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Backcountry campsite permits in person only
Obtain all Big Bend backcountry campsite permits in person at Panther Junction Visitor Center until further notice. Large amounts of rain and the resulting road closures have suspended online permitting. - The park has 67 primitive campsites along backcountry roads; the 20 most popular are normally available online, but all campsites currently require in-person permits. - Permits for the remaining 47 primitive roadside campsites along River Road, Glenn Springs Road, Black Gap Road, Old Ore Road, and Old Maverick Road are available at Panther Junction Visitor Center daily 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., up to 24 hours before the first night (the day of or the day before). - A sturdy high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is required for these roadside campsites. Passenger cars, minivans, and RVs cannot reach them, and rangers will not issue permits for those vehicle types. Check backcountry permit information and roadside campsite details before making plans.Official detailsClosure
Flood-damaged roads and Santa Elena areas closed
Do not use the closed roads or enter the closed Santa Elena areas. - The paved road between Cottonwood Campground and Santa Elena Canyon, Old Maverick Road, Old Ore Road, and Black Gap Road are closed until further notice because unsafe conditions remain from recent or past flash-flooding events. - Due to ongoing construction, public access is closed from the eastern edge of the Santa Elena Boat Launch parking lot down to the end of the construction clearing work, and from the southern road edge marked by the white “fog” line down to the river’s high-water mark. This limits hazard exposure to visitors and responders from construction equipment and road work. - The closure order took effect August 10, 2026, applies to all vehicle traffic, and supports a Department of Homeland Security infrastructure project intended to mitigate risk associated with an active, large-scale construction project. The Santa Elena public-access closure began at 12:00 a.m. on August 12, 2026; the area is posted and monitored for compliance. - The closures remain in effect until further notice while effectiveness is assessed on an ongoing basis and the Superintendent’s office reviews them. Check current park conditions before traveling for changes to these closures or additional closures.Official details
