Big Bend National Park in Texas: One Day Exploring Lost Mine, Balanced Rock & Santa Elena

Рет қаралды 172,411

Күн бұрын

Big Bend National Park is an amazing area of Texas with over 800,000 acres of stunning landscape to explore. The park borders Mexico for 118 miles, with the Rio Grande River forming the border. Big Bend has so much to do that you need weeks to experience it all. My dad and I only had one day though so we tried to fit in as much as we could. During our one day in the park, we hiked Lost Mine Trail, hiked Balanced Rock Trail, drove the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and hiked into Santa Elena Canyon. Let us know what to do on our next visit in the comments.
Read more at www.throughmylens.com/texas/o...
Chapters:
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0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Driving into the park
1:10 - Lost Mine Trail
5:24 - Panther Junction
5:55 - Balanced Rock Trail
8:16 - Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
9:33 - Castolon Visitor Center
10:46 - Santa Elena Canyon
--
Another great video on Big Bend - • Big Bend National Park...
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Пікірлер: 211

@michael_house 3 жыл бұрын

Man - always makes me happy to see you spend time with your dad. I wish I could do that too... Thanks for taking us to all those amazing places.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching!

@stevenjohnson8736 Жыл бұрын

@@ThroughMyLens Texas national park is not better than California national park…….California national park is one of the best national park in America 😃

@ashleymcmains3592 Ай бұрын

Your videos are so helpful to me as I am trying to plan one day adventures for my family at national parks

@heatherroldan7977 3 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy seeing all the travels you do with your dad. Lots of people have never had that experience, and I just think it's nice to see a positive father/son relationship. Now that you have two kids of your own, I'm sure one day you'll share these same types of memorable experiences with them. God bless you and your family:)

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and I am glad you enjoy the trips with my dad and I! I am excited to share these adventure with my kids as they get older too!

@pamelaanngibson 2 жыл бұрын

I really loved your presentation style! You put just the right amount of footage, and, the information about available stores and food was very helpful.

@TexasDesert3523 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for doing a video on BIG BEND National Park. I've lived in Texas all my life and I've visited Big Bend many times going into the camping grounds and staying for a week or two. There are many fascinating things to see and discover. Many years ago my mother went with a science class to visit BB and she found shark teeth. Yes, BB was under water at one time. I've also seen rock formations that looked more like statutes that were made by people and not natural formations. I hope to go back soon sometime and look at those towering structures again to find out if they are old statutes made by people maybe millions of years ago. I've also come across panther paw prints while walking and knew I could be in danger. So many wonderful things to explore and see!!!

@stevenmerlock9971 Жыл бұрын

@misstexas3523 in off-road areas you would be surprised by the wildlife you come across. Camping in the open top Jeep and waking up to the sound of a big cat gets your attention. Same goes for waking up to a raccoon on your chest.

@nicksmomstacy22 Жыл бұрын

Watching g this brought back childhood memories!! My family took a vacation to West TX in the early 80s and rafted the Rio Grande, visited Terlingua (took a picture of us kids in the jail), and went horseback riding through Big Bend. I am a born and raised Texan living in Dallas! Thank you for sharing your travel and reminding me of my childhood!!

@brookeshaffer4377 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful video! What a gift your father is! How fortunate you are😚🌟👍

@johnalittlejohn5630 3 жыл бұрын

I LOOOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!!! Please make your videos longer!!! I feel like I'm traveling with you!!! Your dad and Amy are so awesome!!! and I enjoyed that Route 66 series so much!!! You are so informative and inspiring! Keep the vids coming!!!

@raystravel8325 3 жыл бұрын

Makes Texas look so beautiful

@pattyleabo426 3 жыл бұрын

Man it’s breathtaking down there. Prettiest stars in Texas down there. You can see the Milky Way. And usually 6-10 shooting stars per hour. God bless Texas.

@lanoi3660 Жыл бұрын

LOVE your video! LOVE the father/son relationship! I’m glad you get to spend time with your Dad while he’s able to. Family is precious. Life is short. 🙏 I’ve been to Big Bend a couple of times and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the place! I hope to make it an annual trip. Thank you for sharing your video! ❤️

@arnoldirmail6616 3 жыл бұрын

I love your videos!!!!! Pops is a Beast!!!! Someday the memories you are making with him will be priceless.

@LeftCoastCowgirl 2 жыл бұрын

Loves your travelogues. Especially when Pops is along. Keep 'em coming.

@robinr1714 3 жыл бұрын

Incredibly beautiful--thanks for taking us along on your hike!

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@problu9586 3 жыл бұрын

Can't believe after multiple weeks long visits to BBNP, I did not know about Balancing Rock. Thanks for adding a "new" attraction to visit at BBNP.

@MrSTravelQuest 2 жыл бұрын

I finally had a chance to visit Big Bend and it's amazing. Love your content and how you spend time with your pop. Thanks for sharing your experience.

@44Mag 3 жыл бұрын

Good for you - Getting to enjoy all the travels with your pops....You are blessed!

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

It has been awesome to travel with him!

@AmbientWalking 3 жыл бұрын

It's never boring to be moving with you, traveling with you. Always so great. Thanks for the wonderful experience! : )

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the comment and for watching the video!

@cyjeren1627 3 жыл бұрын

thanks for the virtual journey, wish i could be like you, amazing views

@bryanmills2295 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! You're very right about the scale of things there. It's hard to capture with a camera, but in person it's awe-inspiring!

@willseeadventures 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thanks for sharing that great info on those cool hiking spots!

@gustav0mejia910 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful !!!, Thank you Josh.

@michaelmasson480 2 ай бұрын

This swamp boy from Louisiana just returned from Big Bend-Thank you for this great video tour of a very special place!

@loriallen67 4 ай бұрын

One of my favorite places on earth. Thanks for sharing.

@Kefoo_ 2 ай бұрын

-- *_Thank you, Through My Lens!_*

@wtn 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing landscape! Excellent video! 👍

@BigAliG 3 жыл бұрын

Thoroughly enjoyable video and very informative. Thank you for sharing. All I have to do now is visit Big Bend!

@heathercore4297 3 жыл бұрын

South Rim is the most beautiful part of the park! When I hike this trail I always do South Rim to Emory Peak. It's about a 16 mile loop. I stop at the South Rim viewing point and read for 30 min or so and then back at it :) I usually get started around 3:30am to be up to South Rim by sunrise ❤ AllTrails app is my best friend ❤

@arthurveinberg6453 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video. Gives me some great ideas for visiting big bend!

@barbstrand2207 3 жыл бұрын

I love watching you and your dad travel, beautiful videos, always.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Glad you like the videos!

@normanhaltmeyer7873 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the Texas wonder views.

@sugarandpennythepooh1211 3 жыл бұрын

BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for the tour! 😊❤️🙏

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@TravelswithVandSteve 3 жыл бұрын

We are hoping to visit next year. This was fantastic! Wow that trail parking lot was full SO early. It looks incredible, such a stunning landscape and I can’t wait to see it in person!

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

That's awesome! Plan to spend more time than we did haha. I wish I would have had another couple days

@sallyruiz2338 3 жыл бұрын

Fascinating MUDFOSSILS all around Incredible! Great experience and views!

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@metallampman 6 ай бұрын

Always enjoy your vids always a thumbs up on your work best to you and your dad

@stevesalter1138 6 ай бұрын

Thanks, heading there now!

@julieh3327 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. We haven’t made it to Big Bend but enjoyed your video of it.

@wellsfamilytravels 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for such a great video! We are planning our trip to Texas, so this was helpful!

@DreamweaversHomestead 3 ай бұрын

I’ve been binge watching your videos for 2 days so far. I love your video style.

@coolbuffdad 3 жыл бұрын

Some of the best videos on KZfaq, keep up the great work

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks! Really appreciate that!

