• Big Bend National Park - Fossil Bone Exhibit - This tour typically lasts between two to three hours, with an option for an additional hour-long detour midway. This detour leads to the remnants of a historic village by the Rio Grande and a hot springs hiking trail. The operator will notify you as you approach.

Note: The tour covers over 72 miles, includes more than 90 audio stories, and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete.

Purchase once and enjoy for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

• Entrance Station - The entrance station of Big Bend National Park, situated near Alpine, Texas, serves as the main entry point to this vast and rugged national park. The station is a simple structure, often featuring a small building with a rustic design that harmonizes with the surrounding desert landscape. Visitors are welcomed by a sign marking the park’s entrance, typically displaying the park’s name and emblem.

• Chihuahuan Desert - The Chihuahuan Desert surrounds us—a desert so vast that the entire country of France could fit comfortably within it! Don’t let the name “chihuahua” mislead you into thinking it’s a small desert. It stretches across Texas, New Mexico, and several Mexican states. This desert gives its name to the state of Chihuahua, which is also where the small dogs originated, hence their name!

• Sierra Del Carmen - These mountains border the park along the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. With no rivers, roads, or towns in the Sierra, the area is known as one of the most remote places on earth!

• Chisos Mountains - Named after the Chizos tribe, these mountains stand out as forested amidst the desert landscape of Big Bend. How does this green oasis exist in a sea of brown? It’s a sky island.

• Fossil Discovery Exhibit - Opened in 2017, this exhibit showcases replicas of some of the most renowned fossils found in Big Bend. Paleontologists have been diligently working here for years, unearthing over 1,200 fossils! This is also the only National Park where rocks from the Cretaceous period have been discovered!

• Avery Canyon - Named after J.C. Avery, who ranched here in the early 1900s. During this period in Big Bend’s history, settlements began to emerge rapidly. The influx of people was due to the expanding railroad, which reached the nearby town of Marathon in the 1880s. With the addition of 4,000 miles of tracks, Brewster County was established—that’s the county being traversed now.

• Chisos Mountains - The Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park rise majestically from the desert floor, providing a striking contrast to the surrounding arid landscape. These rugged, forested peaks are often enveloped in mist, with their rocky crags and lush greenery offering a sanctuary for diverse wildlife. The dramatic vistas from the mountain trails reveal sweeping views of the park’s vast expanse, punctuated by deep canyons and the winding Rio Grande.

• Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive - Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park meanders through some of the park’s most breathtaking and diverse landscapes, from expansive desert vistas to rugged canyons. The drive offers panoramic views of the Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, and the vastness of the Chihuahuan Desert, with frequent pullouts for scenic overlooks and photo opportunities.

• Marfa Lights Viewing Area - One night in 1883, a young cowhand was driving cattle back to a ranch when he witnessed something unusual. A flicker of light, intense and brief, appeared in the distance of Big Bend. He continued on, assuming it was merely an Apache fire. However, the next day, he spoke with other settlers who had also seen the mysterious lights.

• Sam Nail Ranch - This 15,000-acre ranch operated for nearly 40 years and witnessed a significant portion of Big Bend history. In 1916, two brothers ventured to Brewster County during the ranching boom. America experienced an increase in homesteads as the government encouraged people to grow their own food and conserve resources during World War I.

• Lower Burro Mesa Pour-off Trail - Long before miners arrived in the 1900s, Burro Mesa was a valuable natural resource site. 13,000 years ago, prehistoric hunter-gatherers discovered chert here. This colorful sedimentary rock was ideal for crafting stone tools like spearheads for hunting.

• Homer Wilson Ranch - Enjoy a scenic view of the Blue Creek Valley—the same view that likely attracted Wilson to settle here in 1929. As a World War I veteran, Wilson returned to Texas seeking a peaceful place to build a home for his family.

• Sotol Vista - Sotol Vista Overlook in Big Bend National Park offers breathtaking panoramic views of the expansive desert landscape, with the rugged Chisos Mountains silhouetted against the horizon. From this vantage point, visitors can see the vastness of the Chihuahuan Desert stretching out below, punctuated by the Rio Grande and distant canyons.

• Mule Ears Spring Trail - This unusual geological formation is composed of rhyolite—a type of volcanic rock. But how did the peculiar ears form? Two words: Geological dikes. These occur when magma flows into the crack of an existing rock mass, then cools and solidifies.

• Terlingua - On the outskirts of Big Bend lies Terlingua, a mining district turned ghost town. The name comes from “tres lenguas,” referring to the three languages spoken during its founding—English, Spanish, and Lipan Apache. At one time, Terlingua was a quiet Mexican village that emerged near the Rio Grande.

• Tuff Canyon Overlook - Approaching Tuff Canyon Overlook, visitors can observe a deep canyon carved into Big Bend’s landscape. The mix of red and tan rock is evidence of the region’s volcanic past.

• Cerro Castellan - This majestic mountain is the subject of many photographs and even more questions. How did Cerro Castellan form? What is the red-orange surface composed of?

• Castolon Historic District - Entering the Castolon Historic District, it may not seem like much at first. But soon, a few historic buildings will appear on the right—some of the only remnants of the pre-park days here.

• Santa Elena Canyon River Access - Want to get up close and personal with the Rio Grande? The best opportunity is just ahead! Soon, a great spot for river access will be reached, where many people come to relax by the river’s edge.

• Santa Elena Canyon - Here, visitors will be treated to a breathtaking view of the limestone cliffs. Looking over the edge reveals the Rio Grande plunging 1,500 feet below. How did the landscape take on such a dramatic shape?

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Explore the authentic American West with a self-guided driving tour of Big Bend National Park, Texas. Journey through expansive desert landscapes under the Chisos Mountains’ shadow. Discover the rich history of Spanish presidios, Comanche Moon raids, and legendary cursed silver in the mountains. Enjoy breathtaking views from Sotol Vista and Tuff Canyon Overlook, and explore the historic town of Castolon. This park is a hidden treasure waiting to be explored!

Purchase one tour per vehicle, not per individual. Everyone can listen together!

After booking, check your email or text messages to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the specified starting point.

Buy once and use it for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Please note, this is not an entrance ticket. Verify opening hours before your visit.

• How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
• Kindly note that an entrance pass is required to visit Big Bend National Park, and it is not included with this tour.
• Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car’s stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
• For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
• Important Note: Due to the possibility of government shutdowns affecting national parks and certain attractions, we recommend checking official websites for any updates or closures before your trip. This will help ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.