Big Bend National Park in Texas: One Day Exploring Lost Mine, Balanced Rock & Santa Elena

[@michael_house]

Man - always makes me happy to see you spend time with your dad. I wish I could do that too... Thanks for taking us to all those amazing places.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@stevenjohnson8736]

@@ThroughMyLens Texas national park is not better than California national park…….California national park is one of the best national park in America 😃

[@TexasDesert3523]

Thank you for doing a video on BIG BEND National Park. I've lived in Texas all my life and I've visited Big Bend many times going into the camping grounds and staying for a week or two. There are many fascinating things to see and discover. Many years ago my mother went with a science class to visit BB and she found shark teeth. Yes, BB was under water at one time. I've also seen rock formations that looked more like statutes that were made by people and not natural formations. I hope to go back soon sometime and look at those towering structures again to find out if they are old statutes made by people maybe millions of years ago. I've also come across panther paw prints while walking and knew I could be in danger. So many wonderful things to explore and see!!!

[@stevenmerlock9971]

@misstexas3523 in off-road areas you would be surprised by the wildlife you come across. Camping in the open top Jeep and waking up to the sound of a big cat gets your attention. Same goes for waking up to a raccoon on your chest.

[@heatherroldan7977]

I really enjoy seeing all the travels you do with your dad. Lots of people have never had that experience, and I just think it's nice to see a positive father/son relationship. Now that you have two kids of your own, I'm sure one day you'll share these same types of memorable experiences with them. God bless you and your family:)

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for the comment and I am glad you enjoy the trips with my dad and I! I am excited to share these adventure with my kids as they get older too!

[@marydavis5567]

We are so thrilled to have found you and your dad's travels to National Parks! Thank you!

[@pamelaanngibson]

I really loved your presentation style! You put just the right amount of footage, and, the information about available stores and food was very helpful.

[@nicksmomstacy22]

Watching g this brought back childhood memories!! My family took a vacation to West TX in the early 80s and rafted the Rio Grande, visited Terlingua (took a picture of us kids in the jail), and went horseback riding through Big Bend. I am a born and raised Texan living in Dallas! Thank you for sharing your travel and reminding me of my childhood!!

[@ashleymcmains3592]

Your videos are so helpful to me as I am trying to plan one day adventures for my family at national parks

[@stevesalter1138]

Thanks, heading there now!

[@raystravel8325]

Makes Texas look so beautiful

[@pattyleabo426]

Man it’s breathtaking down there. Prettiest stars in Texas down there. You can see the Milky Way. And usually 6-10 shooting stars per hour. God bless Texas.

[@imranahmed1071]

Very informative, brief and organized. Soft spoken and smiley face. I watched it all because of that young guy.

[@arnoldirmail6616]

I love your videos!!!!! Pops is a Beast!!!! Someday the memories you are making with him will be priceless.

[@johnalittlejohn5630]

I LOOOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!!! Please make your videos longer!!! I feel like I'm traveling with you!!! Your dad and Amy are so awesome!!! and I enjoyed that Route 66 series so much!!! You are so informative and inspiring! Keep the vids coming!!!

[@brookeshaffer4377]

Beautiful video! What a gift your father is! How fortunate you are😚🌟👍

[@problu9586]

Can't believe after multiple weeks long visits to BBNP, I did not know about Balancing Rock. Thanks for adding a "new" attraction to visit at BBNP.

[@LeftCoastCowgirl]

Loves your travelogues. Especially when Pops is along. Keep 'em coming.

[@cynthiawilliams8432]

Love the BIG BEND, thanks for sharing.

[@michaelmasson480]

This swamp boy from Louisiana just returned from Big Bend-Thank you for this great video tour of a very special place!

[@robinr1714]

Incredibly beautiful--thanks for taking us along on your hike!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@44Mag]

Good for you - Getting to enjoy all the travels with your pops....You are blessed!

[@ThroughMyLens]

It has been awesome to travel with him!

[@AmbientWalking]

It's never boring to be moving with you, traveling with you. Always so great. Thanks for the wonderful experience! : )

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks so much for the comment and for watching the video!

