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Aloha Friends!
The 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park is just a few weeks away. By now you should have reserved your campsite or AirBnb. If not, the Park will release additional sites in a couple of weeks. Please contact the Park directly for details so that you don't miss out.
As of today, there are close to 50 Bronco owners who have made plans to attend the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park. When I posted the open invitation to join me back in June, I did not know how many people would show up. Last year, three Bronco owners showed up.
The intent of this update is to provide logistical details to get everyone to the trailhead on 12/28 and 12/29. If you are on Facebook and Instagram, please connect with me. That will make it easy to share pics after the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park. I will also be announcing the dates and location for the 2024 Bronco Drive via Facebook and Instagram.
December 27th: Arrive and setup camp. Meet and greet other Bronco owners in your campground. I will set up camp in site 32, in the Chisos Basin campground. Stop by with a cup for some coffee, and to roast a marshmallow over my propane campfire.
• Suggestion for early birds: Drive the Grapevine Hills Trail for those who want a short hike to the Balanced Rock.
• If you arrive after hours, I will recommend that you stop at the Panther Junction Visitor's Center in the morning to purchase a park pass. It will open at 8:30am. (https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/hours.htm)
• Be sure to top off your has tanks. You will find a small gas station at Panther Junction.
December 28th: Trail Day 1
9:00am - Meet at the River Road trailhead, which is on Park Road 12 at the River Road East turn off.
︎ 25 miles from the Chisos Basin Visitor's Center
︎ 15.5 miles from the Panther Junction Visitor's Center
︎ 4.5 miles from the Rio Grande Village Visitor's Center
Go ahead and air down. Please lend a hand to people near you who may need help with airing down, as there will be some newish off-roaders in the group. (20lbs to 25lbs)
9:15am - Brief driver meeting / Comms check
9:30am - Begin the Bronco Drive
We will stop along the way for pics, and for lunch.
We will be traveling through an arid landscape, and there will not be much privacy. A pop-up latrine may be a good item to bring with you. Amazon carries these, along with wag bags. Please pack out everything.
ROUTE DETAILS
︎ From Park Road 12, we will drive West on River Road East to the intersection of Glenn Springs Road and Talley Road.
︎ Turn onto Talley Road and drive to the intersection of Black Gap Road and River Road West.
︎ Turn onto River Road West and drive toward the Castolon Visitor's Center.
︎ We will stop near the Castolon Visitor's Center to air up before turning South onto the Santa Elena Canyon Road. (Please check on drivers near you and offer assistance with airing back up.)
︎ We will end the day, with a group picture, at the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook.
https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/river-road.htm
DINNER PLANS
If you do not have dinner plans, drive to La Kiva Restaurant & Bar in Terlingua (23220 FM 170, Terlingua).
︎ 43 miles (1 hour) from Santa Elena Canyon Overlook to
La Kiva Restaurant & Bar.
︎ 29 miles (41 minutes) from La Kiva Restaurant & Bar. to Chisos Basin Visitor's Center.
︎ 46 miles (1 hour) from La Kiva Restaurant & Bar to Rio Grande Village Visitor's Center.
December 29th: Trail Day 2
9:00am - Meet at the Dagger Flat Auto Trail, which is off the Main Park Road.
︎ 12.7 miles North of the Panther Junction Visitor's Center
︎ 13.3 miles South of the Persimmon Gap Ranger Station
Go ahead and air down. Please lend a hand to people near you who may need help with airing down, as there will be some newish off-roaders in the group. (20lbs to 25lbs)
9:15am - Brief driver meeting / Comms check
9:30am - Begin the Bronco Drive
We will stop along the way for pics, and for lunch.
We will be traveling through an arid landscape, and there will not be much privacy. A pop-up latrine may be a good item to bring with you. Amazon carries these, along with wag bags. Please pack out everything.
ROUTE DETAILS
︎ We will drive East on the Dagger Flat Auto Trail to the Old Ore Road.
︎ Our first stop on the Old Ore Road will be in 7 miles. There is a parking area at this location. The vista will provide an excellent back drop for a group photo. Individuals will want to take their own HERO photos of their Broncos.
︎ We will continue South on the Old Ore Road for 19.5 miles. This is a good place to air up before getting back on pavement. (Please check on drivers near you and offer assistance with airing back up.)
︎ We will turn East onto Rio Grande Village Drive and proceed to Boquillas Canyon Road, and then turn onto the road for Boquillas Canyon Overlook.
︎ The Boquillas Canyon Overlook will be a great place for a final group photo, and a great place to end the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park.
Individuals may want to stop at the Rio Grande Overlook, and the Hot Springs.
DINNER PLANS
I am planning to have dinner at the Mountain View Restaurant in the Chisos Mountain Lodge. Our group could overwhelm the restaurant, so be sure to arrive early. (You can also order food in the bar area.)
https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/dininginthepark.htm
December 30th: Departure
Thanks for joining me on the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park.
Randall
Meraki Hammocks
www.merakihammocks.com
e: [email protected]
Facebook: Meraki Hammocks
Instagram: @merakihammocks
The 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park is just a few weeks away. By now you should have reserved your campsite or AirBnb. If not, the Park will release additional sites in a couple of weeks. Please contact the Park directly for details so that you don't miss out.
As of today, there are close to 50 Bronco owners who have made plans to attend the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park. When I posted the open invitation to join me back in June, I did not know how many people would show up. Last year, three Bronco owners showed up.
The intent of this update is to provide logistical details to get everyone to the trailhead on 12/28 and 12/29. If you are on Facebook and Instagram, please connect with me. That will make it easy to share pics after the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park. I will also be announcing the dates and location for the 2024 Bronco Drive via Facebook and Instagram.
December 27th: Arrive and setup camp. Meet and greet other Bronco owners in your campground. I will set up camp in site 32, in the Chisos Basin campground. Stop by with a cup for some coffee, and to roast a marshmallow over my propane campfire.
• Suggestion for early birds: Drive the Grapevine Hills Trail for those who want a short hike to the Balanced Rock.
• If you arrive after hours, I will recommend that you stop at the Panther Junction Visitor's Center in the morning to purchase a park pass. It will open at 8:30am. (https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/hours.htm)
• Be sure to top off your has tanks. You will find a small gas station at Panther Junction.
December 28th: Trail Day 1
9:00am - Meet at the River Road trailhead, which is on Park Road 12 at the River Road East turn off.
︎ 25 miles from the Chisos Basin Visitor's Center︎ 15.5 miles from the Panther Junction Visitor's Center︎ 4.5 miles from the Rio Grande Village Visitor's CenterGo ahead and air down. Please lend a hand to people near you who may need help with airing down, as there will be some newish off-roaders in the group. (20lbs to 25lbs)
9:15am - Brief driver meeting / Comms check
9:30am - Begin the Bronco Drive
We will stop along the way for pics, and for lunch.
We will be traveling through an arid landscape, and there will not be much privacy. A pop-up latrine may be a good item to bring with you. Amazon carries these, along with wag bags. Please pack out everything.
ROUTE DETAILS
︎ From Park Road 12, we will drive West on River Road East to the intersection of Glenn Springs Road and Talley Road.︎ Turn onto Talley Road and drive to the intersection of Black Gap Road and River Road West.︎ Turn onto River Road West and drive toward the Castolon Visitor's Center. ︎ We will stop near the Castolon Visitor's Center to air up before turning South onto the Santa Elena Canyon Road. (Please check on drivers near you and offer assistance with airing back up.)︎ We will end the day, with a group picture, at the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook.https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/river-road.htm
DINNER PLANS
If you do not have dinner plans, drive to La Kiva Restaurant & Bar in Terlingua (23220 FM 170, Terlingua).
︎ 43 miles (1 hour) from Santa Elena Canyon Overlook to La Kiva Restaurant & Bar.
︎ 29 miles (41 minutes) from La Kiva Restaurant & Bar. to Chisos Basin Visitor's Center.︎ 46 miles (1 hour) from La Kiva Restaurant & Bar to Rio Grande Village Visitor's Center.December 29th: Trail Day 2
9:00am - Meet at the Dagger Flat Auto Trail, which is off the Main Park Road.
︎ 12.7 miles North of the Panther Junction Visitor's Center︎ 13.3 miles South of the Persimmon Gap Ranger StationGo ahead and air down. Please lend a hand to people near you who may need help with airing down, as there will be some newish off-roaders in the group. (20lbs to 25lbs)
9:15am - Brief driver meeting / Comms check
9:30am - Begin the Bronco Drive
We will stop along the way for pics, and for lunch.
We will be traveling through an arid landscape, and there will not be much privacy. A pop-up latrine may be a good item to bring with you. Amazon carries these, along with wag bags. Please pack out everything.
ROUTE DETAILS
︎ We will drive East on the Dagger Flat Auto Trail to the Old Ore Road.︎ Our first stop on the Old Ore Road will be in 7 miles. There is a parking area at this location. The vista will provide an excellent back drop for a group photo. Individuals will want to take their own HERO photos of their Broncos.︎ We will continue South on the Old Ore Road for 19.5 miles. This is a good place to air up before getting back on pavement. (Please check on drivers near you and offer assistance with airing back up.)︎ We will turn East onto Rio Grande Village Drive and proceed to Boquillas Canyon Road, and then turn onto the road for Boquillas Canyon Overlook.︎ The Boquillas Canyon Overlook will be a great place for a final group photo, and a great place to end the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park.Individuals may want to stop at the Rio Grande Overlook, and the Hot Springs.
DINNER PLANS
I am planning to have dinner at the Mountain View Restaurant in the Chisos Mountain Lodge. Our group could overwhelm the restaurant, so be sure to arrive early. (You can also order food in the bar area.)
https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/dininginthepark.htm
December 30th: Departure
Thanks for joining me on the 2023 Bronco Drive @ Big Bend National Park.
Randall
Meraki Hammocks
www.merakihammocks.com
e: [email protected]
Facebook: Meraki Hammocks
Instagram: @merakihammocks
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