Trip details · Lost Mine Trail

Lost Mine Trail packing checklist

ActivityDay hike
ParkBig Bend National Park, TX
NearestEnchanted Rock Summit Trail, 281 mi

A 4.8-mile round-trip climb in the Chisos Mountains, first to a saddle with views of Casa Grande and Juniper Canyon, then up steep switchbacks to a ridge looking over Pine Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen in Mexico. Dry desert air, steep log steps, mountain lion and bear country, a 15-car lot that fills early and big temperature swings are the main things to plan for.

Trip details

Distance: 4.8 mi (7.7 km) round trip, out and back on the same trail
Elevation gain: 1,100 ft (335 m), most of it after the saddle
Route: From the trailhead on the Chisos Basin Road, the trail climbs to a saddle at about 1 mile with views of Casa Grande and Juniper Canyon. It then climbs steeply on switchbacks and log steps to a rocky ridge with views of Pine Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen in Mexico
Difficulty: Moderate, says the park. Plan on about 3 hours
Trailhead: Lost Mine Trailhead, about mile 5 on the Chisos Basin Road. Parking for about 15 vehicles
Fees and permits: No trail permit or reservation. Park entrance fee is $30 per private vehicle for 7 days, card only
Hours: The park and its entrances are open 24 hours, year-round. This is a day hike
Pets: Not allowed on any park trail
Best season: October through April, when it is cooler. Start early, before 8 am, to get a parking spot (our pick)

Source

"Our pick" seasons are our own call.

Packing list

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Before you go

Check conditions and closures. Look at NPS Big Bend: current conditions the day before. As of Oct 24, 2026 (page last updated Oct 22), no closure is listed for the Lost Mine Trail or the Chisos Basin Road. Several other park roads are closed for weather until further notice, including the road from Cottonwood Campground to Santa Elena Canyon, Hot Springs Road and Old Ore Road. The Chisos Basin construction closure planned for 2026 was cancelled, so the Basin is open. NPS Big Bend: Chisos Basin construction cancelled
Check the weather. Look at the Chisos Basin forecast, which runs about 10°F cooler than Panther Junction. Skip the ridge if thunderstorms are coming. NPS Big Bend: weather
Go early. The 15-car lot fills by 8 to 9 am from November through April, and roadside parking isn’t allowed. Have a backup hike in mind. NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail
Tell someone your plan. Cell service is limited or missing in much of the park, so tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you have signal in an emergency, call 911. The Chisos Basin Visitor Center is open 8:30 am to 4 pm, closed for lunch. Lock valuables out of sight in your car. NPS Big Bend: safety
Know when to turn back. Turn back if a storm is building, if you have used half your water, if anyone in your group is struggling, or if the light is fading.

This list is a starting point, not a guarantee. Conditions change, so adjust it for your trip and your group.

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Check off what you already have. For anything you still need, there’s a product suggestion when we have a good match.

Trip-specific: permits and hazards

Mountain lion and black bear countryThe park says the trail is in mountain lion and black bear habitat. Keep children close and don’t let them run ahead. If you meet a lion, don’t run: stand tall, raise your arms, back away slowly, throw rocks and yell if it comes closer, and fight back if attacked. If you see a bear, give it space, don’t run, and back away slowly. Report sightings to a ranger.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: Hike the Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: mountain lions · NPS Big Bend: bear safety
Steep upper trail with log stepsThe trail climbs 1,100 feet in 2.4 miles. Past the saddle at about mile 1, it climbs steeply through juniper, oak and pine with many log steps. The park asks you to stay on the switchbacks and not cut corners, and not to stack rocks. The park recommends sturdy shoes.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: Hike the Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: weather
Small lot, and no roadside parkingThe trailhead lot holds about 15 vehicles and regularly fills by 8 to 9 am from November through April. Don’t park along the road. If the lot is full, pick another hike. The Chisos Basin Road is not recommended for RVs over 24 feet or trailers over 20 feet.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: Hike the Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: safety
Park entrance fee, card onlyNo permit or reservation is needed for the hike, but Big Bend charges an entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle for 7 days, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person on foot or bike. The park takes cards only, no cash. America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: fees and passes · NPS Big Bend: Hike the Lost Mine Trail
No pets on the trailPets are not allowed on any trail in the park, including this one.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail
No toilets on the trailThere are no toilets at the trailhead or on the trail. Use a restroom before you head to the trailhead. If you have to go, bury waste 6 inches deep at least 100 yards from the trail and any water, and pack out your toilet paper.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: Hike the Lost Mine Trail
Big temperature swings and lightningThe Chisos Basin runs about 10°F cooler than the Panther Junction forecast. October averages a high of 74°F and a low of 53°F, and November 65°F and 45°F, but the park warns of freezing cold spells and daily swings of 30°F or more. In a thunderstorm, get off the ridge and stay low. The park says lightning and hypothermia have taken lives here.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: weather · NPS Big Bend: safety
Snakes and scorpionsThe park warns of venomous snakes and scorpions. Watch where you put your hands and feet, especially on rocks and ledges, and stay on the trail.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: safety · NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail

