Ophir Creek Road to Burro Mesa — Big Bend’s Painted Desert Basin via Glenn Spring
Pancho Villa's old raid country, wide open and brutal.
Glenn Spring sits quiet now — a few crumbled adobe walls and a rusted boiler where a candelilla wax operation once ran and Pancho Villa’s men raided in 1916. The route south from the Maverick Junction area tracks across the Chihuahuan Desert floor, threading between the Chisos foothills and the stark volcanic buttes of Burro Mesa. The road surface alternates between packed caliche, loose cobble, and soft sand washes that demand constant attention. Glenn Spring Road itself runs roughly 30 miles from the paved park road to the Glenn Spring trailhead, with Burro Mesa Pouroff Road branching northwest for another 4 miles to the canyon rim. You’ll drop in and out of dry creek drainages, cross open desert flats, and gain elevation gradually toward the mesa’s volcanic cap.
This is desert backcountry driving at its most honest — no shade, no services, no cell signal, and flash flood potential in summer. High-clearance 4WD is required; the wash crossings get rough and rutted. Carry a minimum of 4 gallons of water per person, full spare, and recovery gear. Best season is October through April — summer heat here is life-threatening. No permit required for day use, but overnight backcountry camping requires a free permit from the Panther Junction Visitor Center. Fuel up in Marathon or Study Butte; there’s nothing inside the park.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 34 mi / 54.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3900 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Study Butte, TX |
| Land manager | National Park Service — Big Bend National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | NPS Big Bend backcountry roads NPS backcountry camping permits |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this trail, or does it need to be lifted?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a 4Runner or Wrangler can manage it, but a lift helps — rocky washes and embedded basalt on the approach to Burro Mesa will drag a low-slung skid plate. Lockers or aggressive all-terrains are strongly advised. Don't attempt it in a crossover or 2WD truck.
When is this trail actually driveable, and what happens if it rains?
October through April is your window — summer heat in Big Bend routinely hits 110°F and flash floods can blow out washes with zero warning. Even a distant thunderstorm can turn sandy arroyos into impassable rivers fast. Check the NPS Big Bend road conditions page before you leave Study Butte.
Do you need a permit to drive this route and camp out here?
Yes — Big Bend National Park requires a backcountry permit for dispersed camping along this route, available at the Panther Junction Visitor Center or online through the NPS. The park entrance fee also applies ($35/vehicle at time of writing). Don't skip the permit; rangers do patrol backcountry roads.
What's the hardest section of this trail and what makes it nasty?
The push toward Burro Mesa's volcanic rim is where it gets real — loose rock, off-camber shelf sections, and deep sand traps in the wash crossings demand constant attention. Glenn Spring Road approaching the ruins also has some brutally rutted clay sections that get greasy when wet and hard as concrete when dry.
There's no cell service out here — how far is the nearest gas and water resupply from the trailhead?
Study Butte is your last stop for gas, roughly 20–25 miles from the Ophir Creek start — fill up completely, this 34-mile route has no bail-out options. There is no reliable potable water on trail; pack a minimum of 1 gallon per person per day and treat any creek water you find at Glenn Spring before drinking it.
Trail track
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