I know Big Bend is popular here and has been discussed countless times before, but I am hoping to get specific info about early January with the family in the state park. I made a reservation in the state park around New Year's Day. Wife is concerned about cold temps. Would be tent camping with wife and two kids (10 and 7). Our site is La Mota on the Leyva/Upper Fresno loop.

Will we be disappointed on our first trip staying in the SP as opposed to the NP? I know the weather can vary a lot from area to area there... anyone familiar with our area of the SP in winter?

Thanks y'all!

I've camped down in the desert for new year's before. It made it down into the teens, and we woke up with ice inside the tent. The forecast said it was only supposed to be in the 30s that night in the desert.

Not saying that will happen, but it's possible out there.

It can be cold or warm, it is desert so the temperature can vary greatly. It is wonderfully remote. The places you chose are pretty easily truck accessible, and the campsites are all nice for a good tent spread.

You'll be plenty warm with a good pad to keep you off the ground and enough sleeping bags, fleeces, etc. I use a zero degree bag and fleece liner and stay plenty warm down into the teens. Something that works great for a family in a tent is to sleep side by side in pairs or more, then buy an extra large plain Jane rectangular bag, and unzip it fully and use it as an extra blanket on top of everyone. It lets you sort of share collective body heat. Just make sure those who get up for late night bathroom excursions sleep on the outside.

Speaking of, buy a couple of disposable "chemical toilet in a bag" kits and a bucket with a toilet seat setup, or a tiny porta-can for the females and little kids. The sites are completely primitive, except a fire ring and a picnic table at most. You'll have plenty of privacy at the sites, but it's a portacan, a bucket, or go behind your car.

Bring layers of clothes and you will be fine. They allow fires at the sites, if fire hazard is lower, but you have to bring your own wood out there.

I NYE camped/hiked with the then-gf there about 5 years ago. It was highs in the 40s, lows below freezing, overcast (which probably kept it from getting colder at night). When we were driving back toward Terilingua, we encountered a large area hit by an ice storm. Had that hit us, we would've been screwed.

The plus side is, you have the place to yourself.

The state park is more desert than the national park, and not quite as high in elevation, but you can get away from everyone out there. You might not see but a handful of people at most all day, or none, depending on where you go. You'll do lots of driving and hiking to see things but there are some superb vistas and the night sky is spectacular, as is the sunrise and sunset.

Bring a good spare and a fix a flat kit, just in case, and some basic recovery tools, but if you stay on the improved roads you shouldn't have any problems in a truck or suv.

The unimproved Jeep tracks are really cool, but you have to be trail ready for self recovery and willing to get some scratches.

If you are into geology, it's hard to find a cooler place in the state of Texas.

Besides the obvious cold weather sleeping bag (cheap walmart brands are overrated temp wise) the pad is super important. If you don't have a good one, get some cheap foam pads to double up the ones you have. Makes a huge difference

Just plan for it to be freezing every morning.....

Spend $70 and buy yourself a Mr. Heater propane heater and save yourself the worry.

raidernarizona said:

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Spend $70 and buy yourself a Mr. Heater propane heater and save yourself the worry.

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If you do this, please make sure you have proper ventilation.

Whoo these replies are making me a little nervous. I love cold weather camping but my wife might kill me. We do have a Big Buddy Mr. Heater I would definitely take. It's a catalytic heater and they're supposed to be safe for indoor use. I'd still make sure we have some ventilation, though. We will have to invest in nicer bags and sleeping pads. Are pads warmer than cots?

Absolutely. The air passing under a cot will freeze your backside compared to a thick pad on ground. Learned this the hard way.

If you do a cot you will need to rig it like a hammock. Attach an under quilt.

https://images.app.goo.gl/NUw75zRMVPWTFa4q8

OP, what do you drive?

We will be in a 4wd 4Runner. i had invited another family to join us but they can't so we may be on our own. Is it a bad idea to be running these roads all day solo? I'm handy enough and pretty good at improvising, but we are complete novices at off-roading. I wasn't anticipating any real challenging off-road driving. I was even considering taking our 2wd Tundra just to have more storage space.

Your setup is fine for most of the roads, just be aware of the high clearance trails. Plan your routes in advance.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4501_0152k.pdf

bam02 said:

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We will be in a 4wd 4Runner. i had invited another family to join us but they can't so we may be on our own. Is it a bad idea to be running these roads all day solo? I'm handy enough and pretty good at improvising, but we are complete novices at off-roading. I wasn't anticipating any real challenging off-road driving. I was even considering taking our 2wd Tundra just to have more storage space.