[@Kefoo_]

-- *_Thank you, Through My Lens!_*

[@heathercore4297]

South Rim is the most beautiful part of the park! When I hike this trail I always do South Rim to Emory Peak. It's about a 16 mile loop. I stop at the South Rim viewing point and read for 30 min or so and then back at it :) I usually get started around 3:30am to be up to South Rim by sunrise ❤ AllTrails app is my best friend ❤

[@lanoi3660]

LOVE your video! LOVE the father/son relationship! I’m glad you get to spend time with your Dad while he’s able to. Family is precious. Life is short. 🙏 I’ve been to Big Bend a couple of times and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the place! I hope to make it an annual trip. Thank you for sharing your video! ❤️

[@Roadtosomethingnew1]

Seeing that canyon alone would be worth visiting Big Bend

[@loriallen67]

One of my favorite places on earth. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrOscher]

My wife and I love your videos. I was wondering if you had a big bend video. Of course you do!

[@cyjeren1627]

thanks for the virtual journey, wish i could be like you, amazing views

[@bryanmills2295]

Great video! You're very right about the scale of things there. It's hard to capture with a camera, but in person it's awe-inspiring!

[@BigAliG]

Thoroughly enjoyable video and very informative. Thank you for sharing. All I have to do now is visit Big Bend!

[@syedmammar1]

I love your channel

[@ilovesparky13]

Thanks for showing us the national park 😊

[@ThroughMyLens]

My pleasure 😊

[@metallampman]

Always enjoy your vids always a thumbs up on your work best to you and your dad

[@qiwang6852]

I've been to Big Bend twice. I really love it. You missed the sunset in Big Bend. It the clouds are good, the sunset at Sotol Vista and the Window View is stunning

[@kille6525]

Yes the window was the best hike that me and my dad did about 15 years ago.

[@gustav0mejia910]

Wonderful !!!, Thank you Josh.

[@normanhaltmeyer7873]

Thank you for the Texas wonder views.

[@arthurveinberg6453]

Wonderful video. Gives me some great ideas for visiting big bend!

[@josephparr6816]

Thank you for showing us

[@sallyruiz2338]

Fascinating MUDFOSSILS all around Incredible! Great experience and views!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@julieh3327]

Thanks for sharing. We haven’t made it to Big Bend but enjoyed your video of it.

[@coolbuffdad]

Some of the best videos on KZbin, keep up the great work

[@ThroughMyLens]

Wow, thanks! Really appreciate that!

[@DreamweaversHomestead]

I’ve been binge watching your videos for 2 days so far. I love your video style.

[@dishsultan]

I love watching videos of you and your dad exploring beautiful areas. I think it is great that have visited great places outside of Cali, like Texas. Set up a Patreon, friend; I'd enjoy supporting you.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks so much for watching the videos and I am glad you like them. I will have to look into a Patreon, that is very kind that you would want to support the channel

[@ChowderBreeze]

nice!! love your page. Planning to visit Big Bend soon and your video is very informative. :)

[@leemeyer748]

Having spent weeks in the big bend area, driving from Minnesota, it was well worth it given that we left during a snowstorm and enjoyed the hikes and canoeing in the river. As well we attended the funeral of a childhood friend who had died there…..

[@mattward4405]

Never realised he was 6'7! Wow?! Another great video 🤙🏻

[@barbstrand2207]

I love watching you and your dad travel, beautiful videos, always.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thank you so much! Glad you like the videos!

[@AllSortsOfScripts]

Such a great video!!

[@MrSTravelQuest]

I finally had a chance to visit Big Bend and it's amazing. Love your content and how you spend time with your pop. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@lixiao6392]

Aha!my dream came true ! You had Texas video finally ! Thank you so much

[@ThroughMyLens]

Hope you enjoyed it! We liked exploring West Texas. Got a video on the whole road trip coming in the next month

[@franciscogonzalez9826]

I’ll be there next week, I’m excited

[@OurGoldRoad]

I would to hear what you think about the park. April was our first time going, and discovered that it is a lot of driving between trails. But the views are amazing all around the park. Have fun!

[@metarus208]

pretty awesome National Park

[@andyleo8418]

Wow! You finally made it to Texas! Awesome video per usual.😁

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks! 😃 Yep, we spent 5 days driving around New Mexico and Texas, I should have a full road trip video later this month probably.

[@TravelswithVandSteve]

We are hoping to visit next year. This was fantastic! Wow that trail parking lot was full SO early. It looks incredible, such a stunning landscape and I can’t wait to see it in person!

