Rio Grande Village - Big Bend National Park

Rio Grande Village is located in the southeastern part of Big Bend National Park in Texas. The village has a visitor center, river access, a camp store with over 50 paved parking spots, a campground with 93 sites, and an RV campground with 25 full hook-ups operated by the park concessionaire, Forever Resorts. 

A nature trail starts near campsite 14 in the large campground with parking available at the trailhead for a couple of vehicles. We decided it was too hot to hike during our September 2021 visit to the village.

The camp store sells all the normal camping supplies and park souvenirs. In addition, it has gas and diesel pumps, a laundromat, restrooms, and coin-operated showers.

The RV campground is a large parking lot requiring campers to back into their assigned space. Water, electricity, Wi-Fi, and a dump station are provided, but shade is not. 

Road sign at the end of the highway

Village Store

Exterior information sign at the store

River access

Rio Grande downstream

Rio Grande upstream

Thunderstorms forming over the Sierra del Carmen

A less obstructed view of the Sierra del Carmen

Boquillas Crossing was closed due to the Covid pandemic

An entry fee of $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person is valid for seven consecutive days at Big Bend National Park. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($80 for a lifetime), Access Pass (free with a documented disability), and Military Annual Pass (free for active-duty personnel). Also available is a Big Bend National Park Annual Park Pass for $55.

The Big Bend National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm.

Bridge Trail and Lilly Bluff Overlook - Obed National Wild and Scenic River

In late April 2018, I had the opportunity to spend some time hiking with my daughter. We chose to hike the Bridge Trail in Obed National Wild and Scenic River as she had not been there before. To reach the trailhead from the visitor center parking lot in Wartburg, Tennessee, turn left onto Court Street, drive a block then turn left onto North Kingston Street, and then drive two blocks to US 27 and TN62. Turn left to be heading north on US 27 and west on TN 62. Drive 2.7 miles before turning left one more time to remain on TN 62. Drive 4.3 miles west on TN 62 passing through the community of Lancing before turning left for a final time onto Ridge Road. Drive 3.2 miles on Ridge Road and cross the bridge over Clear Creek. Immediately on the right is a paved and striped parking area for pull-in parking off of the road for over a dozen vehicles. Additional parking is available on the other side of the creek for another eight vehicles. The drive from the visitor center should take less than 20 minutes. 

After parking, walk back down toward the bridge before crossing the road to the trailhead. The Bridge Trail climbs about 200 feet in a ½ mile distance from the western end of Lilly Bridge to the top of Lilly Bluff. Just a few steps into the hike, a well-marked side trail diverts to the right to the rock climbing area. Keep left at this trail junction heading toward Lilly Bluff. 

Sign for the side trail to the climbing area

The Bridge Trail is to the left with the climbing area to the right

Lower Melton Mill Falls

The relatively level trail continues parallel to, but out of sight of, Clear Creek for a short distance before beginning to climb toward the top of the bluff. At the first switchback to the right, a social trail departs to the left. Turn left at this point to go Lower Melton Mill Falls. The trail quickly fades, so pay close attention to your surroundings to find your return route to the main trail. To reach the falls, just head toward the sound of falling water crashing on rocks.

Social path to the left while the Bridge Trail remains on the rocks to the right

First view of the cascade and waterfall

Overcast skies

Direct sunshine

Closeup of the cascade

Overcast from another perspective

Sunny from another perspective

Back on the Bridge Trail at another switchback

Following the base of the bluff

Upper Melton Mill Falls

Side trail to Upper Melton Mill Falls veers down to the left

Obstructed view from near the end of the trail

A better view, but still obstructed

About as good as it got

Overcast and wispy

A final look

Returning to the Bridge Trail where we'll turn left and continue climbing

Unstable formation or collapse from long ago?

More stairs below a break in the canopy

Lilly Bluff

At the top of Lilly Bluff, the Bridge Trail terminates into the Overlook Trail. Turning left leads to the Point Trail and the Lilly Bluff parking area, but turning right quickly leads to a boardwalk and a pair of overlooks.

Beginning of the boardwalk

Fragile lichen protected by using the boardwalk

View of Clear Creek looking downstream

View of Lilly Bridge about 200 feet (60 m) below 

Evergreens seemingly rooted in solid rock

Note how close the southern overlook is to the edge of the bluff

Rapids on Clear Creek

Clear Creek Gorge

Bluff and hill downstream
(hilltop approximately 400 feet above Clear Creek)

Northern overlook

Descending the Bridge Trail

Entrance to Obed National Wild and Scenic River is free.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/obed/index.htm.

Turtleback Falls - Gorges State Park / Pisgah National Forest

Turtleback Falls on the Horsepasture River in Pisgah National Forest is accessed via the Rainbow Falls Trail in Gorges State Park. Directions and pictures of the trail from the Grassy Ridge Trailhead to Rainbow Falls can be found on my previous post.

Note that walking on wet rocks, wading, and swimming above waterfalls is inherently dangerous. Wet rocks can be slippery and one misstep can prove fatal as it has several times at Rainbow Falls and at least once at Turtleback falls in the last few years. Use extreme caution and watch children closely.

The nearly 3.5 mile round trip is listed as strenuous as the trail descends about 400 feet to the Horsepasture River before climbing over 300 feet to reach Turtleback Falls. The additional ½ mile round trip beyond Rainbow Falls is well worth the effort to see another large waterfall. When I was there in July 2017, an extended family was using the falls as a water slide. They graciously offered to stop their play for a few minutes while I captured the video at the end of this post. I continue to be amazed at how often people on a trail are willing to help others enjoy the journey.

Topographic map with GPS route

Elevation profile

Follow the path on the right to Turtleback Falls

Campsite beside trail at the top of Rainbow Falls

Fallen trees across the timber stairs

A closer view of the fallen trees

Top of Turtleback Falls

Turtleback Falls

Entry to Gorges State Park and Pisgah National Forest is free.

The park website is https://www.ncparks.gov/gorges-state-park.
The forest website is https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48114.