This gentle 4-mile out-and-back journey immerses you in the stark beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert, revealing a dramatic canyon, unique rock formations, and a sense of peaceful isolation.
I was on my way out of Big Bend National Park when I stopped at Dog Canyon for the final hike of my trip. I fucking hoped it would be a good one, too! There’s nothing worse than ending a trip on a garbage hike and leaving Big Bend irritated.
And in its own quiet, simple way, it was well worth the time.
Table of Contents
Recommended Supplies:
Minimum recommended supplies per person, and don’t be afraid to bring extra water!
- 2.5L water
- Rain jacket
- Sunscreen
- 400-700 calories of food/snacks
- Paper map
- Sunglasses
Hiking Dog Canyon Trail ~4 miles round trip
This is a very easy trail, 2 miles out and then 2 miles right back whence you came, that is appropriate for all fitness levels from families to newbie hikers. This is true desert hiking.
Do not attempt it in summer and be sure to carry lots of water – more than you think you will need. I did this trail in January and would not dream of attempting it in warmer months. There is absolutely no shade whatsoever.
People have died trying to hike this trail during the summer.
Accessing the Trail
The trail can be found near the main entrance to the park, shortly after US 385 becomes the main park road. Parking for this trail is on the side of the road, where there is space for about 5 cars if no one parks like an asshole. From what I gather, this is not a super popular trail and you will likely have it to yourself as I did.
Desert Hiking
The first 1.5 miles of the trail are flat, sandy desert populated with reosote bush, cacti and various grasses that I can’t fucking name. The trail is marked by cairns through the desert and then enters a rocky wash during the last half mile.
NPS website notes that after rainfall, the trail soil becomes muddy clay. And that it likes to stick to your shoes like a bitch (I’m paraphrasing). I can officially confirm: they are right.
So for 1.5 flat miles, you walk through the desert following stacked rocks (cairns). It’s a strange feeling to let the desert swallow you up. Once you can’t see your car, you begin to feel like you are in the heart of nowhere, in a vast open space, and it’s fucking wonderful.
It’s quiet out there and there were times that the solitude tempted me to sit down and listen to the silence. I saw not a soul on my hike. This desert trail section is quick and easy. The hiking beyond is much slower due to the pebbly, boulder strewn, sandy nature of the wash.
The Wash and The Canyon
At approximately 1.5 miles in, you will hit a wash.
Hiking Vocab Lesson: A wash is a shallow channel that follows the contours of the land and allows water to flow — or wash — from higher elevations to lower. They are often rocky and/or sandy, and can make for tiresome, though not difficult, trekking.
Normally this wash is dry but in times of rainfall it can gather water, which it had in places on my hike. You will take a left up the wash and follow it for the half mile remaining. If you take the right turn instead, you will hit up Devils Den Trail, which I did not have time for and therefore cannot comment on.
The wash leads you into Dog Canyon, which you can walk directly through. The limestone walls of the canyon are impressive, and the trail features interesting rock formations and even a small cave. No, I didn’t go check the cave out.
It looked like the perfect home for a mountain lion.
This is where the trail ends.
Dog Canyon Trail Recommendation
I liked this trail because of its pure simplicity. It was not particularly challenging or technical. Anyone can do it. But there is a strange kind of peace out there in the remote desert that you don’t experience if you don’t go. Get your ass off the couch and go see what I’m talking about.
Would recommend.
Too Long: Didn’t Read;
People have died trying to hike this trail during the summer.
And apparently it would have killed you to read this very short review. Anyway, here’s your summary!
- 4 mile out & back, easy hike
- Small but pretty canyon at the end
- Gives you a great taste of the desert landscape within BBNP
- No shade, bring lots of water, & do not attempt in summer!
