Texas/New Mexico

Hiking at Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains & Carlsbad Caverns

Program No. 23329RJ
Come south this winter to explore diverse ecosystems, geologic formations and human cultures, while hiking in three of our nation’s national parks.

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At a Glance

Join local experts and a small group of fellow hikers as you explore the varied ecosystems of three national parks: Big Bend, the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns. Learn how early natives, pioneers, miners and ranchers interacted with the land and its diverse flora and fauna, especially the curanduros healers. Find out what it means to live “off the grid” as you travel to remote Mexican border towns, and see why this region was once known as “the Last Frontier.”
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Hiking 3-7 miles each day over varied terrain. Elevations from 5,500 to 8,000 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Hike down to the deepest caverns of Carlsbad Caverns, both a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Enjoy dinner at the historic Starlight Theater and hike the iconic trails at Big Bend National Park.
  • Spend an evening stargazing the night skies in Terlingua.

General Notes

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Jimmie Ivy
Jimmie Ivy is a welder, carpenter, electrician, and plumber. When he moved to Terlingua, he worked as an Emergency Medical Technician in the ambulance service and served as captain of the Terlingua Fire Department for five years. He is a Wilderness First Responder. His passion is the region’s wildlife and includes tracking and identifying animal signs. Jimmie enjoys sharing his binoculars with others in spotting animals, from the smallest lizards and birds to bobcats and big horn sheep.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Jimmie Ivy
Jimmie Ivy View biography
Jimmie Ivy is a welder, carpenter, electrician, and plumber. When he moved to Terlingua, he worked as an Emergency Medical Technician in the ambulance service and served as captain of the Terlingua Fire Department for five years. He is a Wilderness First Responder. His passion is the region’s wildlife and includes tracking and identifying animal signs. Jimmie enjoys sharing his binoculars with others in spotting animals, from the smallest lizards and birds to bobcats and big horn sheep.
Profile Image of Erica Little
Erica Little View biography
Erica Little spends her summers floating the Pigeon River in Hartford, Tennessee, and winters in Terlingua, Texas leading single and multiday river trips as well as hiking and backpacking trips. She has a Wilderness First Responder first aid certification and is a self-proclaimed thorn and blister expert. Erica has through-hiked the Appalachian Trail, the southern half of the Pacific Crest Trail, and completed multi-day hikes in Nepal, Switzerland, Tasmania, Patagonia, and the Andes. Terlingua has been her winter home for 12 years.
Profile Image of Erin Little
Erin Little View biography
Erin Little comes from the Appalachian region of Tennessee. She has led groups for 19 years, typically spending the summer leading whitewater raft groups in Tennessee and the rest of the year leading hikes, river trips, and Mexico outings in far west Texas. She is also a Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and certified Wilderness First Responder.
Profile Image of Andrew Campbell
Andrew Campbell View biography
Andrew Campbell is from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. From a young age, he and like-minded friends would wander to the few undeveloped areas left in the city. As he got older, he worked in kitchens, bars, construction, warehouses, and manufacturing to save for travel in search of places that still held some of the wild spirit. Andrew has been coming through the Big Bend area for over 20 years and loves working the winter season, sharing his love for these wild and quiet remnants of the past.
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Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date
Oct 06 - Oct 13
  • Oct 06 - Oct 13
  • Oct 13 - Oct 20
  • Oct 20 - Oct 27
  • Nov 03 - Nov 10
  • Nov 10 - Nov 17
  • Nov 17 - Nov 24
  • Dec 08 - Dec 15
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Oct 6 - Oct 13, 2024 Itinerary Differences: Due to seasonal schedules and closures, this departure will follow a reverse itinerary, visiting Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns before traveling to Big Bend National Park.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Oct 06 - Oct 13
  • Oct 06 - Oct 13
  • Oct 13 - Oct 20
  • Oct 20 - Oct 27
  • Nov 03 - Nov 10
  • Nov 10 - Nov 17
  • Nov 17 - Nov 24
  • Dec 08 - Dec 15
Oct 6 - Oct 13, 2024 Itinerary Differences: Due to seasonal schedules and closures, this departure will follow a reverse itinerary, visiting Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns before traveling to Big Bend National Park.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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8 days
7 nights
20 meals
7 B 6 L 7 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
El Paso, Texas
D
Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso-Airport

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. The activity level for this program is "Outdoor: Spirited". Participants must be able to hike several miles daily over varied terrain in order to visit most locations on this program. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration & Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Transportation for program-related activities will be via minibus. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/ conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Take the rest of the evening to continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and get a good night’s sleep for the full day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
2
Chihuahuan Desert, Fort Davis National Historic Site
Terlingua, Texas
B,L,D
Longhorn Ranch Motel

Activity note: This is a long travel day with lots of great breaks. Getting on/off a minibus; driving 300 miles over the course of the day, approximately 5.5 hours riding time. There is no reserved seating; participants must be willing to rotate seats throughout the program. Several short hikes totaling approximately 3.2 miles are included.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will pack up and check out of the hotel this morning. This is one of our longest transfer days, during which we will journey to the remote region of the Big Bend. We will also begin the discussion of cultural history, starting with the Jumanos, our earliest inhabitants. A portion of this drive follows the Texas Mountain Trails scenic highways.

