Service at Big Bend National Park, Texas

The Trip

Revitalize yourself in nature. Wonder at a scenic overlook in the Chisos mountains. Photograph desert wildflowers. Watch the sunset over the tops of mountains followed by a star-filled sky with no light pollution. If this experience appeals to you, join us for a memorable week in Big Bend.

Big Bend is a desert ecosystem where thousands of fauna and animal species flourish in a land of summer temperatures over 100 F and scarce rain. It is the only park in the continental U.S. that contains fossils from the Age of Reptiles to the Age of Mammals. Ninety species of dinosaurs, some previously unknown to science, have been uncovered within its boundaries. Some replicas are in the dinosaur display. The park has 100 miles of paved roads, 150 miles of dirt roads, 200 miles of hiking trails, and the Rio Grande River, offering many activities. In the center of the park is a small mountain range that offers excellent hiking. At night, the park has the darkest measured skies of the Lower 48 states, excellent for star viewing.

Big Bend has long attracted visitors to its natural beauty of mountain overlooks, spectacular sunrise and sunsets, and moderate spring weather. Each February, bluebell flowers signal spring is underway. For many visitors, binoculars and a camera are considered standard gear.

The Project

Our service outing will consist of five workdays and two park-exploration days. Sierra Club has developed a long streak of service trips at Big Bend. Working alongside park staff, teams have removed barbed wire fence, telephone poles, and wires, and performed extensive restoration of grasslands.

Visiting the small Mexican village of Boquillas across the border is popular with participants on a day off. A passport is required for re-entry.

Getting There

One must bring all that is needed as the park is remote and few facilities exist. The park is 325 miles from El Paso, 550 miles from Fort Worth, 220 miles from Odessa, and 410 miles from San Antonio. There is no public transportation to or through the park. We will assemble a list of travel plans to facilitate carpooling and rental-car sharing. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

We will run our trip in the spirit of a backcountry base camp, utilizing Leave No Trace practices. There are porta-potties, picnic tables, drinking water, and wash water. There is a single shower within the building that we can share.

After setting up camp, our first meal will be dinner. Following Sierra Club tradition, each day two campers will assist the cook with meal preparation and clean up. After breakfast, we will each prepare our on-trail lunch. All cooking equipment and cleaning supplies are provided. Each camper will bring a plate, bowl, cup, eating utensils, napkin, and container for lunch. The menu is designed with taste and nutrition in mind. Vegetarians (but not vegans) can be accommodated. All other dietary restrictions will be considered.

Trip Difficulty

This is an active trip that will include bending, lifting, digging, and hauling. You will have a better time and prevent injuries if you are in good shape before the trip starts.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants furnish all personal equipment, including boots, daypacks, sleeping bags, tents, a personal “ouch kit," toiletries, and eating utensils. The Sierra Club furnishes all shared group gear, stoves, cookware, a group first-aid kit, and food. Trip staff is trained and certified in wilderness first aid, and carry first-aid kits. Temperatures can vary from below 39 F to 70 F. Typical February rain is 0.5 inches. Gear should be appropriate for three-season conditions. 

References

Maps:

• Trails Illustrated Topographical Map #225: "Big Bend National Park."

Books:

• Big Bend, The Official National Park Handbook.
• Langford, J.O., Big Bend: A Homesteader's Story.
• Maxwell, Ross A., The Big Bend of the Rio Grande, Guidebook #7.
• The Sierra Club Guide to the National Parks: Desert Southwest.
• Wauer, Roland, Big Bend: A History of the Last Texas Frontier.
• Books on the Big Bend are available on site and online from the Big Bend Natural History Association: http://www.bigbendbookstore.org

​Websites:

• Big Bend National Park: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/

This is hardly a complete listing of available references; such a listing would require an additional brochure. Countless books are available for purchase at the park.

Conservation

Natural drainages were altered by early ranchers when constructing stock ponds for their livestock. In some instances, berms were formed by the dirt excavated for the ponds, which deflected the natural course of the water, depriving some areas of needed moisture and funneling vast amounts of water across other areas. This rapid runoff during desert flash floods created deep gullies and resulted in extensive soil loss. One of our jobs will be to halt the damage being done to this fragile environment and to work toward reclaiming it as vibrant grassland. Removal of exotic vegetation and replanting of native trees along the river will also be a plus for the environment there, as will any other project the NPS needs us to do.

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.