Dog Canyon

On our way out of Big Bend National Park this morning, we stopped and hiked the Dog Canyon Trail, 4 miles round trip with minimal gain. We were the only people on the trail while we were here.

View from the trailhead/road at sunrise

View behind us towards the Chisos Mountains to the Southwest, and

then behind us to the northwest.

sun rising higher as we continued.

We saw several wildflowers including these evening primroses.

After about a mile, the trail drops into a wash, to the left leads to Dog Canyon.

Getting closer to Dog Canyon

In Dog Canyon 

near the end of Dog Canyon

Views seen coming back through Dog Canyon

Moon setting over an cotillo in bloom on top of the canyon

prickly pear cactus

Heading back to the trailhead, view towards Chisos mountains

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail this morning:

  

 

 

 

Lost Mine Trail

The Lost Mine Trail is a very popular hike at Big Bend National Park with limited parking and is located 1 mile from the Chisos Basin area. We lift while it was still dark to get a parking spot and started hiking at first light to avoid the predicted wind and dust storm of this afternoon (wind gusts up to 75mph). The hike is 4.8 miles round trip with 1,100 ft gain.

Casa Grande Peak before sunrise

some views as we started up the trail:

View looking towards Casa Grande Peak and Chisos Basin at Sunrise 

more views on our way up as the sun rose and we gained altitude

Nearing the end of the trail (to the left) up on the ridge

Lovely rock formation 

There were some wind gusts around 30 mph while we were up on the ridge.

View to the south from the end of the trail

Views from the ridge as we started to return down the trail:

We found some claret cups in bloom.

Views as we hiked down the trail:

The wind was kicking up the dust far below.

These were the only wildflower in bloom we saw along the trail this morning: