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The Tuff Canyon Trail is located at Big Bend National Park in Texas. It takes hikers through a canyon carved out of soft volcanic tuff, or compressed ash.
The Tuff Canyon Trail is about ¾ of a mile round-trip. There’s an elevation change of 200 feet and it should take about an hour to complete. It’s located 19 miles from the northern end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.
The Trail
The Tuff Canyon Trail starts from the south end of the parking lot. It curves around to a natural drainage until it enters the canyon. At that point, the walls of the narrow canyon start to get higher.
After walking through the western part of the canyon, the trail comes to an open space leading to the eastern part of the canyon.
From there, the trail continues through the eastern part of the canyon until it ends at a collection of hardened layers of lava. During the rainy season, pools of water form in these layers.
Overlooks
Finally, there are three overlooks allowing visitors to view the canyon from the rim. There are two on the west side of the canyon and one on the east. It’s very important to stay away from the edges because the rim is soft and erodes easily.
The view from the first overlook on the west side gives a view of the entrance to the canyon. The view from the second overlook on the west side peers down into the center of the canyon.
On the other side of the canyon, the east overlook looks down onto a collection of small pools that form in hardened layers of lava.
Tips
Take at least a liter of water for the hike and make sure you have some snacks. The desert heat and dry climate can sap a lot of energy. Also use sunscreen or wear clothing to protect yourself from the sun. Please remember that dogs and other pets are not allowed on any trails at Big Bend National Park.
