Texas · National Park trail

Grapevine Hills Trail

in Texas

Trail Information Roundtrip Distance: 2.2 miles (3.5 km) Elevation change: 80 feet (24 m) Average hiking time: 1-2 hours The Grapevine Hills Road is very rough and REQUIRES a sturdy, high-clearance vehicle. Do NOT attempt to reach this trail with a passenger car, minivan, or RV. Dogs and other pets are not allowed on any trails in the park.

The trail leads to a group of balanced rocks in the heart of Grapevine Hills. This is a great hike for families with kids. nitially, the trail follows a gravel wash, then climbs steeply for the last quarter mile into the boulders.

The last section requires crossting steep, rough bedrock, and negotiating a challenging landscape of boulders. Stay on the trail, and watch carefully for the directional arrows that point the way to the balanced rock. Use extreme caution, especially coming back down.

States: Texas
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid coords: 29.4104°, -103.2076°

About Big Bend National Park

National Park

This trail is inside Big Bend National Park, a national park managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/balanced-rock-trail.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Grapevine Hills Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.