Our Favorite Short Hike #4

Santa Elena Canyon Trail (1.7 mi/RT)

When we first arrived at Big Bend, I was very hesitant to hike on my own through this foreign environment, where the possibility of danger loomed behind every cactus (or so it seemed!) Signs everywhere warn of the risks of overheating, dehydration, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and black bears. How could a responsible mother lead her child into such a place!? After a week or so had passed, and we'd had a chance to do some family exploring, Jasper and I finally braved it on our own. We started the day hiking to Mule Ears Spring (which didn't make it onto our “favorites” list) and ended by hiking this trail. 

At the time, the Rio Grande was flooding, so it started off being quite challenging as we bushwhacked/rock scrambled to get to the trail. From there, we hiked a short ways through towering (invasive) river cane. At the base of a rock wall, a black-tailed rattlesnake peeked its head out from a crevice, eventually allowing us a view of its whole body. We allowed it a wide berth as we continued up the trail, following several switchbacks and passing some fossils on the rock wall. The trail provides great views of the Rio Grande as it passes through Santa Elena Canyon.

These folks decided to cross Terlingua Creek, which was overflowing due to lots of water being released from a dam upstream in Mexico into the Rio Grande. We decided to do a little exploring and found an alternate route which involved rock-scrambling instead of getting wet and muddy. Turns out that a lady had broken her ankle the day before on this same "rock scramble" and Mike joined a bunch of others to carry her out on a litter. Luckily Jasper is a little sure-footed mountain goat, and I'm able to follow along. ;)

Jasper was fascinated by the fact that we were standing in the United States, looking across the river into Mexico. This short hike is a must-see for anyone who visits Big Bend.