Beautiful view!
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pats512 - 3/31/2018
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Distance: 4.20 Miles
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The trail is easier on the way in than on the way out! There's plenty of flat trail in shade and for the most part the incline/decline is gradual. There are a few stretches with steep rock stairs and a few fun rock piles to climb over. The ascent out of the canyon is intense for the weaker hiker since the descent in is misleadingly easy.
Fairly boring walk with a happy ending
User:
oliverd - 2/3/2018
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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The wak itself is rather dull, as it heads down through the Basin... the payoff is the last half a mile, when you enter the narrow canyon chiselled out by Oak Creek and emerge at the WIndow. The view out isn't spectacular, but it's pretty cool seeing the desert through a narrow slit in the Chisos mountain rim. Go very early or late (sunset here is nice) - you'll avoid the crowds, and the walk is mostly exposed with not much shade until the end.
Track notes and photos: https://hikingtheworld.blog/2017/10/29/the-window/
The Window @ Big Bend
User:
CraigS - 7/1/2015
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Distance: 5.00 Miles
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This was one of our first, and a tough lesson. it was 106 deg and up hill on the way back...lessons learned.
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mtuncap1955 - 3/23/2015
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Distance: 6.00 Miles
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This trail is mostly uphill on the way back, so pace yourself since the going will be harder on the second half of the hike.
Okay hike
User:
texaskdog - 9/10/2013
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Distance: 4.40 Miles
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There was no water in the creek so no falls to see (we were told Cattail falls is beautiful when running). We drove to the campground & hiked from there as the mileage is less and apparently you don't miss much. We took a right at the fork up Oak Springs and there is a rocky (safe) ledge but beautiful view from the top, as long as you don't start the steep hike back down. We saw some deer on this trail.
User:
DNC - 8/30/2010
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Distance: 4.50 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
User:
bsisk - 3/22/2009
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Distance: 4.00 Miles
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The hike "down" to the window is not bad at all. The view from the window is absolutely beautiful. The hike back up the trail can be difficult as you are going up the entire way of the trail. Make sure that you take plenty of water - I always fill up my camel pak when I go. There a lots of rock formations in the Chisos Mountains and the trees/plants are usually nice and green because of the elevation.
User:
rowdy - 3/22/2008
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Distance: 5.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes
The Window View Is Incredible!
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Blaze - 3/8/2008
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Distance: 4.40 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
First, the reason why the mileage on my hike is only 4.40 miles whereas other people have logged 5.50 miles is because I caught the trail from the campground area whereas they caught the trail from the Basin Store area.
This hike is downhill for the first half and then uphill on the way back. The trail takes you through a scenic canyon and culminates in a water pouroff known as The Window. The view is absolutely spectacular. If you walk out to the edge of the window, be careful as the rock is smooth and slippery.
About a 1/4 mile from The Window, you can take the Oak Springs Trail which leads up and over a steep mountain. The signs says it is 2.0 miles, but it seems longer, perhaps because the trail is so arduous. If you decide to take this Oak Springs Trail, be sure you're in good shape and have good balance. The trail is steep and there are narrow areas where a slip could result in a fatal fall.
Great view
User:
wardbd1 - 4/10/2007
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Not too populated due to wet, snowy conditions!
User:
dcrusin - 12/29/2006
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
This was a beautiful hike. I always love it! It had snowed in Big Bend! The trail was muddy and there were not too many hikers on the trail. We are birders, but did not see many birds. It rained on us on the way back, and there was a beautiful rainbow! We took lots of photos! We had views of Shangri-la!!
Surprise ending
User:
haldodd - 10/10/2006
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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I had no idea that the window was this cool, super hike but a little boring coming back.
Great
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Budokaninja - 8/16/2005
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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Wow, what a hike! The reward at the end of this hike would make it worth it even if there were ten miles instead of two to get there. The window is beautiful - nice breeze, quiet, everything is great there. Saw a nice black turantula on the way out, a huge scorpion on the way back, and right as we came up towards the beginning of the trail on the way back, we saw a group of wild boar pretty close to us. Definitely recommend this one!( What can I say I totally agree)
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MikeFornal - 8/15/2005
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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Wow, what a hike! The reward at the end of this hike would make it worth it even if there were ten miles instead of two to get there. The window is beautiful - nice breeze, quiet, everything is great there. Saw a nice black turantula on the way out, a huge scorpion on the way back, and right as we came up towards the beginning of the trail on the way back, we saw a group of wild boar pretty close to us. Definitely recommend this one!
Great hike with a wonderful view at the end
User:
azurechaos - 12/12/2004
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Distance: 5.00 Miles
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This hike let me and my friends know that we were a little out of shape, since this is supposed to be one of the easiest trails. The terrain's easy, but the distance factor started to make us tired. Regardless, the cool breeze coming through the window itself and the water flowing down, made the view wonderful.
great view, lots of people
User:
srsubaseball - 9/14/2004
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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This trail has one of the greatest views in Texas, but there are plenty of people there with you.
Easy fun walk
User:
Eveline - 10/10/2003
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Distance: 6.20 Miles
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We walked with the West Texas Trail Walkers. Easy trail but it had been raining. Some mud. Pictures: http://www.geocities.com/ourwalks/Windows/Trail.html
Great hike to a great window view of Big Bend.
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texas trekker - 4/1/2003
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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Very popular hike. I really enjoy it!
Great View
User:
asellers98 - 11/5/2002
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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This hike was a long journey. My fiancee and I decided to do a 30 minute and ended up on this trail. Not knowing our mistake, we decided to keep going "the end has to be right around the next corner." The view and overall fun of the trail keep us going far past what we should have. We were not prepared, no 10 essentials, and it got very dangerous. It gets pitch black at night on this trail. We could not see each other on the way out, nor could we see the ground very well. Take note to be cautious of the animals as well. We startled something large at dusk, not sure what it was, but it was big like a mountain lion or a bear. Everyone should make this hike!!!
Don't want to be here after a heavy rain!
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Austin Explorer - 10/18/2001
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Distance: 5.53 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 11 minutes
Wrapping up our Big Bend trip we headed to natural drainage point for the Chisos Basin. It's an interesting turnaround point though I think I prefer wide vistas. In the end it didn't help that my camera lens had a smudge that I did not notice until after we got home!
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yeiyel - 9/5/2000
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Distance: 5.50 Miles
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We, 12 of us, made this hike in the evening to watch the sun set through the window. Descending along the way there is anticipation of seeing the main attraction, "The Window". And let me tell you I wasn't disappointed. It was a tremendous view, it was definately a place to be connected to the beauty of creation.
Well worth the walk.
Alot to think about while ascending back up to the basin.
An amazing walk
User:
Joefirefighter - 9/17/1995
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Distance: 6.00 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
The trail takes you down through the grass and cactus areas of the bottom of the Chisos Basin before you enter the streambed which eventually exits out of the Window. The Window is actually a pour-off or exit for water that falls in the Chisos Basin.
The streambed begins as a sand and gravel streambed but eventually turns into a gray slickrock. The window is an amazing place to look out and see the desert floor hundreds of feet below. It is also an amazing photo-op. Watch your exposure.
The reason I upped the difficulty on this trail is it is down hill on the way out and uphill on the way back when you are hot and tired and, if you left in the morning, the day is beginning to get hot. The second time I took this hike, I had a hard time enjoying the trip out because I realized every step down would be a step up on the way back.
My mileage is a little higher than others because I also took the oak springs trail which leads up the outside of the Chisos mountains and has some excellent vistas of the desert below.