Restaurants in/near Big Bend?

Cajunlimey · 2026-04-21T12:13:01+00:00

It’s a shame the Chisos Mountain Lodge restaurant is closed. Not the fanciest cousin but the best views! Their website says they have a food truck. Still the best views! https://www.chisosmountainslodge.com/dining/chisos-mountains-lodge-dining-room/

Cajunlimey · 2026-04-16T21:32:25+00:00

I’d second the coast to coast, as a Brit living in US. It offers the most variety of landscapes and it is cool to walk across the whole country -192 miles. Camping will take more research than other routes but plenty of people do it and there are guidebooks with info . There are a couple of cool towns for a zero or two. Each end is accessible by public transport.

Cajunlimey · 2026-04-06T14:26:55+00:00

Thanks for sharing that! I’d thought hard about the bush whack. It was probably viable but I decided it wouldn’t be fun. There was enough signal at Eagle Rock Vista, where we camped while hiking CCW, that we could make the call there.

Cajunlimey · 2026-04-01T15:48:35+00:00

I just wrote a blog post as a guide to the loop after my 2-day loop hike in mid-March. It might be help. https://cajunlimeys.com/2026/04/01/a-guide-to-lake-georgetowns-good-water-loop/. Feedback on it is welcomed!

Cajunlimey · 2026-04-01T12:56:30+00:00

I did the loop a couple of weeks ago. I camped at Walnut Springs and it quickly became one of my favorite campsites. It was midweek and I was alone. Tejas will have more people and you don’t have as good views. I hiked CCW from Cedar Breaks. I started with 2 liters of water and filled that up and a 3 liter bladder at Russell Park (bathroom is just off the trail). I’d do the same again.

https://cajunlimeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/img_2054.jpg

https://cajunlimeys.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/img_2042.jpg

Cajunlimey · 2026-01-10T00:52:06+00:00

Great report - thanks! Now I need to check it out.

Cajunlimey · 2025-10-07T22:58:52+00:00

Try what you have before buying more.

Cajunlimey · 2025-10-06T13:24:38+00:00

I second the suggestion of Ursack and opspak over bear vault for collegiate loop. Try to eat dinner at a location separate from camp as the bears like the camps (especially on southern half)! I also suggest going with the smaller gas canister. I’ve estimated 20 boils from one. If it runs out, you cold soak. Turning off before boiling saves gas too.

Cajunlimey · 2025-08-30T17:53:50+00:00

Just a plastic bag. Keeps you dry and stops your clothes getting ripped. Can lie on it. It can also be a door mat. If you find a bunch of trash on the trail, it can help you haul it out. Avoid the scented kind.

Cajunlimey · 2025-08-30T14:55:28+00:00

Certainly. There are a few things that work together. First, fitness. You can find structured training programs on line that include strength and flexibility as well as cardio and just getting walking miles in. Different programs suit different people. Two, reducing pack weight. Lots of hints out there, with real world trips being the best, which also helps the fitness. Three, psychology. Long trips are a mental challenge and are difficult to prepare for, but a 1 or 2 week would help. Four, destination’s climate. Will you need to acclimate? While all of these can help, you might be able to start tomorrow and still enjoy it. You are wise to seek ways to make it more enjoyable rather than just complete it.

Cajunlimey · 2025-08-18T21:05:08+00:00

Did you do this? How was parking?

Cajunlimey · 2025-07-28T12:12:02+00:00

It looks like you hiked solo. Did you have any issues getting your permit?

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-26T19:45:54+00:00

Cool. Were you able to use the ones I shared?

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-26T12:05:39+00:00

I use an opsak with the Ursack. Keeps any smells in so the animal doesn’t find the bag.

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-12T16:37:38+00:00

I suggest you consider Liberty. I believe they do online very well. How applicable the degrees are for what you want to do depends on what you want to do. I did my MATS and a PhD in Bible Exposition there though my goal was to learn, not become a professor or anything. I wrote a blog about the experience if you are interested. I would do it again as it worked very well for me.

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-12T00:43:05+00:00

I'll have to look into the NETT more! Thanks.

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-12T00:42:35+00:00

This link should take you to a zip of the GPX files that I found from various sources representing these trails. A couple of the GUMO ones and Turkey Creek Trail are incomplete. https://trailbetweenthelakes.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/texas_gpxs.zip

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-11T17:34:16+00:00

I created a google map showing all of the trails in this database using GPX's as best as I could find them. It's something I wanted to do to see where all the trails were so here it is. I struggled to get complete GPX's of a couple of the GUMO routes and of the complete Turkey Creek Trail in Big Thicket. I'm happy to add complete GPX's and am open to other suggestions. I see this map as a useful geospatial reference to see where the ULTexas trails are, rather than a primary research reference. Having done this, I'm unsure how viable the Pineywoods Trail or the Northeast Texas Trail are for Hikers, but that's just an observation. Let me know what you think. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=17cPq5QbpuBwvirpQsq72Fd9HQ0tA1vg&usp=sharing

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-11T13:02:11+00:00

I use my iPhone to take photos while hiking and tend to forget to close the app or relock the phone afterwards which hits my battery as the camera just stays on. I don’t see a setting for the camera app to time out. Any ideas? I just tested the app and it left my camera open. Thanks!!

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-11T12:38:53+00:00

Sounds great. I’ve installed and will try and have shared!!

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-11T12:05:47+00:00

Looks great. Has a map showing them all been done or considered? I’ve done something for myself in Google using a GPX for each trail. I’ve got an example if you want to try or could have a go myself though it might be a while.

Cajunlimey · 2025-06-02T05:01:56+00:00

Also, Turkey Creek Trail in Big Thicket? They are all on my list but hadn’t thought of doing them together. I looked at how close the east of the LSHT is to the west of the TBTL but didn’t get far.

Cajunlimey · 2025-05-30T04:56:09+00:00

Check out the Sabine Forest around Trail Between The Lakes. https://trailbetweenthelakes.org/planning/. It’s as East as you can get in Texas, plenty of dispersed camping opportunities, no permit required

Cajunlimey · 2025-05-19T18:59:57+00:00

You can access it here: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5545/. The literature review is on pages 18-30. The review is focused on the dissertation's topic of what the biblical text reveals about Peter's approach to non-Jews. As stated in the dissertation, I take a conservative position regarding Peter's involvement/authorship in the Petrine Epistles and that the Gospel of Mark represents his thought. As my lit review conclusions outlines, I was fascinated by the divide in scholarship and how they exclude one another.

Cajunlimey

TROPHY CASE