| alert |
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| contractID |
NRSO |
| description |
Chisos Basin Campground, perched high in the rugged Chisos Mountains, is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Big Bend National Park. At an altitude of 5,400 ft., it is surrounded on all sides by tall, rocky cliffs and conveniently located near some of the park's most spectacular and popular trails. Also found in the basin area is the Chisos Basin Visitor Center, a Camp Store and the Chisos Basin Lodge, which offers the only restaurant in Big Bend National Park. |
| drivingDirection |
From Interstate 10, take highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and then on to Marathon. From Marathon, go 40 miles south on Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight 26 miles to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn right and drive for three miles. Turn left at the Basin sign and go seven miles to the campground. |
| facilitiesDescription |
The Chisos Basin Campground has 60 individual campsites. However, only 26 are reservable (Nov. 15 - May 31). The first-come, first-served sites are not visible on this website. Because of the size of each campsite, they are more suitable to tent camping than RVs or trailers, though both are allowed. Each site comes with a picnic table, charcoal grill and bear-proof food storage container, and some sites come with picnic shelters for shade. All campsites are within easy walking distance to drinking water and toilets, and a dump station is provided for RVs and trailers. |
| facility |
CHISOS BASIN (BIG BEND) |
| facilityID |
74044 |
| fullReservationUrl |
http://www.reserveamerica.com/campsiteSearch.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74044&cmp=39-32--joewils |
| importantInformation |
The road to the campground is steep and winding with sharp hairpin turns; the vehicle restriction for this campground is 24 feet for motor homes and 20 feet for travel trailers. Wood and ground fires are not permitted at any time. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups at this facility. The campground is first-come, first- served June 1 through November 14. Generator use is allowed in sites 1 through 18 only. These sites are not reservable.. Bears frequent the area; all food must be kept in the food storage locker or in a hard-sided vehicle; trash must be disposed of in the animal-proof dumpsters provided; do not place coolers or food boxes on the ground at any time Protection rangers on duty in park. Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more. |
| nearbyAttrctionDescription |
Terlingua Ghost Town, a former mining town that is now a popular tourist destination, is about 30 miles from the western side of the park and Chisos Basin. |
| note |
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| orientationDescription |
The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande River called the "big bend." For 1,250 miles, the river is an international boundary between the United States and Mexico. The campground lies at the base of several sloping cliffs amidst montane shrubland; desert plants such as Arizona cyprus and mesquite trees fill the landscape. Maple, aspen, Pion and Ponderosa pines grow at higher elevations just above the campground. Though it is lower than the surrounding cliffs, the Chisos Basin is at a higher elevation than other campgrounds within the park. Summer temperatures here are cool, yet in fall and winter, it is warmer than other areas due to the cold air sinking into lower regions. The Chisos Mountains are a popular nesting site for migratory birds. The mountains provide the only nesting ground in the United States for the Colima warbler, which arrives in mid-April and departs for its wintering grounds in southwestern Mexico by mid-September. |
| recreationDescription |
This campground is a hub for hikers. Some of the park's most spectacular and popular trails are nearby, including Lost Mine Trail, Window Trail, South Rim Trail and Pinnacles Trail, with access to the park's highest point, Emory Peak (elevation 7,825 ft.). Campers can find the trailheads for most of these trails in the main Chisos Basin area, within walking distance of the campground. Access to the river, where visitors can canoe, kayak and fish, is approximately 30 miles away. |