Primitive Roadside Campsites

Primitive Campsites are an option to those with rugged vehicles.

 

Get Away From it All

There is no vehicle "boondocking" or "dispersed camping" in Big Bend, but for those who wish to get away from it all, the park offers 67 primitive campsites along backcountry roads. These sites are located in the most remote desert areas of the park. Some require hours of challenging driving to reach. A sturdy high-clearance and usually 4-wheel drive is necessary to safely reach most of them.

Primitive roadside campsites offer nice views, solitude, and a small flat gravel space to set up camp next to your vehicle. No shade, toilets, or other amenities are provided. The use of generators is prohibited in the backcountry.

• These are small primitive backcountry sites and only a few can accommodate large RVs and trailers. Plan accordingly.
• There are strict vehicle length and capacity limits for each campsite.
• A backcountry use permit is required to camp at any of these sites.

How to Reserve A Site

Permits for the most popular 20 campsites are available online (up to 6 months in advance) via www.recreation.gov.

• These campsites are reserved almost every night of the year.

• Permits for the remaining 47 primitive roadside campsites (located along the River Road, Glenn Springs Road, Old Ore Road, and Old Maverick Road) are only available in person at Panther Junction Visitor Center (daily 8:30 am - 5:00 pm) and Chisos Basin Visitor Center (daily 8:30 am - 4:00 pm), up to 24 hours in advance of your first night's stay (the day of or the day before).

  These campsites are very popular and typically occupied most nights of the year.

  • NOTE: A rugged high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is required to access these campsites. You will NOT be able to reach these sites with a passenger car, minivan, or RV, and rangers will not issue permits for those types of vehicles.

• Site photos and detailed descriptions are linked below.

 

• 

  Backcountry Camping Permits Online

  Many of Big Bend's Chisos backpacking and primitive roadside campsites are now reservable online up to 6 months in advance. Learn how to arrange your backcountry permit using the recreation.gov online reservation system.

  Duration:

  5 minutes, 41 seconds

 

Primitive Roadside Campsites— Improved Dirt Roads

Primitive roadside campsites along improved dirt roads are usually accessible to most high-clearance vehicles except after rain when road conditions may require 4-wheel drive vehicles to access these campsites.

• Primitive Roadside Campsites - Croton Springs (1 campsite)
• Primitive Roadside Campsites - Grapevine Hills (4 campsites)
• Primitive Roadside Campsite - Hannold Draw (1 campsite)
• Primitive Roadside Campsites - K-Bar (2 campsites)
• Primitive Roadside Campsite - Nine Point Draw (1 campsite)
• Primitive Roadside Campsites - Old Maverick Road (9 campsites)
• Primitive Roadside Campsites - Paint Gap (3 campsites)

 

 

Primitive Roadside Campsites— Primitive Dirt Roads

Primitive dirt roads are maintained for rugged high clearance vehicles only, and usually require 4-wheel drive. These roads may be rocky, exposed bedrock, deep ruts, and extensive sections of soft sand/mud that are impossible for passenger cars, minivans, or RVs to negotiate. Rain will make these roads difficult to drive or impassable.

• Primitive Roadside Campsites— Glenn Springs Road
  (including Pine Canyon, Juniper Canyon, and Black Gap roads)
• Primitive Roadside Campsites— Old Ore Road
  Rocky, rugged, and remote.
• Primitive Roadside Campsites— River Road (east and west)
  Explore the remote southern expanses of Big Bend.

 

Primitive Campsites for RVs, Camper Vans, or Trailers?

Most primitive campsites in Big Bend are inaccessible to RVs and trailers. The few sites that are accessible to RVs, camper vans, and small trailers are in very high demand. Small RVs (less than 30 feet) and trailers (less than 25 feet) may be accommodated at the following sites depending on availability and road conditions.

• Croton Springs 1

• Grapevine Hills 1,& 2

• Hannold Draw (only site with a horse corral)

• K-Bar 1 & 2

• Nugent Mountain

• Nine Point Draw

• Paint Gap 2

Permits for these sites are available online up to 180 days in advance through www.recreation.gov. Most sites are full every night of the year.

Backcountry use regulations, vehicle size limits, and capacity limits apply. Read the site descriptions and plan accordingly.

There is no dispersed camping, overflow or "boondocking" in parking lots or along park roads. You may only camp in campgrounds or designated campsites (with a permit).

Visit Big Bend's backcountry use page for more information.

 

Protect YOUR Park. These are a few of the regulations that all backcountry campers are required to follow. Click to learn more.