Parking
Use the paved Upper Burro Mesa Pour-Off pullout on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, 6.5 miles from the drive's northern end. It holds about six vehicles.
Overview
About Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail
Why go
- Narrow canyon walls, sandy wash, and boulders keep the scenery changing.
- The upper pouroff and grotto make a memorable end to a short hike.
Heads up
- Loose boulders and scrambling make this harder than its mileage suggests.
- The open return climbs back toward the road with little shade.
Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail is a 3.5-mile out-and-back from a roadside pullout on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, dropping into a narrow canyon and sandy wash before reaching the slick-rock pouroff and a grotto. The park lists about 500 feet of elevation change and a two-hour average; allow two to three hours if you want time for the boulder sections. It is a good short canyon walk if you do not mind scrambling, but the footing makes it more demanding than the mileage suggests. The park lists 3.5 miles; other estimates run from 3.6 to 3.8 miles, so treat the total as approximate. Pets are not allowed on park trails.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Big Bend map
Full mapElevation3,514–3,986 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Big Bend alerts
- ClosureWeather-related road closuresDo not use these closed roads; NPS lists the closures as in effect until further notice.Official details
- InfoBoquillas Crossing schedule changeBoquillas Crossing is open Friday through Monday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; NPS says it will not change to winter hours at this time. Check current park conditions before planning a crossing.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Big Bend Tour Guide
Your drive to Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Big Bend National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Big Bend audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff0:00 / 0:28
“You're nearing the Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff trailhead, for a canyon hike through sandy washes and boulder scrambles.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Big Bend Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
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- 110 audio storiesacross Big Bend’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Collared Peccary, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 45 trails, 64 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail
From the pullout to the washThe route drops down an open hillside into a narrow canyon.
The route drops down an open hillside into a narrow canyon. A small pouroff and a boulder section require scrambling; follow the existing cairns and do not add your own. The canyon then opens into a sandy wash. Keep track of the route back as you enter the wash: visitors report that it can be easy to lose the return line among the rocks.
Through the canyonThe wash carries you toward the upper pouroff, narrowing again between tall rock walls and…
The wash carries you toward the upper pouroff, narrowing again between tall rock walls and opening into wider stretches. Expect a mix of sand, loose rock, and boulders rather than a smooth, built trail. Much of the approach and return is exposed, with some shade under the later canyon walls, so an early start and enough water make a real difference.
At the upper pouroffThe endpoint is a deep slick-rock drop above a grotto-like chamber.
The endpoint is a deep slick-rock drop above a grotto-like chamber. The trail reaches the upper pouroff; it does not connect down to Lower Burro Mesa, which has a separate access. Entering the grotto is optional and requires enough bouldering ability to climb back out. Only descend if you are sure you can reverse every move.
Flash-flood dangerDo not enter this narrow canyon when storms threaten.
Do not enter this narrow canyon when storms threaten. Flash floods occur frequently here, and the steep walls leave little chance to climb to safety once water is moving through the wash. Save some energy for the return, which climbs back toward the road after the descent.
Parking and suppliesUse the paved Upper Burro Mesa Pour-Off pullout on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, about 6.
Use the paved Upper Burro Mesa Pour-Off pullout on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, about 6.5 miles from the drive's northern end. It fits about six vehicles. No drinking water or toilets are listed at the trailhead, and none are identified along the route; bring what you need before leaving the main road.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Big Bend
377 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
329 sightingsCollared PeccaryMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
500 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
985 sightingsRoadrunnerMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
228 sightingsRavenMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
264 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Big Bend. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
