Big Bend National Park Chisos Basin Campground Closure FAQ
4-21-26 update: The Chisos Basin Campground, Chisos Basin Visitor Center, and all Chisos Basin trails will now remain fully open as the remodel project has been placed on hold.
Starting in 2026, visitors to Big Bend National Park will see major changes to the Chisos Basin as a project to remodel the lodge begins. The park and hiking trails all remain open, and the West entrance is only 17 miles from The Summit! Perfect access to some of the park's most spectacular and popular trails, including amazing locations such as Santa Elena Canyon.
Click to read our blog about the closure
What's Happening with the Chisos Basin Campground at Big Bend National Park
The Chisos Basin Campground is a National Park Service campground inside the mountain basin at the heart of Big Bend National Park. The site sits at a higher elevation than most of the park, with cool temperatures, mountain views, and trailhead access to some of Big Bend's most-visited hiking routes.
The National Park Service had planned a renovation of the Chisos Mountain Lodge area starting in 2026, which would have temporarily closed the Basin, including the campground, visitor center, restaurant, camper store, and surrounding trails. As of the most recent update, everything in the Basin remains fully open while the project sits on hold.
If the renovation does move forward later, the rest of Big Bend will still be accessible. Areas outside the Basin make up the majority of the park's land, trails, and viewpoints. The Summit at Big Bend sits outside the park, about 17 miles from the West entrance, which means a stay here works the same way whether the Basin is open or closed.
