Big Bend National Park in June?
#3
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,304
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Yes, and I have visited in June.
Actually not a bad time to visit, the park doesn't see a lot of visitors in summer so you will have plenty of solitude. There is such a variation in temps between the river, desert and mountains that you should be ok. I don't know that I would want to spend mid-day out in the desert, but that is the perfect time to hit the mountains. Save the lower elevations for morning/evening.
Late June/early July is the start of the rainy season - when I went they hadn't had significant rain in several months but then it rained every single day I was there. However, the park is so huge that you can avoid the rain - storms generally only cover parts of the park so you can head to a different section if it's raining. And the rain lends a whole new aspect to the experience, it will cool off the air and flood some areas which most people don't ever see.
Actually not a bad time to visit, the park doesn't see a lot of visitors in summer so you will have plenty of solitude. There is such a variation in temps between the river, desert and mountains that you should be ok. I don't know that I would want to spend mid-day out in the desert, but that is the perfect time to hit the mountains. Save the lower elevations for morning/evening.
Late June/early July is the start of the rainy season - when I went they hadn't had significant rain in several months but then it rained every single day I was there. However, the park is so huge that you can avoid the rain - storms generally only cover parts of the park so you can head to a different section if it's raining. And the rain lends a whole new aspect to the experience, it will cool off the air and flood some areas which most people don't ever see.
#4
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
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It was hot last year in March/Spring Break when we were there. Cool at night, but we wore shorts during the day. Most of the hikes there offer very little shade as there really aren't any trees there. I would think it could even near 100 in July. The Chisos Mountain area would be the coolest and it really has the best hikes anyway.
Maybe consider going to Guadalupe/Carlsbad Caverns. You could do Guadalupe and then in the middle of the day do the Caverns as the caves are cool. The wild cave tours there are incredible. Guadalupe and Big Bend are pretty similar. Of course, Guadalupe doesn't have the Rio Grande River though. The bats at the cave are awesome, but their nubmers were very few last year because of the drought in the area. I assume they will return in full force this year, but I am not certain of how much rainfall that area has received lately.
Maybe consider going to Guadalupe/Carlsbad Caverns. You could do Guadalupe and then in the middle of the day do the Caverns as the caves are cool. The wild cave tours there are incredible. Guadalupe and Big Bend are pretty similar. Of course, Guadalupe doesn't have the Rio Grande River though. The bats at the cave are awesome, but their nubmers were very few last year because of the drought in the area. I assume they will return in full force this year, but I am not certain of how much rainfall that area has received lately.
#5
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 0
Average high at the visitor center in June is 94, July is 92. Add 5-10 degrees for lower elevations near the river, subtract 5-10 degrees for higher elevations in the mountains. So yes, it'll be pretty hot but like I said, do the lower elevations in the morning and then head for the mountains. Santa Elena Canyon is awesome in the morning.
#7
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
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consider it for Maybe March next year, but get your lodging reservations there. BB is a good place for backpacking too. It is busy in March. Well the lodge may be busy, but the park is so big and so few people that even during busy times, it wasn't that busy.