The Ten Essentials (NPS)

Water: at least 3 liters per personThe park says to carry 1 liter of water per person per hour of hiking, and the hike takes about 3 hours. That is about 3 liters each, more on a warm day. The trailhead has no water, and the park says never to count on springs in the Chisos. Fill up before you drive up, and eat salty snacks, as the park advises.
Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 32 oz
$17.62 on Amazon
Each bottle holds about 1 liter. Carry three per person, the park’s 1 liter per hour for a 3-hour hike.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: water in the Chisos Mountains
Food and extra foodBring salty snacks, which the park recommends, and a little extra food. As of Oct 22, 2026, the Chisos Basin restaurant is closed. A food truck outside the lodge is open daily 8 am to 8 pm (closed 10 to 11 am), so pack your trail food from home.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: current conditions
Navigation: map and compassThe park says to take a map and compass and tell someone your plans. Cell service is limited or missing in much of the park. Download or print the park map before you go.
Suunto A-10 Compass
$24.00 on Amazon
The park says to take a map and compass. A simple baseplate compass works with the park map when your phone has no signal.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Big Bend: safety · NPS Big Bend: maps
HeadlampThe park lists a flashlight among the things to carry. If you start early to get a parking spot, you may be hiking in the dark. Your phone isn’t a headlamp.
Petzl Tikka Headlamp
$34.95 on Amazon
The park lists a flashlight among what to carry. Useful for a pre-dawn start to get a parking spot, or if you finish after sunset.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Big Bend: safety
Sun protectionThe park says to use sunscreen and a hat on this hike. The ridge is open with little shade, and the high-desert sun is strong even in late fall. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses help too.
Banana Boat Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, 6 oz (2 pack)
$13.86 on Amazon
SPF 50 spray for the open ridge, where there is little shade and the desert sun is strong even in fall.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Big Bend: Lost Mine Trail · NPS Big Bend: weather
Insulation and wind layerThe park suggests lightweight layers because temperatures can swing 30°F or more in a day. Bring a warm layer for the ridge and a shell in case of wind or rain. Cold fronts in fall and winter can drop temperatures below freezing.
Columbia Women’s Benton Springs Full Zip Fleece
$45.48 on Amazon
A light fleece for a cold start and a windy ridge. Chisos lows average 53°F in October and 45°F in November.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Big Bend: safety · NPS Big Bend: weather
First aid kitThe park lists a first aid kit among the things to carry. It covers blisters, scrapes and sprains, the most common trail problems.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .5
$31.95 on Amazon
For blisters, scrapes and a turned ankle on the log steps and rocky switchbacks.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Big Bend: safety
Fire starter and emergency shelterThe park bans wood and ground fires, so carry a lighter for emergencies only. If someone is hurt, an emergency bivvy keeps them warm while you wait for help. The park also says to carry a signaling device such as a mirror and whistle.
SOL 90% Emergency Bivvy
$25.49 on Amazon
Holds in body heat if someone is hurt and you wait for help on a cold night. It comes with a whistle, which the park lists as a signaling device.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: NPS Big Bend: safety
Knife or repair kitFor quick gear fixes, cutting tape or trimming a blister pad.
Opinel No. 08 Stainless Folding Knife
$16.78 on Amazon
For quick gear fixes, cutting tape or trimming a blister pad.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)

Prices and stock checked on Amazon on Oct 24, 2026, and may have changed.

Photos

Rocky cliffs of Casa Grande in the Chisos Mountains under a blue sky, seen from the Lost Mine Trail, with a dead tree in front — Photo: P. Hughes · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Rocky orange peaks and green shrubs seen from the Lost Mine Trail — Photo: Clinton Steeds · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons