Contrabando Trailhead — Big Bend Ranch State Park Western Access
Contrabando sits along FM 170 — the Camino del Rio — on the western end of Big Bend Ranch State Park and serves as a legitimate staging point before or after running the River Road. The ruins of a 1980s movie set are scattered across the flats here, giving the place an eerie ghost-town vibe baked into cracked desert caliche. Pull off, air down, and get your bearings. The Rio Grande is close enough that you can hear it when the wind dies. Day-use fees apply; no overnight camping at this trailhead node itself.
FM 170 is paved but narrow and can flood in monsoon season — the Rio Grande rises fast and the road dips low at several crossings nearby. Cell service is essentially nonexistent. Carry water. The nearest fuel and services are in Lajitas, about 10 miles east. TPWD manages the park; a day pass or annual permit is required.
Movie ruins meet Chihuahuan desert staging.
Place Details
| Type | Point of Interest |
|---|---|
| Street address | Llano Loop, Papalote Seco, Texas Get directions → |
| Elevation (ft) | 2350 ft |
| Nearest town | Lajitas, TX |
| Miles from pavement | 0 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Paved |
| Cell service | None |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | Free |
| Reservation required | No |
| Best season | October-April |
| Land manager | State Park |
| Permit required | Yes — Permit info |
| Amenities | Picnic table, Toilets |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |