Lajitas and Big Bend Ranch State Park

We arrived at The Maverick RV Campground around 3:30 p.m. The cold hadn't set in yet. We set up and decided to get a quick dinner at one of the two restaurants at the Lajitas Golf Resort across the highway. As the evening progressed, the drizzle and cold air arrived. Overnight, the temps dipped into the 30s but stayed above freezing. The morning was cold and wet, so we just stayed in. It was the first relaxing day of the trip.

Once the weather cleared, we visited the largest State Park in Texas, Big Bend Ranch SP. Many have said the Texas Mountain Trail through the park is the prettiest drive in Texas and I would agree. Also known as the El Camino Del Rio, the highway followed the dramatic US/Mexico border for more than 50 miles. The geologic landscape was filled with fun hills, dips, and curves as it wound its way upriver. As recommended by a shop owner in Marfa and a volunteer Park Ranger, we walked through the Closed Canyon before heading back to the trailer to enjoy some fresh turkey chili.

With the cold front and the threat of rain passed, we began preparing for our move back into Big Bend NP. We filled our tanks with fresh water, charged all of our batteries, and began our 40-mile drive back into and across the NP to Rio Grande Valley Campground. We were going to be dry camping for the next 3 nights, meaning we had to be self sufficient through our stay. We stopped at a very small, very expensive grocery store in search of fresh fruit and vegetables. Along the way, we made an obligatory stop at the Panther Junction Visitor Center to stamp our park books and pick up a few stickers and post cards.

Next up: Canyons, desert sunsets, and green basins.