Texas · National Park trail

Hot Springs Historic Trail

in Texas

Trail Information Roundtrip distance: 1 mile loop (1.6 km) Elevation change: 200 feet Average hiking time: 30 minutes Dogs and other pets are not allowed on any trails in the park. The Hot Springs historic trail offers an opportunity to step back in time and experience Big Bend before it became a national park. A short distance from the trailhead are the historic remains of J.O.

Langford's Hot Springs resort which include a picturesque building that was the store and post office, as well as a motor court that accommodated overnight guests. A quarter mile further down the trail is the actual hot spring, contained within the stone walls of what was Langford’s bath house. Between the motor court and the spring, one can view ancient pictographs that were drawn by people who lived here thousands of years ago.

At this point you can either retrace your steps to the parking lot, or complete the loop by following the trail for another 0.25 mile to a marked junction. Turn left and climb the rise of the hill for a great view before dropping back down to the parking lot. Accessibility This trail is sand and rock from the trailhead to the hot spring.

States: Texas
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid coords: 29.1774°, -102.9994°

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/hot-springs-canyon-trailhead-hot-springs.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 Hot Springs Historic Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

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Texas