Closed Canyon Trail

Not to be overshadowed by the National park, is Big Bend State Park. The northern section of the park is very isolated and primitive, however the southern part of the park hugs the Rio Grande and gives access to many great hikes right off of 170 – a beautiful scenic drive in its own right. We got a tip to hike the Closed Canyon trail, and a good tip it was.

One advantage of the state park trails is that many of them allow you go bring your dog along, however I would recommend leaving the pups behind on this one. The trail starts out with a hike through a dried river bed of black rock. After a short ways you enter the canyon. You quickly become immersed into the towering canyon walls as you trek further. They swallow you up to the point where you feel miniaturized by their huge presence.

As you get deeper into the canyon you’ll find yourself climbing over large rocky areas. There’s usually an easier rout and a more challenging rout through each one, depending on what you prefer. Overall it’s a pretty easy and flat hike, but unlike any other hike we did at Big Bend. This one was a #1 pick for Shannon and its most definitely on my must do list.

When your in the are be sure to check out the Hoodoos trail as well, a short hike and very interesting rock formations, aka Hoodoos, and access to the river.