[@ThroughMyLens]

That's awesome! Plan to spend more time than we did haha. I wish I would have had another couple days

[@saraho1913]

Great job with your videos! One of my go too’s for info!

[@wellsfamilytravels]

Thanks for such a great video! We are planning our trip to Texas, so this was helpful!

[@gmpny3945]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful video. I hope to make it there with my son one day.

[@ThroughMyLens]

I hope you can make it as well!

[@beriblonde]

Wowza! What a great vid! Thanks for all the detailed info. Sorry about the gas station lunch though. 😊 You guys are such troopers. It’s great for me to be back watching my fave vloggers again. Life just gets in the way sometimes, but I’ll catch up soon. No matter, I’m still in love with Pops. He’s my dream man…sigh.

[@willseeadventures]

Great video! Thanks for sharing that great info on those cool hiking spots!

[@malakangel9322]

You deserve more viewers and subscribers! Thank you for showing us the beautiful Big Bend NP

[@ThroughMyLens]

So nice of you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@kellyjohnson3617]

This is cool. I was thinking of taking a road trip out that way snd take in national parks on way out and back to Carlsbad caverns. Big bend is one I was curious about. The miles ears looks like a hello kitty silhouette to me. Lol

[@johndecriscio9586]

I was not very excited to visit Big Bend N.P., when we went, but wanted to check it off my list. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and really like it.

[@nickreynolds8391]

Great video. I was there a couple years ago with my sister and brother-in-law and we did pretty much the same exact things you and your dad did. We did the Lost Mine Trail, Balanced Rock and the Santa Elena Canyon trail also.

[@OurGoldRoad]

We didnt get a chance to hike the Lost Mine Trail. How was it?

[@nickreynolds8391]

@@OurGoldRoad It was great!! I highly, highly recommend. It's super close to the park lodge. And the hike wasn't demanding or anything. Gorgeous views along the trail. We went in winter and it started snowing as we climbed in elevation...it felt like we were in Colorado or something. It was very cool.

[@hsh1950]

Thanks! I know that the goal here is to do a one-day overview, and you chose good hikes for that. You really should do the South Rim Loop, though. If you don't do any of the spur trails (like Emory Peak) it is 12.6 miles and 2300 feet of elevation gain. It leads to some of the most spectacular views anywhere when you get to the South Rim.

[@essietangle9931]

Welcome to Texas, Big Bend style. Your video was great.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Hey, thanks! It was a great spot to explore that I can't wait to go back to

[@annadath69]

Excellent brother.

[@anjaliparanjape9582]

Awesome video..! Fantastic Trails 👍

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@catherineriley7359]

Great video. Thank you. We are headed there in October

[@yeezyfisherman]

hope to go soon! great vid bro

[@wtn]

Amazing landscape! Excellent video! 👍

[@sugarandpennythepooh1211]

BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for the tour! 😊❤️🙏

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Shivey-Caroline-7-23]

Thanks for sharing guys'

[@Rastafari420rob]

My first time to big bend this was my exact trip - If you keep climbing past balanced rock there is like a fred flintstone hut and you can climb pretty high from there.

[@BookTimeWithRyan]

I’m reading a book called Great River and the chapter I’m in covers the surveying of Big Bend. It’s cool to read and then see aspects of the canyons in your video.

[@catherineriley7359]

Nice. Thank you

[@CFDEngCo3]

Love your videos! I can’t wait to see Big Bend for myself one day.

[@ThroughMyLens]

I hope you are able to see it, it is beautiful!

[@RicG.]

Another nice video. Thanks! 👍 😎

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thank you for the comment!

[@heidicoz8369]

Wowww u explore a lot and ur day is a really good hiker 😇

[@ThroughMyLens]

Try to explore as much as possible when I visit new spots like this. My dad kept up really well!

[@justinrichardson3864]

Glad you made it, and you did some good stuff for one day. If you make it back, check out Upper Burro Mesa Trail. Heckuva fun hike. Also worth going to the other end of the park to the Rio Grande Village Campground to take in the Rio Grande Overlook view back towards the Chisos. And while you're down there, you can check out Boquillas Canyon.

[@xboxsolox]

Great vid!

