who would have thought that camping 100 yards from the Rio Grande/Mexico border could feel so safe?

Happy New Year's day sunrise still has the moon

The Rio Grande Hoo Doos

Scenic Hwy. 170 parallels the Rio Grande

The green Rio Grande with Mexico in the background.

The beginning of the Closed Canyon trail.

Another Hoo Doo

Pretty tall canyon

Campsite at Madera Canyon on the Rio Grande

Day 5

Heading home. Stopped at the Contrabando movie site. Lajitas has definitely changed – all kinds of new stuff – buildings and shops. Stopped at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center. Really nice place.

Spent our last night at Seminole Canyon State Park. Got the bikes down and went on a 6 mile bike ride. This park has good walking and biking trails. Pretty rough at times, but so beautiful to look at Seminole Canyon and Lake Amistad where they meet up. A good way to end another great camping trip!