@dishsultan 3 жыл бұрын

I love watching videos of you and your dad exploring beautiful areas. I think it is great that have visited great places outside of Cali, like Texas. Set up a Patreon, friend; I'd enjoy supporting you.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching the videos and I am glad you like them. I will have to look into a Patreon, that is very kind that you would want to support the channel

@beriblonde 3 жыл бұрын

Wowza! What a great vid! Thanks for all the detailed info. Sorry about the gas station lunch though. 😊 You guys are such troopers. It’s great for me to be back watching my fave vloggers again. Life just gets in the way sometimes, but I’ll catch up soon. No matter, I’m still in love with Pops. He’s my dream man…sigh.

@lixiao6392 3 жыл бұрын

Aha!my dream came true ! You had Texas video finally ! Thank you so much

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoyed it! We liked exploring West Texas. Got a video on the whole road trip coming in the next month

@saraho1913 2 жыл бұрын

Great job with your videos! One of my go too’s for info!

@ilovesparky13 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing us the national park 😊

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure 😊

@xboxsolox 2 жыл бұрын

Great vid!

@malakangel9322 3 жыл бұрын

You deserve more viewers and subscribers! Thank you for showing us the beautiful Big Bend NP

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

So nice of you! Glad you enjoyed it

@annadath69 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent brother.

@andyleo8418 3 жыл бұрын

Wow! You finally made it to Texas! Awesome video per usual.😁

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! 😃 Yep, we spent 5 days driving around New Mexico and Texas, I should have a full road trip video later this month probably.

@Shivey-Caroline-7-23 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing guys'

@mattward4405 3 жыл бұрын

Never realised he was 6'7! Wow?! Another great video 🤙🏻

@anjaliparanjape9582 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video..! Fantastic Trails 👍

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@Roadtosomethingnew1 2 жыл бұрын

Seeing that canyon alone would be worth visiting Big Bend

@qiwang6852 3 жыл бұрын

I've been to Big Bend twice. I really love it. You missed the sunset in Big Bend. It the clouds are good, the sunset at Sotol Vista and the Window View is stunning

@kille6525 2 жыл бұрын

Yes the window was the best hike that me and my dad did about 15 years ago.

@MrOscher Жыл бұрын

My wife and I love your videos. I was wondering if you had a big bend video. Of course you do!

@essietangle9931 3 жыл бұрын

Welcome to Texas, Big Bend style. Your video was great.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks! It was a great spot to explore that I can't wait to go back to

@shibangshibang1 Жыл бұрын

Woah great vid

@catherineriley7359 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Thank you. We are headed there in October

@kellyjohnson3617 3 жыл бұрын

This is cool. I was thinking of taking a road trip out that way snd take in national parks on way out and back to Carlsbad caverns. Big bend is one I was curious about. The miles ears looks like a hello kitty silhouette to me. Lol

@CFDEngCo3 3 жыл бұрын

Love your videos! I can’t wait to see Big Bend for myself one day.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

I hope you are able to see it, it is beautiful!

@yeezyfisherman 2 жыл бұрын

hope to go soon! great vid bro

@rhondaz356 3 жыл бұрын

What a wonderful hike that must have been. Thank you for taking us along.👏 Talk about having to adjust and readjust. Balance Rock, WOW Those last stops are amazing. 🌞🤎

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

No problem! It was a beautiful hike and I really loved being able to see the park. I can't wait to go back and explore more!

@gmpny3945 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this wonderful video. I hope to make it there with my son one day.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

I hope you can make it as well!

@RicG. 3 жыл бұрын

Another nice video. Thanks! 👍 😎

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the comment!

@franksalsa9342 3 жыл бұрын

Haven't been to Texas yet..thanks for this...it looks awesome and different than coastal California...safe travels 👏👊🇺🇸🇺🇸

@elderinmoi1571 3 жыл бұрын

It has been a while. Good to see you back on the road 👍 great content as usual. Tx a lot.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! More videos coming from this trip!