Lunch: At Fort Davis National Historic Site.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will begin our first hike in the Chihuahuan Desert. The Hospital Canyon Trail climbs steadily for 0.7 miles through oak groves to the North Ridge Trail. Once on the North Ridge Trail, we follow the contour of the edge of the mesa for 0.3 miles to the Tall Grass Loop Trail. Stunning views of Fort Davis and the surrounding mountains fill the skyline. The Tall Grass Loop is 0.8 miles through dense grass lands, home to our jack rabbits, mule deer, and javelina. Finally, we will descend back to the fort and walk 0.6 miles back to the visitor’s center. After completing our loop hike, we will explore Fort Davis, which was occupied from 1854-1891. We will see evidence of the early settlers: Mescalero Apaches and Buffalo Soldiers. The lieutenants’ quarters, commanding officer’s quarters, officers’ kitchens and servants’ quarters, and the enlisted men’s barracks are all furnished in period commodities and are open for exploration. To view the entire fort is an easy 3/4-mile walk. Following our exploration of the fort, we will depart for our hotel in Terlingua.

Dinner: After we settle into the Longhorn Ranch Motel, we will enjoy dinner at its Mexican restaurant, Tivo's Place.

Evening: Following dinner, we will enjoy an evening of stargazing (weather permitting). Terlingua was awarded the “Dark Night Skies Award” and claims to have the darkest night skies in the lower 48. See the Milky Way and shooting stars. Find your favorite constellations and be enamored in the fact that there are more stars visible in it than you remember.

DAY
3
Big Bend National Park, Santa Elena Canyon, Sotol Vista
Terlingua, Texas
B,L,D
Longhorn Ranch Motel

Activity note: Getting on/off a minibus; driving 120 miles over the course of the day, approximately 3 hours. We explore the West Side of Big Bend with three separate hikes totaling approximately 5.2 miles over varied terrain.

Breakfast: At Tivo's Place at the Longhorn Ranch Motel.

Morning: We will start our morning with a hike on the Mule Ear Springs Trail: 4 miles (2,815’. moderate, 410 foot elevation gain). This trail travels along the flank of Trap Mountain, walking towards Mule Ear Peaks. Walk across volcanic ash tuff to a historic corral and a small spring set amid an oasis of cottonwoods, willows, ferns and cattails.

Lunch: At Cottonwood Campground.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will visit the very photogenic Santa Elena Canyon. Limestone rock cliff walls standing 1,200 feet tower above this iconic Big Bend trail while Canyon Wrens sing overhead. Next, we will hike the Lower Burro Mesa Pour-off Trail: 1 miles (3,303’, easy, 120 foot elevation change). This trail follows a gravel wash that is bounded by volcanic hills with layers of yellow and orange ash-flow tufts and lava. Walk amongst Texas persimmon, Mexican buckeye, and desert hackberry trees intermixed between large conglomerate boulders. The trail ends at a staggering rock wall pouroff- a 100 foot tall vertical channel carved into rock that funnels water from the above mesa. Next, atop Sotol Vista, we will take a short pit stop to witness the expansive views for which Big Bend is so famous.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Big Bend National Park, Lost Mine Tr, Terlingua Ghost Town
Terlingua, Texas
B,L,D
Longhorn Ranch Motel

Activity note: Getting on/off a minibus; driving 90 miles over the course of the day, approximately 2 hours riding time. Today we will explore the heart of Big Bend National Park, hiking approximately 6 miles. You’ll need to carry all the drinking water that you will need for the day; we recommend 3 liters. We also explore historic sites by foot.

Breakfast: At Tivo's Place at the Longhorn Ranch Motel.

Morning: The Lost Mine Trail: 4.8 miles (challenging, 1,300 foot elevation gain). We walk amongst oaks, maples, pines, junipers, and madrones in the high mountain desert ecosystem. This trail climbs steadily with amazing views of the Chisos Basin, the Window, and Pine Canyon. In this sky island of the Chisos Mountains, we see a different variety of wildlife to include the Mexican jay, red tail fox, javelina, and antelope squirrel. The trail bed is rocky, but well graded with lots of switchbacks.

Lunch: We will pack a sack lunch along with trail snacks. Today we will enjoy lunch on the trail, in the quiet shade of the trees.

Afternoon: Rounding out a day filled with great history, we will head to the cultural center of Terlingua for a Ghost Town Tour and an amazing sunset.

Dinner: At the historic Starlight Theatre, built during the boom and bust era of mercury mining.

