Panther Junction to Persimmon Gap; Black Gap Wildlife Management Area; and the Chisos Basin Road
Blog Post
Big Bend National Park - day 2
June 14, 2023
Day 2 - Panther Junction to Rio Grande Village
We spent our time on our second day in Big Bend National Park traveling down the scenic drive from Panther Junction to the Rio Grande Village. This is the National Park Service's description of that drive:
"The drive to Rio Grande Village traverses ancient limestone and has marvelous vistas across the river to the magnificent Sierra del Carmen escarpment. In twenty miles, the road descends nearly two thousand feet.
There are several worthwhile stops and highlights along the way. Dugout Wells includes a desert nature trail and a shady oasis, nice for picnicking and birding. A soak in the Historic Hot Springs is also a popular activity. The short hike into Boquillas Canyon leads to one of Big Bend's most scenic spots. The Rio Grande Village Nature Trail is an excellent birding location; it crosses a wetland spring with a viewing platform then gradually climbs to a promontory with excellent panoramic views."
Here a several photos taken on the second day's drive:
After leaving the National Park, we drove to Terlingua Ranch for dinner at Terlingua Ranch Lodge's Bad Rabbit Cafe. We were surprised to discover that the lodge was at the end of the main road (13 miles "paved", followed by 3 miles unpaved) that crosses the 200,000+ acre ranch. Texas humor was on full display in front on one residence:
To see the complete set of photos taken on day 2, go to the gallery.
