• Big Bend National Park - Fossil Bone Exhibit - This tour takes about two to three hours, but we’ll have an opportunity for an hour-long detour partway through if you want to extend your journey. It will lead to the remains of a historic village by the Rio Grande and a hot springs hiking trail. I’ll give you a heads up once we get close.

Note: This 72-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Big Bend in 3-4 hours.

• Entrance Station - Big Bend National Park’s entrance station, located near Alpine, Texas, serves as the primary gateway to this expansive and rugged national park. The entrance station itself is a modest structure, often featuring a small building with a rustic design that blends harmoniously with the surrounding desert landscape. Visitors are greeted with a sign marking the entrance to the park, typically bearing the park’s name and emblem.

• Chihuahuan Desert - We’re surrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert—a desert so large that the entire country of France could fit cozily inside of it! Don’t let the idea of a little chihuahua make you think this is a little desert. It spans across Texas, New Mexico, and several Mexican states. This desert lends its name to the state of Chihuahua. And that’s where the little dogs originated, so it’s where they get their name!

• Sierra Del Carmen - They border the park along the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. With no rivers, roads, or towns in the Sierra, the region has earned the reputation of being one of the most remote places on earth!

• Chisos Mountains - They get their name from the Chizos tribe. You might notice that while most of Big Bend consists of desert, the Chisos are forested. So, how does this green speck exist in a stretch of brown? Well, it’s a sky island.

• Fossil Discovery Exhibit - Opened in 2017, this exhibit features replicas of some of the most famous fossils discovered in Big Bend. The paleontologists here have been hard at work for years, excavating more than 1,200 fossils! This is also the only National Park where they’ve found rocks from the Cretaceous period!

• Avery Canyon - It’s named after J.C. Avery, who ranched here at the dawn of the 1900s. At this time in Big Bend history, settlements began to spring up like wildgrass. The flood of people was a result of the developing railroad, which finally reached the nearby town of Marathon in the 1880s. With the addition of 4,000 miles of tracks, Brewster County was born—that’s the county we’re driving through now.

• Chisos Mountains - The Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park rise majestically from the desert floor, offering a striking contrast to the surrounding arid landscape. These rugged, forested peaks are often shrouded in mist, with their rocky crags and lush greenery providing a haven for diverse wildlife. The dramatic vistas from the mountain trails reveal sweeping views of the park’s vast expanse, punctuated by deep canyons and the winding Rio Grande.

• Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive - Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park winds through some of the park’s most stunning and diverse landscapes, from sweeping desert vistas to rugged canyons. The drive offers panoramic views of the Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, and the vastness of the Chihuahuan Desert, with frequent pullouts for scenic overlooks and photo opportunities.

• Marfa Lights Viewing Area - One night in 1883, a young cowhand was driving cattle back to a ranch when he saw something strange. A flicker of light, intense and brief, off in Big Bend’s distance. He continued traveling after a moment, assuming it was simply an Apache fire. But the next day the young man talked with other settlers, who’d also seen the inexplicable lights.

• Sam Nail Ranch - This 15,000-acre ranch operated for nearly 40 years and witnessed a whole lot of Big Bend history. In 1916, two brothers set out for Brewster County during the ranching boom. America saw an increase in homesteads since the government encouraged folks to grow their own food and conserve resources during the first World War.

• Lower Burro Mesa Pour-off Trail - Long before miners came to this area in the 1900s, Burro Mesa was one of the most valuable natural resource sites around. 13,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers during the prehistoric period found something called chert here. This colorful sedimentary rock was perfect for stone tools like spearheads for hunting.

• Homer Wilson Ranch - You’ll also get a scenic view of the Blue Creek Valley—the same sight that probably drew Wilson to settle here in 1929. As a World War I veteran, Wilson returned to Texas looking for a peaceful place to build a home for his family.

• Sotol Vista - Sotol Vista Overlook in Big Bend National Park offers breathtaking panoramic views of the expansive desert landscape, with the rugged Chisos Mountains silhouetted against the horizon. From this vantage point, visitors can see the vastness of the Chihuahuan Desert stretching out below, punctuated by the Rio Grande and distant canyons.

• Mule Ears Spring Trail - The odd geological formation is made up of rhyolite—a type of volcanic rock. But how did the unnatural ears form? Two words: Geological dikes. These occur when magma flows into the crack of an existing rock mass, then it cools and solidifies.

• Terlingua - On the outskirts of Big Bend sits Terlingua, a mining district turned ghost town. The name derives from tres lenguas, or referring to the three languages that were spoken during its founding—English, Spanish, and Lipan Apache. At one point, Terlingua was a sleepy Mexican village that sprung up near the Rio Grande.

• Tuff Canyon Overlook - We’re approaching Tuff Canyon Overlook, where you’ll get a chance to observe a deep canyon gouged in Big Bend’s landscape. The muddle of red and tan rock is evidence of the region’s volcanic years.

• Cerro Castellan - This majestic mountain is the subject of many photos and even more questions. How did Cerro Castellan form? What is the red-orange surface made of?

• Castolon Historic District - We’re about to enter the Castolon Historic District. I know, it doesn’t look like much. But pretty soon you’ll see a few historic buildings off to our right—some of the only remnants of the pre-park days here.

• Santa Elena Canyon River Access - Want to get up close and personal with the Rio Grande? Our best chance is just ahead! We’ll soon reach a great spot for river access, where plenty of folks come to hang out by the river’s edge.

• Santa Elena Canyon - Here you’ll get a jaw-dropping view of the limestone cliffs. If you take a moment to look over the edge, you’ll see the Rio Grande plunging 1,500 feet below. So, how did the landscape take such a dramatic shape?

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Discover the true American West with this self-guided Big Bend National Park, Texas, driving tour—cruise across vast desert landscapes in the shadow of the Chisos Mountains. Unearth an embattled history of Spanish presidios, raiding parties beneath a Comanche Moon, and cursed silver in the mountains. Take in soaring panoramas from Sotol Vista and Tuff Canyon Overlook and visit the historic town of Castolon. This park is a hidden gem waiting to be uncovered!

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
• How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
• Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
• Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
• Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
• Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
• Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
• Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
• Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.
• CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use phone speakers if needed.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.