Always fill up the gas tank while you’re in town. It might be 100 miles before you see a gas station again.
Hike Emory Peak on your first full day, when you’re at peak excitement and peak energy.
Show up EARLY if you want to nab a campsite in the park itself. On a holiday weekend, you should probably plan for 9 a.m. to be safe. If you miss out on a spot, Stillwell Ranch is a great (and cheap!) alternative.
Invest in hiking boots!
Bring extra sunglasses, you might leave yours in Marfa 😎
Pack layers. Temperatures go from 30s in the morning to sunny high 60s at mid-day and back down to 40s at sunset.
Avoid Old Maverick Road. If the map says “road unpaved,” well, it’s not lying.
You can never pack too much water. Stay hydrated!
In Terlingua, High Sierra has much better food than the Starlight Theatre. But definitely stop by the Starlight for live music and the craft cocktail and margarita selection.
The “El Rancho” cocktail is made with just tequila, topo chico and lime
Play the Jurassic Park theme song when entering Chisos Basin
Pre-download music and podcasts. There’s no radio and spotty wifi on the drive throughout the park.
On a hike that’s estimated at 2+ hours, bring a backpack with water and snacks even if it seems annoying.
Next time, I want to…
Camp in the Chisos Mountains (or just stay in the lodge 😜)
Take a river trip around the Santa Elena Canyon
Cross into Mexico at the Boquillas Canyon
Outer Mountain Loop (30-mile, multi-day trek)…maybe one day!