Big Bend, Hot Springs - 2/04/15

After our hike through Boquillas Canyon, we went back to the motor coach for lunch. Our afternoon adventure was to Langford Ruins and Hot Springs. Traveling east on Rte 188 from Rio Grande Village, through the tunnel, taking a left onto the unpaved, narrow, Hot Springs Road.

The trailhead is at the parking lot. Hot Springs Trail is a .75 mile, round-trip, easy hike to the riverside hot spring that is 105 degrees.

Langford Ruins. At the beginning of the Hot Springs Trail are remnants of a time past when there was a hotel and structures that supported tourism here.

Langford health resort at Hot Springs boasted the first Post Office in Big Bend.

Resort hotel ruins.

These palm trees were just gorgeous, and are about 20' from the Rio Grande.

Limestone cliffs on the trail.

Native Americans used the hot springs centuries before and left pictographs on these cliffs.

Check out bird nests.

The hot springs, right next to the Rio Grande.

Source of the spring...where it bubbles up to the enclosed soaking area.

View of the river from the soaking area.

I wore my bathing suit and brought a towel so I could do some soaking. I was surprised at how hot it was...just like a hot tub.

John did not partake!

When we returned to the parking lot, we let Sadie out for a little bit of exercise with her frisbee. We wish that National Parks were a little more dog-friendly! But she is not allowed on the trails.

There is also a 6-mile, round-trip, trail (rated as moderate) from Daniels Ranch (near Rio Grande Village) to Hot Springs. We met several folks at the Hot Springs that had hiked both the Hot springs and Daniels Ranch trails. It was interesting to learn about the health resort that used to be here. A lot of folks just stick their feet in hot spring, but the water is really very clear and surprisingly hot!

Website:  www.nps.gov/bibe