We did a quick overnight up the Marufo Trail in Big Bend National Park. Its not well know because it is not “Beginner Friendly”. Which makes it perfect. Very few people. Zero litter.
This would be a perfect hike to package up with the Outer Mountain Loop and extend your trip to BIBE.
Time on Trail: Two 6 hour days.
Distance: 19 miles with a few side trips.
Route: https://caltopo.com/m/VEJ4
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIEuNbyt9KU (made for my 85 year old mother)
Difficulty 7/10
Water: None. Zero. There is water in the Rio Grande. Some have filtered it. There is the danger of intermittent upstream industrial pollutants from the Mexican side.
Solitude 9/10
You are exposed to the desert sun 100% of the time during this hike. If you google it you will find that as you type “Marufo Vega Trail…” Google will suggest “Marufo Vega Trail Deaths”. Plan your time of year and water accordingly.
The first mile or so of this hike is up a desolate dry wash. Followed by a first climb. During the first climb there is a 40 yard section where the trail is made out of crystal!
Its a lollipop hike. We were glad we chose to do the south route first. There is a perfect campsite at the end of day one just before you descend into the bottom of the canyon/ Rio Grande.
The winds at night are big. Dyneema was not invented for tents. It was made for sails. The wind will remind you of this. Even with boulders on the tent stakes I had to get up and restake things once. With a nearly perfect pitch , down low, it managed to flap hard enough to unzip a few feet of the vestibule of a Stratosaphire Li.
The morning of the second day in the canyon is the most spectacular. The climb out is beautiful and a good workout.
.
