Planning To Visit Texas’ Chisos Basin This Summer? Go Now

If you're planning a summer vacation to Chisos Basin in west Texas this year, you better get up there before August. Otherwise, you'll have to wait 'til 2027.

Chisos Basin is a beautiful area, located within Big Bend State Park, about 326 miles from El Paso. It will soon be closed off to the public so make your plans/reservations ASAP.

Unless you're cool with waiting a loooong time to see Chisos Basin, any vacation plans you have better happen before August. That's when construction begins on some long overdue upgrades.

The entire Basin will be off limits to visitors for about 2 years, starting in August, 2025, and will reopen in segments. The rest of Big Bend State Park will remain open and operate as usual.

This work will ONLY affect the Chisos Basin area of Big Bend National Park. As major components are completed, park managers will assess which areas can be safely reopened to regular public access. - nps.gov  

What Are They Doing To Chisos Basin?

Chisos Basin is changing for the better as renovations begin on the lodge, first built in 1964, and its surrounding area. Things closing include the Basin Road and all the lodging units along with the campground, restaurant, visitor center, camper store and the surrounding trails.

The Lodge was built on clay and settled badly causing damage to the lodge's foundation, roof, walls, windows and more. The new lodge, see artist renderings here,  will have more amenities and be covered in fire resistant siding.

Water lines to the basin will also be replaced as they're even older than the lodge, (dating back to the 1950's, and way out of shape. Learn more here.