@blastedmcgraw152 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice video! I haven’t been back there in about 8 years, but hope to go back in the next 3-4 for a backpacking trip. The Marufa Vega trail is epic, definitely check it out next time you’re there!

@catherineriley7359 2 жыл бұрын

Nice. Thank you

@TheLisaanntorres 3 жыл бұрын

I love your videos!

@pappysproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Great video.

@metarus208 Жыл бұрын

pretty awesome National Park

@leemeyer748 4 ай бұрын

Having spent weeks in the big bend area, driving from Minnesota, it was well worth it given that we left during a snowstorm and enjoyed the hikes and canoeing in the river. As well we attended the funeral of a childhood friend who had died there…..

@franciscogonzalez9826 3 жыл бұрын

I’ll be there next week, I’m excited

@OurGoldRoad 3 жыл бұрын

I would to hear what you think about the park. April was our first time going, and discovered that it is a lot of driving between trails. But the views are amazing all around the park. Have fun!

@seethebutter 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

@heidicoz8369 3 жыл бұрын

Wowww u explore a lot and ur day is a really good hiker 😇

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Try to explore as much as possible when I visit new spots like this. My dad kept up really well!

@justinrichardson3864 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you made it, and you did some good stuff for one day. If you make it back, check out Upper Burro Mesa Trail. Heckuva fun hike. Also worth going to the other end of the park to the Rio Grande Village Campground to take in the Rio Grande Overlook view back towards the Chisos. And while you're down there, you can check out Boquillas Canyon.

@hsh1950 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I know that the goal here is to do a one-day overview, and you chose good hikes for that. You really should do the South Rim Loop, though. If you don't do any of the spur trails (like Emory Peak) it is 12.6 miles and 2300 feet of elevation gain. It leads to some of the most spectacular views anywhere when you get to the South Rim.

@Rastafari420rob 4 ай бұрын

My first time to big bend this was my exact trip - If you keep climbing past balanced rock there is like a fred flintstone hut and you can climb pretty high from there.

@johndecriscio9586 3 жыл бұрын

I was not very excited to visit Big Bend N.P., when we went, but wanted to check it off my list. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and really like it.

@miahmarieeeeee 3 жыл бұрын

Love it 😍

@marshaharwood8883 3 жыл бұрын

Great video!!!

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

@josephregallis3394 3 жыл бұрын

Very nice. I haven't been to this National Park but I would love to explore it. Great to see you bonding with your dad. I think that is so cool! My father and I never got to go hiking together, then again we didn't not do too many activities together. He's no longer with us but he and I did spend some time together at home so I did learn about some of his adventures spending 20 years in the Navy and traveling the world.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and I am glad you got to spend some time with your dad hearing about his travels. I love the time I get to spend with my dad on these adventures and I never want to take them for granted.

@syedmammar1 7 ай бұрын

I love your channel

@nickreynolds8391 3 жыл бұрын

Great video. I was there a couple years ago with my sister and brother-in-law and we did pretty much the same exact things you and your dad did. We did the Lost Mine Trail, Balanced Rock and the Santa Elena Canyon trail also.

@OurGoldRoad 3 жыл бұрын

We didnt get a chance to hike the Lost Mine Trail. How was it?

@nickreynolds8391 3 жыл бұрын

@@OurGoldRoad It was great!! I highly, highly recommend. It's super close to the park lodge. And the hike wasn't demanding or anything. Gorgeous views along the trail. We went in winter and it started snowing as we climbed in elevation...it felt like we were in Colorado or something. It was very cool.

@BookTimeWithRyan 8 ай бұрын

I’m reading a book called Great River and the chapter I’m in covers the surveying of Big Bend. It’s cool to read and then see aspects of the canyons in your video.

@alkoop100 3 жыл бұрын

Nice works 😀😀😀

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks 😀

@RobertSander Жыл бұрын

We have been to this park many times, most recently about 45 years ago. It hasn't changed much from what you showed, Lost Mine Trail was then the most popular and was the same trail. Santa Elena canyon was not a trail at that time, you could bushwhack from Castolon campground but that was it. I got sort of lost there on a makeshift trail probably a game trail.

