Off-trail hiking requires proper gear and adequate supplies. Use a topographic map and know your route. A hikers guide is sold at park headquarters. Join a National Park Service ranger to explore Big Bend's natural and cultural history. Join a ranger on a hike or walk and learn about the forces that once shaped this landscape - and continue to do so, see the Calendar Page .
Nature walks, workshops, and evening slide programs are provided by park naturalists year-round.
Several programs per day are offered November to April, fewer programs are offered in summer. Check park bulletin boards and visitor centers for the current weekly program schedule. Also, check at the visitor centers for information on the Junior Ranger program for children ages six through eleven. These are just some of the ways to discover the diversity of the scenic, natural and historic wonders that comprise Big Bend National Park. Chisos Basin and Panther Junction are open year round.