I've been to Big Bend roughly 70 times over my life. I started going when I was 16 and have gone twice a year pretty much every year and I'm 53 now. There's not a single trail in the entire park I've not hiked. I've run the river 14 times. I've been to the Marderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area across the river in Mexico 3 times. I'm older now and do less backpacking and more day hiking. I've got a Toyota Tacoma with a tent camper and love to go just hang out in the desert.
The park has changed a lot of the years and none of it good. In my opinion mountain biking has been the biggest detriment. It used to be a park of hikers and backpackers. Now it's a park of bikers, off road 4x4 guys, and tourists. Border Patrol and the Park Rangers have also become a detriment. Instead of being the helpful guys that gave you directions, advice on seasonal springs, and washed out roads, they've turned into a near military force, often confrontational, and usually rude. I've been pulled over, had my truck searched, and my tent and campsite searched multiple times over the last several years. I'm not a guy with anything to hide so while it's never been a big deal, it's just such a turnoff. And completely unnecessary.
In the 37 years I've been going to the park I've never seen an illegal alien in the park. Not one time. The idea that this particular stretch of Texas needs any further protection and or monitoring is foolish at best. You drive through a border patrol check point between the park and Marathon, Texas and half the time it's not even manned. That's how little illegal activity happens in this part of Texas. Further resources in this area are a waste of man power and tax payer dollars. But also don't be deceived by all the images. Big Bend had an epic amount of rain this season, enough to cancel one of my annual trips. They've had a lot of washed out roads that they've been grading and the majority of the pictures I'm seeing is simple road management. That said I know there are future plans of further unnecessary border security in the park. I'll be at the Elephant Tusk campsite for 3 nights in October and will get a good look then.
Smokey says protect our parks and forests! They're not making anymore.