Evening: We will head next door to the Terlingua Trading Company, a gift and collectible shop housed in what was once the company store of the Chisos Mining Company.

DAY
5
Boquillas Canyon, Boquillas-Mexico, Panther Junction
Terlingua, Texas
B,L,D
Longhorn Ranch Motel

Activity note: Getting on/off a minibus; driving 125 miles over the course of the day, approximately 3 hours riding time. Today we will travel to Boquillas, Mexico; you will need your passport or other approved documentation. Also, you may want to bring a little cash as there are several shops with items for sale. We will be on our feet a lot today and will hike approximately 4 miles.

Breakfast: At Tivo's Place at the Longhorn Ranch Motel.

Morning: This morning, we will travel to the east side of Big Bend National Park. Our first hike is to Boquillas Canyon, 1.4 miles (moderate). The canyon towers 1,500 feet overhead with its sheer vertical rock cliff walls. The trail winds through the riparian zone (a hot spot for birding), passing many metates, and ending at a pebble beach on the Rio Grande. After this, we will go through the American Port of Entry, the only "Class B" Port of Entry on the Mexican border, on our way to Boquillas, Mexico. Once at the river, we will ride a small ferry boat across the Rio Grande. Next, we will hike into the little village of Boquillas, 2.4 miles (easy), where the main mode of transportation is the burro, most people use wood fired cook stoves, and the families live in one room houses that are painted brightly every color of the rainbow. Once in Boquillas, we will go through the Mexican Port of Entry.

Lunch: On a shaded deck that overlooks the Rio Grande.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will walk around this three-block town, stop off at the Park Bar, and do a little exploring. We will also explore the church, school, clinic, and their new solar field. We will wrap up the afternoon by heading back across the border into the U.S. Before dinner we will stop and explore the Panther Junction Visitor Center at Big Bend National Park.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out in the morning.

DAY
6
Marfa-TX, Guadalupe Mountains NP, Carlsbad Caverns NP
Carlsbad, New Mexico
B,L,D
Hampton Inn & Suites Carlsbad

Activity note: Getting on/off a minibus; driving 290 miles over the course of the day, approximately 5.25 hours riding time. This is a travel day with lots of great stops and activities along the way. This afternoon, we will hike down into Carlsbad Caverns, approximately 3 miles.

Breakfast: At Tivo's Place at the Longhorn Ranch Motel.

Morning: We will pack up and check out of the hotel this morning, then drive through Alpine, Marfa, and Van Horn en route to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We will take a mid-morning break in Marfa to stretch our legs and explore an art installation. Once in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we will stop at the Frijole Ranch Historic Site, which dates back to 1876. The seven buildings are now a walk through exhibit.

Lunch: At a picnic pavilion on the Frijole Ranch, which was named because frijoles were a staple food in the region.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will travel the short distance to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and explore the visitor’s center upon arrival. Next we will hike the Natural Entrance Trail down into the deepest caverns, 1.25 miles (moderate, 750-foot descent). Our night sensors awaken as we descend and our wildlife talks shift to that of bats. We will build on our cultural history to understand the caverns chronology of human habitation. The caverns' microbiology adds to the geologic discussion. Once we reach the bottom, we will hike the Big Room Trail passing many stunning formations, 1.5 miles (easy). Finally, we will ride the elevator to the top. Time permitting, we will browse through the Visitor Center Museum.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: After dinner, we'll travel a short distance to our hotel, check in, and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

DAY
7
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, McKittrick Canyon
El Paso, Texas
B,L,D
Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso-Airport

Activity note: Getting on/off a minibus; driving 160 miles over the course of the day, approximately 3 hours riding time. We will explore Guadalupe Mountains National Park with a hike of almost 7 miles. You'll need to carry all the drinking water that you will need for the day; we recommend 3 liters.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will pack up and check out of the hotel this morning. Then we begin our hike on the McKittrick Canyon Trail, 6.8 miles (moderate). This trail walks below the Capitan Reef which is one of the best preserved fossil reefs in the world. This hike follows a small spring fed creek through the desert and transitions into a canyon woodlands ecosystem. At the Historic Pratt Cabin (1936), we can relax on the front porch rocking chairs as we lament how this rock cabin has seen so much change in its lifetime. From here, we continue to the Grotto and the Hunter’s Cabin.

Lunch: We'll enjoy a picnic lunch along the trail.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will continue our hike on the McKittrick Canyon Trail. After completing our hike, we will explore the Guadalupe Mountains National Park Visitor Center before departing for El Paso.

Dinner: At Los Bandidos de Carlos and Mickey’s, which has been serving up fine Mexican food since the 1950s in an eclectic memorabilia-filled venue. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We’ll enjoy live music at Los Bandidos de Carlos and Mickey’s before returning to the hotel. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
8
Program Concludes
El Paso, Texas
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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