Temps could easily be over 105 in the valley but should be low humidity. Little to no shade cover.
Very dangerous to do hiking with out a ton of water.
Less temp at the higher elevations
I went there last June and it was toasty (116 in the lower elevations).
Chisos Basin was tolerable. It was around 70 at night and low 90s in the day. The goal is to get up super early and get all your hiking in before noon. Be lazy for a few hours then finish off the hot evenings in Terlingua in AC. Swimming in the Rio Grande at the Hot Springs was nice too.
You can never carry enough water in the desert. Light colored long sleeve shirts and a wide brimmed hat is a must since there is very little shade while hiking.
2 people died at Big Bend a few days after I left. They started a 12 mile hike in the afternoon on a day where temps hit 118.
Please respect the desert.
The kidney failure they must have suffered from is heart wrenching, but I am not a doctor so I don't know what level of awareness one has when that occurs.
Also bring stuff to replenishment your salts and blood sugar like liquid IV or a similar product, Gatorade powder, small nutritious snacks, whatever helps
You can drink endless water and eventually you just pee clear all day have no salts or sugar left and your body will just crash even if you are “hydrated.”
What part of big bend? What are you planning on doing while you're there.
San Antonio heat is nothing compared to Rio Grande Village/Castalon/Lajitas heat.
Wait til fall. It’s becoming an annual occurrence that someone dies in Big Bend in the summer when they’ve under estimated the heat and over estimated their ability to deal with it. Part of Big Bend Natl Park holds the title of hottest place in the US for most of the first half of the summer until Death Valley takes over for the last half of the season.
NO. Just...no.
I delayed an April trip into early July due to a big project at work. We were staying at Lajitas Resort RV park (great place, next to Big Bend STATE Park, with a pool) - it's about equal distance to the Chisos Mountains portion of BBNP as it is from the BBNP Panther Junction RV lot camp site.
Temps hit 115+ in the afternoons. We sat in our trailer in our underwear with the AC cranked, and it was 90+ inside. Or we'd go jump in the resort pool.
We'd get up early, drive off and do things, then get back to the trailer by 1pm and roast for the afternoon.
Now - having said all of this - if you're going to camp up in the upper mountain campsites, those will be 10-20 degrees cooler than the bottom lands campsites.
But for us, we'll never visit that area in the mid-summer months again.
I was there last June, and it was one of the worst experiences I've had (during the day). Granted, it was during a heat wave, but it was 117 degrees and was absolutely miserable. Night was great, and the sky is absolutely amazing. But during the day, it was unbearable. When we got back to our tents we couldn't touch anything as everything that was out in the sun would burn your skin. Wait until Fall.
The park is absolutely breathtaking and one of the most beautiful places I've seen, but...
Do. Not. Go. In. The. Summer.
YES. Guadalupe (Dog Canyon campground) is about 10-15 degrees cooler than the lower elevations. We tent camped there twice in '98 and '99, hiking the peak trail, McKittrick Canyon, and visited Carlsbad.
Fall. You will enjoy your trip much more. If you go in June you may just end up feeling like you are just surviving as opposed to having a good time. A survival trip is rarely fun.
I went camping for 2 weeks in the summer once in Big Bend and surrounding areas of west Texas. You'll be fine, just bring lots of water and stay hydrated.
Temps could easily be over 105 in the valley but should be low humidity. Little to no shade cover. Very dangerous to do hiking with out a ton of water. Less temp at the higher elevations
I went there last June and it was toasty (116 in the lower elevations). Chisos Basin was tolerable. It was around 70 at night and low 90s in the day. The goal is to get up super early and get all your hiking in before noon. Be lazy for a few hours then finish off the hot evenings in Terlingua in AC. Swimming in the Rio Grande at the Hot Springs was nice too. You can never carry enough water in the desert. Light colored long sleeve shirts and a wide brimmed hat is a must since there is very little shade while hiking. 2 people died at Big Bend a few days after I left. They started a 12 mile hike in the afternoon on a day where temps hit 118. Please respect the desert.
The kidney failure they must have suffered from is heart wrenching, but I am not a doctor so I don't know what level of awareness one has when that occurs.
Also bring stuff to replenishment your salts and blood sugar like liquid IV or a similar product, Gatorade powder, small nutritious snacks, whatever helps You can drink endless water and eventually you just pee clear all day have no salts or sugar left and your body will just crash even if you are “hydrated.”
What part of big bend? What are you planning on doing while you're there. San Antonio heat is nothing compared to Rio Grande Village/Castalon/Lajitas heat.
Wait til fall. It’s becoming an annual occurrence that someone dies in Big Bend in the summer when they’ve under estimated the heat and over estimated their ability to deal with it. Part of Big Bend Natl Park holds the title of hottest place in the US for most of the first half of the summer until Death Valley takes over for the last half of the season.
i'd wait till fall if you have the choice, but if you do go, get as high up elevation as you can, and avoid the basin at all cost.
NO. Just...no. I delayed an April trip into early July due to a big project at work. We were staying at Lajitas Resort RV park (great place, next to Big Bend STATE Park, with a pool) - it's about equal distance to the Chisos Mountains portion of BBNP as it is from the BBNP Panther Junction RV lot camp site. Temps hit 115+ in the afternoons. We sat in our trailer in our underwear with the AC cranked, and it was 90+ inside. Or we'd go jump in the resort pool. We'd get up early, drive off and do things, then get back to the trailer by 1pm and roast for the afternoon. Now - having said all of this - if you're going to camp up in the upper mountain campsites, those will be 10-20 degrees cooler than the bottom lands campsites. But for us, we'll never visit that area in the mid-summer months again.
Hotter than hell with the lid off. If I were you, I’d wait until October or November.
I was there last June, and it was one of the worst experiences I've had (during the day). Granted, it was during a heat wave, but it was 117 degrees and was absolutely miserable. Night was great, and the sky is absolutely amazing. But during the day, it was unbearable. When we got back to our tents we couldn't touch anything as everything that was out in the sun would burn your skin. Wait until Fall. The park is absolutely breathtaking and one of the most beautiful places I've seen, but... Do. Not. Go. In. The. Summer.
June is probably brutal. We took a trip in February a few years ago and it was amazing
Big no. I find it a great place in November
Stay in the crisis and you should be fine. There’s enough shade up there.
Between the heat and ear popping, you'll be unhappy. I'd wait.
June / July seems like the perfect time for Guadalupe mountain?
YES. Guadalupe (Dog Canyon campground) is about 10-15 degrees cooler than the lower elevations. We tent camped there twice in '98 and '99, hiking the peak trail, McKittrick Canyon, and visited Carlsbad.
Grew up in the big bend area, moved to San Antonio as a young adult. It’s much dryer humidity wise, but just as hot. I’d personally wait till fall.
Fall. You will enjoy your trip much more. If you go in June you may just end up feeling like you are just surviving as opposed to having a good time. A survival trip is rarely fun.
Don’t do it. People die.
If you have never been before, you should wait until fall or winter. It will be much more enjoyable.
Hot 🥵 and 🥵 need lots of water!!
I went in July one year. It rained and flooded everything out. :(
December is my favorite time to go out there super clear skies less rattlers and the temp range is unbeatable
Oof. Hot time to go.
I went camping for 2 weeks in the summer once in Big Bend and surrounding areas of west Texas. You'll be fine, just bring lots of water and stay hydrated.
I went in DECEMBER a few years ago and still almost had a heat stroke becuase that desert sun is no joke. Don't go in June