[@blastedmcgraw152]

Very nice video! I haven’t been back there in about 8 years, but hope to go back in the next 3-4 for a backpacking trip. The Marufa Vega trail is epic, definitely check it out next time you’re there!

[@franksalsa9342]

Haven't been to Texas yet..thanks for this...it looks awesome and different than coastal California...safe travels 👏👊🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@RobertSander]

We have been to this park many times, most recently about 45 years ago. It hasn't changed much from what you showed, Lost Mine Trail was then the most popular and was the same trail. Santa Elena canyon was not a trail at that time, you could bushwhack from Castolon campground but that was it. I got sort of lost there on a makeshift trail probably a game trail.

[@elderinmoi1571]

It has been a while. Good to see you back on the road 👍 great content as usual. Tx a lot.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you enjoyed it! More videos coming from this trip!

[@dbmendoza7962]

I was just there two weeks ago I found the place by accident stayed in the nice hotel in Terlingua went to the canyon in big bend it’s beautiful walked the Rio Grande went to Mexico lol This park is definitely underrated.

[@OurGoldRoad]

I agree, it is definitely underrated. It’s funny that you found a GIANT National park by accident. 😂 jk. Did you enjoy “Mexico”?

[@speterbilt]

Chisos basin is awesome! It looks like Colorado in the desert. Has black bears too

[@seethebutter]

Great video! Thank you

[@ThroughMyLens]

You are welcome!

[@TexanSupremacy]

I called Big Bend NP home for over a year, living and working at the lodge. I wish you went to some of my favorite places in the park, Emory Peak and South Rim are absolutely stunning, by far the best views in the park. I have a 30 second video on my channel from Emory Peak, not very well shot but it will show you the stunning view from the highest point of the Chisos 😊. I miss it dearly. Even Terelingua. Lots of memories there.

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Love it. You mostly did everything we didn't. 😂 Shame the Hot Springs were still closed. You know where the Cholla garden is in Joshua Tree, where the two deserts meet? That area reminds me of Big Bend. Next time definitely paddle down Santa Elena and hike South Rim/Emory and even if you just go to the overlook, Boquillas is amazing. One of the most beautiful places in the park. I don't think you can do a 3 night paddle through it yet with the twins, but you never know. Thanks for bringing back great memories.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for the comment! You guys did so many awesome things that I didn't get to. I linked to your video in the description as it's a great resource!

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

@@ThroughMyLens Oh wow, thanks! We're just happy to see more people going there. It's our favorite national park (so far), but it just doesn't get the same love. The part where you said you had a wide lens and that it wasn't doing it justice, it brought me back to when we were kayaking Boquillas, and I said, there's no way the camera is getting this right!

[@annblair4459]

Thanks

[@josephregallis3394]

Very nice. I haven't been to this National Park but I would love to explore it. Great to see you bonding with your dad. I think that is so cool! My father and I never got to go hiking together, then again we didn't not do too many activities together. He's no longer with us but he and I did spend some time together at home so I did learn about some of his adventures spending 20 years in the Navy and traveling the world.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for the comment and I am glad you got to spend some time with your dad hearing about his travels. I love the time I get to spend with my dad on these adventures and I never want to take them for granted.

[@pappysproductions]

Great video.

[@jennyc1846]

That was amazing Josh.. how the heck did that balancing rock get to where it was? There weren't even any mountains for it to have rolled off of... That canyon was spectacular too.. can you imagine winding your way along that country with a wagon or on a mule (BTW I thought the mule ears looked more like thorny devils ears) and building a house out there? Long way to go to the nearest store...what a tough life they lived way back when...and people whinge about the conditions today...they dont know what tough was. Thanks for a great video guys

[@TheLisaanntorres]

I love your videos!

[@ianwtarrant]

Great video. Would like to see a video of the areas other attractions.

[@IMJAFO2]

You're father is 6'7"?? Dang!!! And, he always looks so impatient in the background........waiting for you to get onto those trails.

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha yep he is tall! He likes when I stop on the trails so he can take a break haha

[@alkoop100]

Nice works 😀😀😀

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks 😀

[@shibangshibang1]

Woah great vid

[@Demirae9]

Dayyyum! 6’7!

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha yep he is tall!

[@beautifulplacesinamerica7792]

Merry Christmas.

[@marshaharwood8883]

Great video!!!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thank you!!