Big Bend Backcountry Camping

About

Big Bend's backcountry camping program provides access to designated primitive sites in two categories: roadside campsites accessible via rugged backcountry roads, and backpacking sites in the Chisos Mountains. The roadside sites require high-clearance vehicles with at least 8 inches of ground clearance and 15-inch tire rims, with 4WD highly recommended due to rapidly changing road conditions. Backpacking sites in the Chisos range from 1 to 6 miles from the Basin trailhead with no vehicle access. These are true primitive camping experiences with no water, electricity, or toilet facilities. Campers must be entirely self-sufficient, pack out all trash, and properly store food in bear-proof containers when available. Human waste must be buried at least 6 inches deep and 0.25 miles from water sources; at South Rim and East Rim sites, portable waste disposal kits are required. Groundfires and wood fires are prohibited throughout the backcountry; only containerized fuel stoves are permitted in wilderness areas, with charcoal grills allowed at roadside sites. The park spans elevations from 1,800 feet along the Rio Grande to nearly 8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains, offering dramatic canyon, desert, and forested mountain landscapes. Spring months and holiday periods see the highest visitation, though backcountry sites provide excellent opportunities for solitude year-round.

Directions

Big Bend National Park is located in remote West Texas. Access via TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte, FM 170 from Presidio to Study Butte (then 26 miles east to park headquarters), or US 385 from Marathon (70 miles south to headquarters). Each backcountry site has specific directions in its reservation listing. Backpackers should park in the Chisos Basin amphitheater parking area near the campground.