Any Big Bend N.P. Recommendations?

[Imagebuffet]

I am planning a group trip to Big Bend National Park for some time in the next month or two. I anticipate spending 2 nights in the park, and the days spent exploring, before we move on to other locations in West Texas. Does anyone happen to know of group size limits in the Park?

Thank you.

[venchka]

GOOGLE knows. Go to the official site for the park. Book ahead. Make reservations NOW. This is a very popular time of the year. The weather is decent. Spring Break is coming.

[midlight21]

Oh....that's good info to know. Planning a trip to Big Bend at the beginning of April.

[xseption]

Go to Big Bend Chat and post the same question.

The beginning of April is a good time to go. Good luck!

~ edd

[Terry C]

How big a group are you planning to take and is it a commercial enterprise (are you charging people to go). If it is a money making venture then you need to get a permit for park use. the permit is around $500 (if I remember correctly) and is good for a year.

[venchka]

Why spend 2 days in B.B.N.P. and leave? Not real clever if you ask me. But you didn't. It's not my trip. Have fun.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by Terry C

How big a group are you planning to take

5 to 12 people

Originally Posted by Terry C

and is it a commercial enterprise (are you charging people to go).

It's for some hiking and camping groups, of which I am a member. The charges cover expenses for the trip.

Originally Posted by Terry C

If it is a money making venture

Oh, don't be silly! *Nothing* I do makes money!

Originally Posted by Terry C

then you need to get a permit for park use. the permit is around $500 (if I remember correctly) and is good for a year.

That's a good point, though the BBNP website makes it look complex.

"Permits are required of all operators who provide any and all goods, activities, agreements or other services to the general public which take place, at least in part, in the park, uses park resources and are undertaken for or results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit to an individual, organization or corporation, whether or not such entity is organized for purposes recognized as non-profit under local, state or federal law. This includes educational institutions."

Big Bend National Park - How an Commercial Use Authorization works (U.S. National Park Service)

Well, OK, but I am not trying to attract the general public to this trip, just my friends and associates. Maybe, some day, that will change; that would be nice. I'd much rather lead camping trips for a living than peck at a computer terminal in a dead-end job for a living.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by venchka

Why spend 2 days in B.B.N.P. and leave?

Because one could spend a month in BBNP and not have enough time, but I have other things out in West Texas that I want to share with the group in the limited time we have.

Originally Posted by venchka

Not real clever if you ask me. But you didn't. It's not my trip. Have fun.

Thanks. I'm not sure that I can get people to go for more than 2 days, regardless, which might be the reason that my group has never before hosted a trip to BBNP.

[midlight21]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

I'd much rather lead camping trips for a living than peck at a computer terminal in a dead-end job for a living.

Quit insulting my job, lol. It still brings me a paycheck every two weeks. That's why I'm escaping to Big Bend for a few days.