Driving the scenic Chisos Basin Road in Big Bend NP

Located in West Texas, the Chisos Basin Road is a very scenic journey with sharp curves and switchbacks through one of America's true hidden gems: the Big Bend National Park.

Chisos Basin Road

How long is the Chisos Basin Road?

The road through the park is totally paved. It’s 6.3 miles (10.13km) long. The drive is definitely worth it. It’s one of those unforgettable stretches of road that unfolds before you in a series of vistas and experiences. This road was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The drive is an excellent way to experience the transition between arid desert and cooler mountain habitats. By driving into higher elevations (the heart of Big Bend), you're more likely to spot lions and bears as well as white-tailed deer amid juniper trees and pinyon pines. You'll also see lovely, red-barked Texas madrone along with some Chisos oaks and Douglas fir trees.

Is the Chisos Basin Road open?

Set high in Brewster County, in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas, the road climbs the Chisos Mountains and tops out at 1.759m (5,770ft) above the sea level. As this scenic, winding road rises over two thousand feet above the desert floor, it offers breath-taking vistas of the mountain peaks and the erosion-formed basin area. The road is not recommended for trailers longer than 20 feet or RVs over 24 feet due to its sharp curves and steep grades (as much as 15%).

 

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