Big Bend Overland Tours

All tours begin/end at Big Bend Resorts and Adventures in Terlingua, Texas. An experienced guide will take you to breathtaking views of geographic features, history, flora and fauna of the Big Bend Area.

Be sure to bring your binoculars, camera, hat/sunscreen, sturdy shoes, and plenty of water. The guide carries a satellite phone, extra water, and is trained in first aide.

Give us a call to reserve your seat to see and experience Big Bend National & Big Bend State Parks.

Tours are conducted in a Ford Excursion 4 Wheel Drive vehicle with air conditioning for your comfort.

Moon Valley Sunset Tour
Volcanic eruptions from millions of years ago created Moon Valley. Moon Valley is located on private property outside Big Bend National Park. The sunset highlights the beauty of the terrain for great photo opportunities. Explore the area that NASA astronauts trained for the first moon walk.
3 hours

The Santa Elena Loop Tour
The tour begins at 9 AM. You will enter Big Bend National Park at the west entrance. You will go down the Old Maverick Road through the desert terrain stopping at Luna Jacal and Terlingua Abajo. These remains tell of the settlement within Big Bend at the turn of the century. From these locations you can see the prominence of Santa Elena Canyon. At Santa Elena Canyon, you will stand at the Rio Grande River and view the 1500 feet canyon walls. Next stop will be the Historic Castolon Store where you will eat lunch under the shade. From Castolon there will be various stops including Sotol Vista and Sam Nail Ranch to enjoy the beauty of the flora and fauna, geology, and history of Big Bend National Park.
5 hours

Customized Tours are available upon request. At your request we can customize a tour just for your group (1-5 people). You tell us where you want to go and we will do the rest. Tours can be inside Big Bend National Park, Terlingua area, and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Call for more information or ask at the front desk.
Prices vary depending the location and time required.

Big Bend Ranch Sauceda Tour
10 Hour Tour begins at Big Bend Resort and Adventures headquarters in Terlingua, Texas, embarking to Big Bend Ranch State Park Complex. The first tour stop would be at Barton Warnock Visitor Center to visit the "One Land, Una Tireca" exhibit and desert garden to introduce the visitor to the history, geology, flora and fauna of the region. From Barton Warnock Visitor Center, travel to Big Bend State Ranch with stops at Contrabando Movie Set, Big Hill, and the HooDoos for various photo opportunities of the geology, flora, fauna and history of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Upon arrival to Big Bend State Park, a brief stop will be made at the entrance before continuing on the Sauceda Ranch Headquarters. Stops will be made at various locations along the main road at interpretive signs and interesting locations that tell the story of the geology and history of the Big Bend area. At the Sauceda Ranch Headquarters view the historic headquarters of two ranching families, Bogels and the Fowlkes Brothers, that started their ranching empires in the early 1900's up to the late 1950's. The sprawling headquarters includes several corrals, bunkhouse, tack room and other buildings dating back to the time when the ranch was buzzing with the sound of horses, sheep and cattle. Visit the Sauceda Ranger Station to learn more about the ranching history, geology, flora and fauna and activities available at the park. From the Sauceda Headquarters travel will continue to Tres Papalotes to the center of the geologic feature known as the Solitaro. Tres Papalotes gives the visitor the chance to explore and view the geologic features of this lacolith caldera. This is the ending point of the tour, with the return from Tres Papalotes to Big Bend Resort and Adventures headquarters. Tour sites may be adjusted to meet customers' needs. The tour includes lunch.

6 Hour Tour begins at Big Bend Resort and Adventures headquarters in Terlingua, Texas, embarking to Big Bend Ranch State Park Cierra De La Burros loop trail. The first tour stop would be at Barton Warnock Visitor Center to visit the "One Land, Una Tireca" exhibit and desert garden to introduce the visitor to the history, geology, flora and fauna of the region. From Barton Warnock Visitor Center, travel to Big Bend State Park with the second stop at Contrabando Movie Set for a scenic view and photo op of the movie set and Rio Grande River. The third stop will be at the TeePee's and Big Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the Chihuahuan Desert and Rio Grande River. The fourth stop will be at Closed Canyon for a short hike into the slot canyon to view the 500 foot walls carved out of the mountain. The fifth stop will be at the HooDoos to view the Rio Grande River and the eroded rock formration from the overlook or a mile hike to the river. The panoramic view is a great place for photographers.

The sixth stop will be at the Crow's Town Movie set to explore an area of interesting geological features and to enjoy lunch. The tour will continue with a 4 mile drive through Cierra De La Burros. This is the ending point of the tour, with the retun from CIerra De La Burros to Big Bend Resort and Adventures headquarters. Tour sites may be adjusted to meet customers' needs. The tour includes lunch.

4 Hour Tour begins at Big Bend Resort and Adventures headquarters in Terlingua, Texas, embarking to Big Bend Ranch State Park Cierra De La Burros loop trail. The first tour stop would be at Barton Warnock Visitor Center to visit the "One Land, Una Tireca" exhibit and desert garden to introduce the visitor to the history, geology, flora and fauna of the region. From Barton Warnock Visitor Center, travel to Big Bend State Park with the second stop at Contabando Movie Set for a scenic view and photo op of the movie set Rio Grande River. The third stop will be at the TeePee's and Big Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the Chihuahuan Desert and Rio Grande River.

The fourth stop will be at Closed Canyon for a short hike into the slot canyon to view the 500 foot walls carved out of the mountain. This is the ending point of the tour to Closed Canyon, with the return from Closed Canyon to Big Bend Resort and Adventures headquarters. Tour sties may be adjusted to meet customers' needs.
All tours include drinks and park fees.

» Map of Big Bend National Park

Photos courtesy of DJ Sanders.