Exploration of Big Bend Ranch State Park – Closed Canyon
October 21, 2016
Latitude: 29.269902, Longitude: -103.757351, Elevation ranges from 2,350 to over 5,000 feet
During my second exploration of Big Bend National Park, I decided to explore an area of far west Texas that was purported to be even more remote than Big Bend.
Views of the Rio Grande River
A few hardy souls and I decided to carve out one day and check out Big Bend Ranch State Park and explore what was considered a must do trail in the park, the Closed Canyon trail. We entered the park via the East entrance and drove 22 miles to the trail head from the Barton Warnock Visitor Center, 21800 FM 170 Terlingua, TX 79852.
The park’s brochure describes it very well: “Closed Canyon is a narrow slot canyon that divides Colorado Mesa in two. Colorado Mesa was created around 28 million years ago from the deposition of welded tuff (pyroclastic rock) from the Santana and San Carlos calderas – volcanic features to the south of the river. A small stream was established in the tuff that was subsequently eroded away to create the canyon. Millions of years of carving through the Santana Tuff of Colorado Mesa divided it into two – Mesa de la Cuchilla to the east and Mesa de Nueve to the west.”
What impressed me most about the canyon were the incredibly steep walls that rose hundreds of feet and the tightness of the passage through them. The hike was relatively short in terms of miles but very impressive. Like Big Bend, the weather, especially in the summer months, is extremely dangerous.
The park cautions visitors that in summer, temperatures typically exceed 100 degrees by late morning and can reach as high as 130 degrees in the sun. They remain at dangerous levels even after sunset. We chose October to attempt the trip. I made a vow to return and explore more remote trails and the rugged beauty of this park but as of the date of publishing this report, I’ve yet to return.
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