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As part of a major push to increase recreational opportunities at Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials have released a Public Use Plan and conducted public meetings in Marfa and Austin seeking input.
“I’m pretty impressed,” said Jeff Renfrow of the Big Bend Trails Alliance who attended the Austin meeting. “The plan is very ambitious. If it comes to fruition it will be fantastic.”
In a major thrust to increase recreational opportunities, the current 68.4-mile trail system will add an initial 83.1 miles and a future 90.4 miles of trail for a total 242.06 miles, in what would become the largest trail system of any park in Texas. By comparison, Big Bend National Park has 203 miles of trails, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park has 80.
The proposed trail system, as described in the plan itself, is “extensive and ambitious,” encompassing existing trails and extending that system out across large expanses of the park. A goal of this proposed trail system “is to provide trails and routes that capture the spirit of the land and are accessible where practicable, challenging educational, and scenic.”
The plan would open up all trails to multiple uses, including hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. TPWD Senior Planner Chris Beckcom told The Gazette, “The way we’re going to approach it on first flush is to allow all user groups. As the trail itself dictates, we will learn more about each trail and avoid conflicts.” Beckcom added, “It should be a mountain bike heaven.”
Other increases in recreational opportunities are 62 vehicle-accessible, designated campsites, increasing the number of trailheads from the current 8 to 24, and increasing the number of equestrian campsites from 1 to 5. All overnight use will require a use permit, available at Big Bend Ranch Complex Office, Fort Leaton in Presidio, Barton Warnock Center in Lajitas, and park headquarters at Sauceda.
Under the proposed plan, TPWD “does not intend to develop this park as a modern-day resort destination…. TPWD will provide the visitor with single and multi-day recreational opportunities such as hiking, backpacking, backcountry camping, horseback adventures, four-wheel drive touring, mountain biking, hunting, rafting, canoeing.”
Recognizing the cultural and ecological significance of the park, the plan identifies numerous attributes that deserve special consideration including: the unique hydrology of the Bofecillos Highlands that feeds most of the 134 active springs and three of the four highest waterfalls in Texas; populations of threatened Lloyd’s Mariposa cactus, Hinckley oak, and other plant species of special concern; the occurrence of over 300 species of birds including the zone-tailed hawk, Peregrine falcon, elf owl, and yellow-billed cuckoo and Bell’s vireo.
The park's 360 known archeological sites which document 11, 000 years of human habitation will be surveyed in accordance set forth by the Texas Historical Commission. TPWD will also conduct extensive monitoring of riparian habitats.
Last year a special advisory committee was appointed to make recommendations to TPWD regarding the future of BBRSP. Terlingua resident Jim Carrico, a member of the committee, told The Gazette “We have had two meetings and I came away from both with the distinct impression this is one of the best groups I have ever worked with; everyone is well engaged and we will assist Parks and Wildlife in getting the plan done right.”
The public was invited to attend and offer input about recreation in
Big Bend Ranch State Park at the third meeting of this kind, on
February 8, from 7–9 p.m. in Alpine at Kokernot Lodge, Sul Ross
University, 1101 North Loop Road.
To review the public use plan, visit Texas Parks & Wildlife and download the PDF of the "public draft for discussion."
