The Hot Springs Trail along the Rio Grande in the southeast corner of Big Bend National Park is an excellent desert hike although sometimes rather an ordeal in summer when the heat and sunlight reflected off the whitish earth can become intense. The 3 mile path passes especially abundant desert plant life, at first crossing a plateau above the river which flows through a short, deep canyon below, traversing several side ravines before descending to the waters edge at the hot springs themselves, then continuing on to the remains of a small village founded in 1909. This can also be reached by car via a gravel track that branches off the park road, in which case a much shorter walk is needed to visit the springs.
The Trail: The trail starts near the Rio Grande campsite at the end of a spur road leading to the picnic area - a grassy, tree-lined location that is also popular for bird watching. At first the route climbs up the side of a steep hill, round the top of cliffs above the river then heads across the empty plateau beyond. After a while the land rises to the summit of a low ridge and offers wide views over a vast area of desert and canyons to the west, with the Chisos Mountains looming in the distance. The path tracks down, across and up several tributary canyons then along the river for about half a mile to the springs. At least 15 different types of cacti are found en route, plus other desert plants, including species of opuntia, mamillaria, echinocactus, echinocereus, ariocarpus and coryphantha.
The Springs: The springs are a few yards from the rivers edge and were enclosed in a brick wall early this century, creating a small bathing pool for the benefit of guests at nearby Hot Springs Village. This has long been abandoned but the pool still receives quite a few visitors who enjoy relaxing in the clear 105° waters, whilst the Rio Grande rushes noisily past. The setting is remote and unusual, and well worth a visit.
Hot Springs Village: The old village is not much further; the path is along the riverside beneath a layered, crumbling cliff face with Indian petroglyphs in some places. The remaining buildings include a general store and several living quarters; another relic is a circle of huge palm trees, planted to provide shelter from the sun - the temperature beneath feels at least 20°F lower. |
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