Big Bend Ranch State Park is located in west Texas, about an hour’s drive from Big Bend National Park. Although the state park is smaller than the national one, it’s no less impressive. Hikers can enjoy over 238 miles of back-country trails, spread across 315,000 acres or 492 square miles of desert wilderness.
Those with high clearance and four wheel drive vehicles can access over 70 miles of challenging trails that lead into the heart of the “despoblado” or “uninhabited place” as it was known by Spanish explorers. Drive-in camping is only allowed in a handful of sites, including La Mota 02, where we stayed for two nights.
Below: An arroyo lined with cottonwoods – on the main road leading into BBRSP
A Stop Along the Way – Escondido Pens Campsite
On our way to La Mota #2 we camped for one night at Escondido Pens, which is an equestrian campsite with pens and water for horses. These sites are available to all campers, but should be left for use by those who are camping with horses if other sites are available. At this site we took a few night photos and enjoyed the luxury of a pit toilet and even running water near our campsite. The non-potable water -handy for washing dishes – comes from Ojo Escondido, a hidden spring near the closest campsite, Ojo Escondido #1.
Along with a picnic table under a shelter there’s a couple of fire pits at Escondido Pens equestrian campsite.
On To La Mota #2 Campsite
The road to this point is accessible by two wheel drive vehicles with high clearance. The rest of the road on to La Mota #2 campsite is listed as being accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles with high-clearance, but we we’re glad to have four-wheel drive in a couple places.
Arriving at La Mota #2 you’ll find a nice shade shelter and fire ring, along with no neighbors other than perhaps a few mule deer and javelinas.
Just off to the west, about a half-mile, lies La Mota Mountain, the 5,016′ namesake of the campsite and of the La Mota Ranch, which borders the park to the north. The former owners of this ranch donated more than 13,000 acres to the state in 1999 to expand BBRSP to its present size.
Climbing La Mota Mountain
La Mota mountain can be climbed and we made it to the summit in about an hour, however it was a bit of a scramble over jagged boulders and loose rocks. There is no trail and there are lots of cactus and brush with thorns. One may want to think twice about climbing in the spring and summer, when rattlesnakes are more active.
Below: The view back toward La Mota mountain from our campsite.
Big Bend Ranch State Park: Half Day Hikes (Texas State Parks...
- Fuller, Robert (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 90 Pages - 10/01/2019 (Publication Date) - Big Bend Ranch State Park (Publisher)
- Fuller, Robert (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 90 Pages - 10/01/2019 (Publication Date) - Big Bend Ranch State Park (Publisher)
Best Time to Visit Big Bend Ranch State Park
Summer in BBRSP can get very hot. Daytime temperatures can soar to over 115 degrees and there’s very little shade to be found. We enjoy visiting Big Bend Ranch State Park in the early spring and late fall. There are even opportunities for winter camping here, if you plan your visit between cold fronts. Be sure to bring plenty of water, food, fuel, etc., and as always, “leave no trace”
For more info you can visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
You can also see our other post from Big Bend Ranch State Park, Driving to Las Burras #3. Below is a video of that drive.
