Today we decided to explore the Big Bend Texas State Park. At the visitor center we discovered to go into the Range Station in the middle of the park was about a 2 1/2 hour one-way trip with half on unimproved dirt roads requiring a high-clearance vehicle. While our Jeep qualified, that was a longer drive than we were interested in. The ranger showed us locations for good views and easy trails accessible from Hwy 170. Starting in Laitas, Hwy 170 passes through the park for many (40-ish?) miles. We decided to head that way. This is a VERY scenic drive. It has the highest and steepest highway pass crossing in Texas. That section of road is very pretty with shear canyon walls. The grade is very steep but has only a short ascent and descent both sides. There is a trail we thought about taking called Closed Canyon but opted out. There is a lot of river access and dry camping available along this route. We stopped at one point where the Rio Grande was probably 20 feet wide and up against a sheer canyon wall. Very pretty. Very few people on this route. I highly recommend if you get to Terlingua to take the drive through Lajitas and at least across the pass. It is very beautiful and not a long drive at all.
After the drive through the park, we had lunch at the Candelilla Cafe once again. We returned to the coach and did our laundry. We are preparing to leave in the morning for Carlsbad Caverns National Park.