The National Parks for AdventurersThe National Parks for Adventurers

The Classic SOUTH RIM TRAIL 

The epic South Rim is widely considered the premier hiking trail in Texas. There are a number of ways to tackle the minimum-12-mile loop, but all of them will take you through alpine meadows, mountain springs and quaking aspen stands. With more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain, it’s no joke for even the most seasoned hikers. For the rare opportunity to see sunrise and sunset from the Rim, plan an overnight trip to one of the route’s walk-in campsites, which can be booked online.Via Laguna Meadows: The Park Service will tell you that a counterclockwise trip to the Rim is “less steep,” but make no mistake: The first 2.5 miles in either direction consist of switchbacks made from railroad-tie staircases. This route will front-load your journey with views of the Window, Burro Mesa and, on a clear day, Santa Elena Canyon. Via the Pinnacles: A clockwise trip to the Rim is an undeniable glute-burner. If you plan to tack on side trips, though, it’s the most direct way to go. Lush Boot Canyon forms a series of cascading waterfalls during the rainy season, and offers the chance to add on the stunning Northeast Rim.

The Alterna-Classic CLOSED CANYON Trail

Quieter than its national park neighbor, Big Bend Ranch is Texas’ largest state park, making up 60 percent of the state’s parkland on its own. There’s much to see just along FM 170, the river road that runs through the park from Lajitas to Presidio. But even more beauty and solitude await the few who venture into the park’s rugged interior. On the Closed Canyon Trail, meander through a gorgeous slot canyon with just a few scrambles and drop-offs.Though the 1.8-mile route begins in open desert, the narrow 150-foot rock walls provide plenty of shade within the canyon. Skip if rain’s in the forecast. 

The Hidden Gem MESA DE ANGUILA TRAIL 

One of the more remote routes within the park traverses the Big Bend NP’s southwest corner, from Lajitas to a gorgeous view of Santa Elena Canyon. Cairns mark the sketchy trail rounding Mariposa Mountain. Skills and a topo map required for this 11-mile-plus expedition.

RV campgrounds

The park’s one campground with full hook-ups, Rio Grande Campground puts you within a stone’s throw of the river border, in open, pleasant terrain. Plan early—there are just 25 spots here. For a few more amenities and bigger selection, investigate Road Runner Travelers in Terlingua.

Wander wider in West Texas: get Wildsam's field guide to Big Bend.

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The Classic THE HIGHLINE

One of the iconic hikes on the Crown of the Continent, Highline can work as an out-and-back or with a free shuttle back to the Logan Pass trailhead from a place known, with capital letters, as The Loop. (The full-circuit approach—starting from Logan, shuttling back—avoids a lot of ascending.) Arcing up above the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road, this route visits rustic Glacier Park Chalet and has an optional branch to Grinnell Glacier. It’s likely an all-day experience, commanding some of the most astounding alpine views on the continent.

The Alterna-Classic SIYEH PASS LOOP

Similarly, this hike makes use of a shuttle to connect two endpoints into a loop. In between: 10 miles of forest, alpine scree, meadows and glaciers. There are some wide-open expanses to go with the wildflower terrain, so gear for sun and wind.

The Hidden Gem NORTH FORK VALLEY

Dirt roads and not many folks—that’s the story in the national park’s northwest corner, where long drives lead to Kintla and Bowman lakes. Bring what you need. (One side-benefit to this exploration: you can pay a call at the gorgeous crossroads hamlet of Polebridge, just west of the park boundary (and feeling far from everywhere). Rare woodpeckers that thrive in the collage of forest types here draw faithful birders on pilgrimage.

RV campgrounds

Fish Creek takes reservations; St. Mary, too, though only for select moments in summer. Apgar and Avalanche duke it out for the biggest “oh wow” visual vibes. Various restrictions on vehicle size can apply across the park campgrounds, so check it all out. Likewise, do advance research on park entrance reservation requirements.

For more grand adventures in Big Sky Country, pick up Wildsam's field guide to Western Montana.

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the CLASSIC WONDERLAND OF ROCKS

Twelve square miles of jumbled boulders capture the austere mystique of the Land Where Two Deserts Meet. The only maintained trail in goes to Willow Hole—which leads to the off-trail Wonderland Connection, a climb/scramble of an adventure that unlocks some truly awe-inspiring geological forms and remote vistas. Bring all the things, download a map—be prepared. For a less intense immersion, the trail to Wall Street Mill provides a glimpse over the Wonderland boundary without fully entering the labyrinth.

For more desert mysticism, wild sights and lore, pack Wildsam's field guide to Joshua Tree.

The HIDDEN GEM CRYSTAL LAKE 

To reach this pristine high-mountain lake, first you visit another one. Hike up through ponderosa forest near Estes Park, following the Roaring River to Lawn Lake—then keep on keepin’ on, through alpine meadows to the two adjoined Crystals, Little and plain-old Crystal, which sit in a roughshod high-altitude bowl, Fairchild Mountain standing watch above.

To find your own Rocky Mountain high, grab Wildsam's field guide to the Colorado Rockies.

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