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It depends. If you're sticking to the main/improved roads and wanting to use them to access hiking trails, you'll be fine.

If you're wanting to push the limits of your T4R and see what it can do, this wouldn't be the time.

My wife got two flat tires on the Road to Nowhere because she wasn't paying attention and sliced the sidewalls on a rock. Bad day if you're only carrying one spare, and have no way of getting help.

Where are you located?

Naveronski said:

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bam02 said:

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We will be in a 4wd 4Runner. i had invited another family to join us but they can't so we may be on our own. Is it a bad idea to be running these roads all day solo? I'm handy enough and pretty good at improvising, but we are complete novices at off-roading. I wasn't anticipating any real challenging off-road driving. I was even considering taking our 2wd Tundra just to have more storage space.

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It depends. If you're sticking to the main/improved roads and wanting to use them to access hiking trails, you'll be fine.

If you're wanting to push the limits of your T4R and see what it can do, this wouldn't be the time.

My wife got two flat tires on the Road to Nowhere because she wasn't paying attention and sliced the sidewalls on a rock. Bad day if you're only carrying one spare, and have no way of getting help.

Where are you located?

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Thanks for the advice. In SA

Stick to the 2Wd high clearance or better and you'll be fine. You can drive all the way out to the solitairo and some of the other main roads with no issues and see plenty.

You won't get that cold out there. It can get pretty cold and windy, but in a tent, with enough bags and blankets and fleeces and decent padding (even a good air mattress with a thick blanket on top is adequate). Then put in some layered clothes to sleep in and you're toasty warm. You'll need the layers in the morning when you get up for coffee and to watch the sun rise. You won't want to miss it if the skies are clear.

MouthBQ98 said:

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Stick to the 2Wd high clearance or better and you'll be fine. You can drive all the way out to the solitairo and some of the other main roads with no issues and see plenty.

You won't get that cold out there. It can get pretty cold and windy, but in a tent, with enough bags and blankets and fleeces and decent padding (even a good air mattress with a thick blanket on top is adequate). Then put in some layered clothes to sleep in and you're toasty warm. You'll need the layers in the morning when you get up for coffee and to watch the sun rise. You won't want to miss it if the skies are clear.

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Thanks! This post made me feel better about it. I was starting to waiver on the trip. I'm gonna invest in better sleeping bags and get pads for everyone. We want to see as much as we can but won't be trying our luck on any unimproved trails.

MouthBQ98 said:

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Stick to the 2Wd high clearance or better and you'll be fine. You can drive all the way out to the solitairo and some of the other main roads with no issues and see plenty.

You won't get that cold out there. It can get pretty cold and windy, but in a tent, with enough bags and blankets and fleeces and decent padding (even a good air mattress with a thick blanket on top is adequate). Then put in some layered clothes to sleep in and you're toasty warm. You'll need the layers in the morning when you get up for coffee and to watch the sun rise. You won't want to miss it if the skies are clear.

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caution on this one. You will more than likely sweat going this route, and once you get the moisture built up in your bag, you get real cold real quick.

I've had the most luck with a good mummy style bag, good pad, and sleeping in a good base layer. I also put on a toboggan and neck gaiter pulled up over my nose and mouth, as well as a dedicated pair of sleeping socks. If I have room, I keep a dedicated set of the above for sleeping only and change in the morning, as well as before sacking our in the evening. Im a sweater and am more confortable with a fresh set of sleeping clothes, and not sleep in sweated up, farted up duds I have had on all day. Don't tuck your head in your bag, as your exhaling will cause moisture build up in your bag as well. One other tip, is to bring ear plugs, yes you will in the middle of no where, but a stiff wind across a rainfly will keep you up half the night. To each his own, but I had my both my boys camping this way where the most extreme got down to 17 one night, not bad for a 4 and 7 year old at the time.

So I had no idea that BBRSP was 8 hours from SA vs 6 hours for BBNP. Thats a bummer.

To be sure. It can get rather warm in a bag. I'm thinking more in terms of if you have to get up in the middle of the night or in the early AM, to avoid having to put on stuff in the tent before stepping out. Big tent, not so much of a problem.

I also have "sleeping clothes" that stay clean and are only for camp and sleeping in, unless it is a very light weight short duration type tent camping.

Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess

We took our 4 kids between Christmas and NY (ages 6-13 at the time). It was below freezing every night but it warmed up pretty quickly once the sun came up. Have some firewood ready and make some coffee/ hot cocoa each morning and you will be fine.

Great trip - we stayed at Cottonwood campground and made day trips from there. Also be sure and hit the natural history museum at Sul Ross - awesome stop on the way in or out.