@beautifulplacesinamerica7792 Жыл бұрын

Merry Christmas.

@ianwtarrant 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Would like to see a video of the areas other attractions.

@jennyc1846 11 ай бұрын

That was amazing Josh.. how the heck did that balancing rock get to where it was? There weren't even any mountains for it to have rolled off of... That canyon was spectacular too.. can you imagine winding your way along that country with a wagon or on a mule (BTW I thought the mule ears looked more like thorny devils ears) and building a house out there? Long way to go to the nearest store...what a tough life they lived way back when...and people whinge about the conditions today...they dont know what tough was. Thanks for a great video guys

@TexanSupremacy 3 жыл бұрын

I called Big Bend NP home for over a year, living and working at the lodge. I wish you went to some of my favorite places in the park, Emory Peak and South Rim are absolutely stunning, by far the best views in the park. I have a 30 second video on my channel from Emory Peak, not very well shot but it will show you the stunning view from the highest point of the Chisos 😊. I miss it dearly. Even Terelingua. Lots of memories there.

@annblair4459 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@dbmendoza7962 3 жыл бұрын

I was just there two weeks ago I found the place by accident stayed in the nice hotel in Terlingua went to the canyon in big bend it’s beautiful walked the Rio Grande went to Mexico lol This park is definitely underrated.

@OurGoldRoad 3 жыл бұрын

I agree, it is definitely underrated. It’s funny that you found a GIANT National park by accident. 😂 jk. Did you enjoy “Mexico”?

@MagellanandGreyhound 3 жыл бұрын

Love it. You mostly did everything we didn't. 😂 Shame the Hot Springs were still closed. You know where the Cholla garden is in Joshua Tree, where the two deserts meet? That area reminds me of Big Bend. Next time definitely paddle down Santa Elena and hike South Rim/Emory and even if you just go to the overlook, Boquillas is amazing. One of the most beautiful places in the park. I don't think you can do a 3 night paddle through it yet with the twins, but you never know. Thanks for bringing back great memories.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment! You guys did so many awesome things that I didn't get to. I linked to your video in the description as it's a great resource!

@MagellanandGreyhound 3 жыл бұрын

@@ThroughMyLens Oh wow, thanks! We're just happy to see more people going there. It's our favorite national park (so far), but it just doesn't get the same love. The part where you said you had a wide lens and that it wasn't doing it justice, it brought me back to when we were kayaking Boquillas, and I said, there's no way the camera is getting this right!

@daniellehe4441 3 жыл бұрын

Recently subscribed and am enjoying your content!! For my spring break, I visited all the National Parks you’ve made videos of recently: Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands. I’m curious though, did you go to Guadalupe Mountains? Other than Big Bend because of its variety, that place was my favorite of the trip. Either way, keep up the great work & I’ll look forward to more videos!

@IMJAFO2 3 жыл бұрын

You're father is 6'7"?? Dang!!! And, he always looks so impatient in the background........waiting for you to get onto those trails.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

haha yep he is tall! He likes when I stop on the trails so he can take a break haha

@speterbilt 2 жыл бұрын

Chisos basin is awesome! It looks like Colorado in the desert. Has black bears too

@ufomichaelcody2037 2 жыл бұрын

If Pops is 6 ft 7 inches... How tall are you? Your Dad seems like a really nice guy. I think it's great that you go on these trips with your father.

@nadeshiko9104 3 жыл бұрын

Cool video! Personally I like longer road trip videos of your though, has more of a desolate feel.

@ThroughMyLens 3 жыл бұрын

Planning to make a one hour version of this whole trip after all these individual videos so that people can watch the full experience. I hope you enjoy it!

@denniselwell900 7 ай бұрын

woah!

@LouisianaAstroRambler 3 ай бұрын

Your dad is 6'7"? Damn... Sorry, I know that's way off topic lol.. But to get back on topic, I'm hoping to visit this place at some point this year, it looks amazing..