Have three little ones ages 6, 5 and 1(oops). Taking them to Big Bend this Spring Break(I know it will be packed but it's what we got). Any tips to see the park while also keeping them entertained? Currently have a spot at an RV park outside the park and hoping to get a campsite that is first come first serve inside the park.

Not expecting a whole lot more than glamoing, getting the kids outside and star gazing but any kid tips would be great! Thanks.

Swimming around in the hot spring. Probably would not recommend Boquillas.

You could swim across the Rio and start a better life in Mexico once the Democrats get into the White House.

Need to go to the sand hill on the river close to the Rio Grande Village campground

And I think you can cross overI into Boquillas now with some planning - used to be able get a burro ride but don't k own if that is still available

Sounds strikimgly similar to our spring break last year... Ours were 5 and 3, and we went with 2 other families (a total of 6 kids ages 3-7 vs 6 adults). Some highlights/suggestions:
- Stopped in Monahans for a night on the way out, and the sand dunes were a big hit.
- Stayed in RVs/trailers in an RV park in Terlingua. We thought it was a good home base. If you've never been, you should know it's BIG Bend, so plan to drive. A lot. Don't expect to see the entire park in a single trip.
- We hiked Santa Elena Canyon. Very manageable with our kiddos, and even my 3yo hiked this one. You'll need to pack/carry the 1yo, of course.
- Hot Springs were the highlight of the trip. Jumped into the RG and floated down a few hundred yards ( there's a weathered "takeout" on the US side and trail back to the springs. We also had life jackets for the kiddos, even though they can all swim. The RG had a bit of pace to her flow, be safe. But it was a BLAST.
- We hiked another trail, trailhead was off the road into the basin, maybe Lost Mine Trail? Reasonable elevation gain to a nice view (into Mexico, IIRC). All kids except my 3yo had plenty of legs to get to the top and back. We just let the little guy climb as long as he could, then tossed him onto my back(pack). Start early, it will get crowded. Bring snacks and water, pack lunches for the car and picnic after decending.
- Dinner at Starlight. Go early, there will be a wait, probably a long one. We showed up at 500, put our name on the list, and had time to go back to the RV park and shower everyone.

Have fun!

Random thoughts in no particular order.

Got a 4x4? Plan to do a lot of backcountry driving to stay away from the hugest tourist crowds. Lots of people in minivans that don't go off-road.

Went over Thanksgiving with friends who have two kids under 5. Chinos Basin has literally zero parking spots when we drove in one morning so we went and did Old Ore Road. Saw maybe 5 vehicles total.

Mariscal Mine was easy to walk to from parking. Just don't let your kids lick rocks. And it's a long off-road drive.

Don't stay in any of the campsites by the Rio Grande. We stayed at Johnson Ranch first night. Maybe 50 yards from the river. Volunteer park rangers came by that evening and warned us to not leave any gear the next day while exploring. It would be stolen by river hoppers while we were gone. We started packing up to move camp sites the next morning. Sure enough we heard a truck pull up and park opposite us across the river.

Balanced Rock was ok with the kids. A long flat hike with a short kind of rock climb. The kids were slow but we made it ok.

Lower Burro Mesa Pouroff was good for kids.

I hiked Pine Canton solo all the way to its pour off. Kids can go part way while it's easier.

Did not enjoy the hot springs. Very packed. Very little parking. The actual springs can hold about 10 people.

The dinosaur exhibit is awesome. Kids and adults both loved it.

Boquillos Canyon was great too. We stayed on our side of the river but you see folks on the other side. The ranger we got our backcountry campsite permit from said "you are legally allowed to carry firearms but can't discharge them in the park so I goes throw your gun if you need to".

It's nice to plan in stops at the various ranger stations like Panther Junction for using a real toilet if you end up staying at a backcountry site.

I second the new Dinosaur exhibit. It is very cool.

The scenic drive is pretty cool, as is the highway west of the park along the river. Santa Elena canyon is a short walk and there's a pretty creek that sometimes flows into it.

When I was about 6, and my siblings were 5 and 3, we hiked to the south rim. It was an all day affair, but we made it there and back. None of the trail is very steep or rough if your kids are fit, but the 1 year old would of course be pack weight. There are much shorter hikes however.

Great info. Have a 26' self contained travel trailer that I'll try to boondock at a back country spot that will be safe to tow to. Have a 4x4 but won't try rough back country roads while towing it.

Good insight on the hikes and dinosaur exhibit! We're also planning on staying in Monohans state park on the way and San Angelo State Park on the way out.

Stop in Alpine and visit the museum on Sul Ross campus

Great early life experiences there. First trip in '68 at the age of four. My family of six drove there in an unairconditioned '52 Chevy from Dallas first week in July pulling a homemade, wooden camping trailer. First trip to ER,...with heat stroke. Crossed into boquillas on donkey...my mom fell off and into the river. Carried up Santa Elena canyon on my older brother's neck.....he reminds me every Christmas....and when he needs money. Got head bloodied from a 25 cent haircut in oujinga (sp?).

Returned in sixth grade....age 11....with a friend's family. Got food poisoning from a ham his mom let spoil. Friend and I played pool in a bar in boquillas by ourselves against two men.....weren't told we were playing for money until after the game when they both paid us a dollar.

Good times.

I went twice as a teen. At age 14, I got lost on a hiking trail

After a 911 call and restless night in a tree, I finally got back to the hotel

Those last two stories are awesome! Not telling the wife though. Haha

Balanced rock hike seems perfect for y'all. Relatively flat, good road access, just off the main road in the park.

Indian Head is super easy and quick, too.

The Window and Lost Mine aren't bad, but probably more walking than the kids will want to do.

Hot springs is good for y'all during the day. No kids after dark, it's a more adult crowd.

Several ranger programs geared toward kids. Check with the park to see what's going on.

National parks are great with kids. Check into the junior ranger stuff at the visitors center, which generally comes with workbooks that give the kids flora and fauna to find while they visit the park.

I first went when I was 4 - 5. We took long walks through the summer to prepare for it, and hiked the Lost Mine and Window with no trouble. I was much older before I figured out we had hiked the "Lost Mine" and not the "Lost Mind" trail.

Back then you could cross the Rio on a canoe, then ride the donkey a few hundred yards up the hill to Boquillas. I don't think you could have ridden across the Rio Grande on a donkey then. We bought little stone-carved burros from a kid for about a nickel, and ate enchiladas and tacos in town. It was a really neat experience at that age, but I don't know if everyone will need passports and such today.

If you can keep a hand on them, both the Window and the Lost Mine trail would be great - just keep them close on the top of the Lost Mine, and at the last bit of the Window trail - you don't want them to slip. Incidentally, you can see the sunset through the window without hiking the trail - there's a paved walk anyone can do that's no more than a quarter mile long, then you can look through the long valley to the window.

Davis Mountain State Park may be a nice stop on the way home. You can hike a relatively easy trail from the park, over the hill to Fort Davis, and get an ice cream cone there before you walk back.


Hueco Tanks State Park may be another good stop. I don't know what the weather will be like at spring break, but if it's warm enough to swim, the kids will get a kick out of swimming with the fish nibbling their toes.