Top 5 Summer Hikes in Big Bend (Plus One for the Bold)

Introduction: Embrace Big Bend's Summer Serenity

Summer in Big Bend offers a unique opportunity to explore its vast landscapes with fewer visitors. While the Chisos Basin area, including popular trails like Lost Mine, Emory Peak, and The Window, will be closed for renovations starting in the Summer of 2025, the park still boasts numerous trails that showcase its diverse beauty. These are our top hikes to enjoy in the mornings or evenings, not just for the beauty of the perfect light, but also to take advantage of the amazing temps during those times. Here are our top five summer hikes, plus a bonus for the adventurous.

1: Santa Elena Canyon Trail

Experience the awe-inspiring 1,500-foot cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon. This short hike offers a serene walk along the Rio Grande, leading into the heart of the canyon.

• Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 80 feet

• Difficulty: Easy

• Location: Big Bend National Park - tap here for the Google Pin

2. Grapevine Hills Trail (Balanced Rock)

Traverse a sandy wash then some small rock navigating that leads to the iconic Balanced Rock formation. The final stretch involves a steep climb, rewarding hikers with panoramic desert views.

• Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 240 feet

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Location: Big Bend National Park - tap here for the Google Pin

Note: The Grapevine Hills Road can be very rough and REQUIRES a sturdy, high-clearance vehicle. Do NOT attempt to reach this trail with a passenger car, minivan, or RV.

3. Hot Springs Canyon Trail

Beyond the historic hot springs, this trail ascends to offer breathtaking vistas of the Rio Grande and the Sierra del Carmen Mountains. You can also follow this trail to the Rio Grande Village for a beautiful juxtaposition of lushness in the vast desert. 

• Distance: Up to 6.2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: Varies

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Location: Big Bend National Park - tap here for the Google Pin

4. Closed Canyon Trail

Navigate a narrow slot canyon carved through a mesa over thousands of years. The towering walls provide shade, making it a comfortable summer hike most of the day!

• Distance: 1.4 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: Minimal

• Difficulty: Easy

• Location: Big Bend Ranch State Park - tap here for the Google Pin

5. Hoodoos Trail

Explore unique rock formations known as hoodoos along the Rio Grande. This short loop offers stunning views, geological wonders, and has many photo opportunities!

• Distance: 1.0 mile loop
• Elevation Gain: Minimal

• Difficulty: Easy

• Location: Big Bend Ranch State Park - tap here for the Google Pin

Bonus: Mesa de Anguila (to "The Saddle")

Mesa de Anguila is one of the most remote and least-visited areas of Big Bend National Park, offering hikers a sense of true solitude and vast, panoramic views. The trail begins in the small town of Lajitas and steadily climbs around 600 feet over the first two miles. Instead of continuing the full length of the mesa, this recommended route for summer mornings takes hikers to a dramatic overlook known as "The Saddle," sometimes referred to as the "Horseshoe Bend of Texas."

From this vantage point, you'll see sheer 1,500-foot cliffs dropping into the Rio Grande that bends into a dramatic "U" shape. The high point of the mesa reaches 3,883 feet above sea level, with the overlook providing one of the most stunning sunrise views in all of Texas.

To make the most of this hike, start several hours before sunrise. Early departure allows you to reach the overlook at golden hour for extraordinary lighting and still return before the sun climbs high in the sky. This 4.5-mile round trip is perfect for experienced hikers looking for a rewarding morning adventure. Be sure to bring plenty of water and hiking poles for added stability on the descent. We consider the full hike amazing, but a late Fall/Winter only hike as there is no shade and is fully exposed. Sunrise here is spectacular making this an excellent morning hike for those looking for a real challenge with a serious reward.

• Distance: Approximately 4.5 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 600 Feet

• Difficulty: Strenuous

• Location: Big Bend National Park (Trailhead accessed from Lajitas, 21 miles west of the park's western entrance) tap here for the Google Pin

Come See It for Yourself

Summer in Big Bend is anything but ordinary. With cool, peaceful mornings perfect for early hikes and near-empty trails that feel like they belong to you alone, it’s a season that offers rare freedom and stillness. As the day winds down, sunsets stretch across the desert in deep reds and golds. When night falls, the stars come out in full force. The Milky Way rises early this time of year, casting a luminous band across the sky that’s visible just after dark. These hikes take you straight to the heart of what makes this place magic. You don’t have to wait for the perfect season. It’s already here. Book your trip, set your alarm, and come see it for yourself.

Book your stay at Summit Big Bend and discover the magic of Big Bend in the summer.