Texas · National Park trail

Window Trail Stop #9

in Texas

Listen closely as you walk towards the Window. Do you hear light rustling sounds in the undergrowth? Usually, these sounds can be attributed to lizards, but it could be something else! Big Bend National Park is home to a variety of reptiles, including 22 species of lizards and 31 species of snakes.

By far the most colorful lizard that can be seen along this trail is the Greater Earless Lizard. The males exhibit pink and green colors around their midsection that are the most visible during breeding season. Rusty-rumped whiptail lizards are also common in the Chisos Mountains, but few people see the Texas alligator lizard, a heavy-bodied relict lizard species.

Near the end of the trail, look for garter snakes in the seasonal pools of water. Perhaps the most common snake seen in the Chisos Mountains is the patchnose snake, a slender gray snake with brown stripes. The Chisos Mountains are also home to the red phase of the rock rattlesnake.

States: Texas
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid coords: 29.2758°, -103.3213°

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/window-trail-stop-9.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 Window Trail Stop #9 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.