Home/Big Bend National Park/Chisos Basin Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx)

Recreation.govTX

Chisos Basin Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx)

Big Bend National Park

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Upcoming Availability

11 of 14 days currently show available sites.

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Tue, Oct 27

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Wed, Oct 28

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Campground guide

What to know before booking

Chisos Basin Group Campground, situated high in the rugged Chisos Mountains, is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Big Bend National Park. The group campground is located approximately 1/4 mile (.4 km) away from the main Chisos Basin Campground. The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande called the "big bend." For 1,250 miles (2012 km), the river is an International Boundary between the United States and Mexico.

Official campground details, summarized

Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.

Facilities

The group campground is located approximately 1/4 mile (.4 km) away from the main Chisos Basin Campground. Each site comes with a picnic table, charcoal grill and bear-proof food storage container and some sites come with picnic shelters for shade. All campsites are within easy walking distance to drinking water and toilets. No RVs, trailers, or generators are allowed. Group Site "O" allows for ONE smaller (up to 20 feet/6 m) recreational vehicle (camper van, pickup camper, or small RV) to camp adjacent to the tent area as part of the larger group. All other sites are exclusively walk-in, tents only.

Natural Features

The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande called the "big bend." For 1,250 miles (2012 km), the river is an International Boundary between the United States and Mexico. The campground lies at the base of several sloping cliffs amidst montane shrubland; desert plants such as Arizona cyprus and mesquite trees fill the landscape. Maple, aspen, pinyon and ponderosa pines grow at higher elevations just above the campground. Though it is lower than the surrounding cliffs, the Chisos Basin is at a higher elevation than other campgrounds within the park. Summer temperatures here are cool, yet warmer than other areas in fall and winter due to the cold air sinking into lower regions. The Chisos Mountains are a popular nesting site for migratory birds . The mountains provide the only nesting ground in the United States for the Colima Warbler, which arrives in mid-April and departs for its wintering grounds in southwestern Mexico by mid-September.

Recreation

This campground is a hub for hikers. Some of the park's most spectacular and popular Day Hike trails are nearby, including the Lost Mine Trail, the Window Trail, the South Rim Trail and the Pinnacles Trail, with its access to the park's highest point, Emory Peak (elevation 7,825 ft./2385 m). Campers can find the trailheads for most of these trails in the main Chisos Basin area a mile or so further down the Basin road from the campground. Access to the river is approximately 30 miles (48 km) away, where visitors can canoe, kayak and fish.

Nearby Attractions

Big Bend National Park encompasses 801,000 acres (324,153 ha) and the Chisos Basin area is centrally located. This allows visitors an excellent opportunity to explore all areas of the park in a relatively short drive. Big Bend offers excellent hiking trails, miles of rugged dirt roads, and endless possibilities for sightseeing.

Campsite map

Tent Size. Tents larger than 8 ft. by 8 ft. (2.4 x2.4 m) are not recommended because of site layout. Sites P, Q, and R can accommodate larger tents if necessary

More at Big Bend National Park

Other tracked campgrounds from the same park or area.

Recreation.govTX

Chisos Basin Campground (Big Bend, Tx)

Big Bend National Park

Active

Tracked page

6 sites open

Scanned 15h ago

Official link

Booking

View campgroundReserve

Surrounding campgrounds

Other tracked campgrounds within driving distance, nearest first.

Chisos Basin Campground (Big Bend, Tx)

Big Bend National Park

0 mi

Common questions

Is Chisos Basin Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx) available right now?

Kestrel's most recent scan found openings on 11 of the next 14 days, starting Tue, Oct 27. Availability changes constantly — check the calendar above, then confirm on Recreation.gov.

How do I book Chisos Basin Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx)?

Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.

How quickly will I hear about a cancellation?

Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.