Stop 5 of 11
Big Bend, TX
January 28, 2026
January 28
We left Stillwell’s store and RV spot and officially headed into Big Bend National Park.
It was breathtaking. Better than we could have imagined. Truly stunning in every direction.
At Panther Junction, the kids picked up the rest of their Junior Ranger materials and proudly got their National Parks passports stamped. There’s something about that little stamp that makes it feel official — like they’re collecting chapters of their childhood.
We made it to our campsite at Rio Grande Village and were immediately surrounded by mountains and rolling hills, with an incredible ridgeline wall rising up behind us. It didn’t feel real.
We rode bikes around camp, went on a hike, and had nachos for dinner as the sun dropped behind the mountains. Throughout the evening, wildlife wandered right through the campground — a wild horse, three lost burros, a groundhog, and coyotes at the campsite directly across from us.
Camping in Big Bend doesn’t feel like camping. It feels like stepping into a nature documentary.
January 29
We road schooled from a meadow that morning — math and reading surrounded by desert grass and mountain views. Not a bad classroom.
Later, we hiked to the Hot Springs. The road was closed, so we had to hike the full two miles in. The effort made the reward even better. We sat in the 105-degree spring water, soaking while staring out at the Rio Grande and the cliffs of Mexico beyond. It felt surreal.
On the hike back, we split up. The kids and Cal took the Ernst Rim Trail route back toward camp while Meg took the main trail. It’s wild how quickly the desert can make you feel both small and strong at the same time.
Dinner was frozen pizza — simple and satisfying after a long day — and we finished by catching sunset from the top of a small mountain off the nature trail. The sky turned layers of orange, pink, and purple over the ridgelines.
Big Bend sunsets feel personal.
January 30
Chris Arrant greeted us early, and we packed up for one of the most unique experiences yet — crossing into Boquillas, Mexico.
Jude rode a burro. Bethan rode a caballo. They beamed the entire time.
We had lunch in town — goat tacos and margaritas — soaking in the culture and the simplicity of the little village. It’s incredible that you can cross a river and feel like you’ve stepped into an entirely different world.
After we returned to the U.S., we began making our way toward Big Bend Station, carrying another full day of memories with us.
