Stop by the Panther Junction Visitor Center and walk the Panther Path for an easy trek among the many plants of Big Bend. The Panther Path is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the plants in Big Bend, the Chisos Mountains, and the Chihuahuan Desert. Walk through the desert garden for a short distance and read the information on large rocks near each plant.
Some of the plants explain if you’ll see them in Boquillas Canyon, Emory Peak, or other various stops throughout the park that are part of the typical Chihuahuan Desert habitat. This is a popular destination to start your day in Big Bend National Park.
Panther Path Details
15 Minutes
100 Yards
Loop
3 Feet
Duration: Under 30 MInutes
This path is hard to determine a duration because it depends on how long you stop to read each of the informational signs. On average, I would guess it takes about 15 minutes to complete. When Ryan was doing it for his Junior Ranger book, we spent about 10 minutes but he only looked for specific numbers to finish the activity.
Distance: 100 Yards Roundtrip
According to the sign at the start of the flat hike, this is a 100-yard loop.
Type: Loop Trail
The Panther Path is a very small loop next to the Panther Junction Visitor Center.
Elevation Change: 3 Feet
The elevation change is so small and so gradual, you won’t notice it. The path is a sidewalk the entire way around.
Season: Any
This short path can be enjoyed any time of the year. Just keep in mind that the temperatures get extremely hot in the summer months.
Time of Day: Any
You can walk on the Pather Path Trail any time of the day. We came to the area on the first day in the park, but only for a nighttime ranger program so had to come back during the daylight hours to follow the Panther Path.
Amount of Shade: None
There is no shade to be found on this short path. Even though it isn’t long, keep that in mind as you plan your day. Luckily, there is air conditioning in the visitors center.
Difficulty: Easy
Panther Path Trail is paved with almost no incline. The path is short and wheelchair accessible. This is the best place to make a short stop at the visitor center, hit the small convenience store there, and take the pathway.
What Makes Panther Path a Great Hike?
Those who walk the trail get a chance to learn about the plants in the area, their names and how they got them, what they were used for in the past, and what they can be used for today.
The Panther Path is a short paved path that loops around all of the plants with their information placards. Visitors can learn about the medicinal uses, practical uses, and cultural histories of the park and its native plants.
At one point, the end of the trail meets up with a dirt road that goes to the far end of the parking lot.
A few of our favorite plants we learned about were Candelilla, Lechuguilla, Texas Rainbow Cactus, and all the different types of prickly pears.
Scenery on the Panther Path
As you walk along the path, since it’s so short, your scenery doesn’t change. The visitor center and parking lot will be visible, but the highlight of the trail is learning about all of the plants native to the area.
Panther Path Trailhead Information
Park Name: Big Bend National Park
You can find the Panther Path at a visitor center at Big Bend National Park in western Texas.
Finding the Trailhead
If you are looking at the Panther Junction Visitor Center, the paved pathway is to your right and the restrooms are to your left.
Markers Along the Trail
The only markers along the trail are those that mark the different plants and give information about them.
Other Trails at this Trailhead
There are no other trailheads from the visitor center or the parking lot.
Nearest Restrooms: Visitor Center
The Panther Junction Visitor Center has flushing toilets just outside the doors to the left.
Parking Area: Panther Junction Visitor Center
To park, look for the parking lot for the Panther Junction Visitor Center. The lot will fill up in peak times, so make sure to get there early. This is east of the road to the Chisos Basin and about the same distance whether you come through the West Entrance near Old Maverick Road or the Persimmon Gap Entrance near the north Park Entrance.
Tips for Panther Path
- If you have a kid with you who wants to do the Junior Ranger book, get that first as there is an activity in the book that corresponds with the Panther Path.
- Once a Junior Ranger completes that page, they can take it to the Park Ranger inside and get a Panther Path patch. There are also patches for Hot Springs Historic Trail (near Rio Grande Village) and Emory Peak Trail (the highest peak in the park).
- The park visitor center here has many amenities including backcountry and river use permits, cellular signal, first aid, Big Bend Natural History Association Bookstore, a gift shop, Junior Ranger books, Park Rangers on site, a theater to watch the park orientation movie, flushing restrooms, a water faucet to fill bottles, a U.S. Post Office, informational brochures, a trail brochure, a gas station next door, and wifi available.
Accessibility Information for Panther Path
Paved
Paved
Trail Type: Paved
The entirety of the Panther Path is a paved sidewalk, making it very accessible for those with mobility issues.
Parking: Dirt Road
The visitor center parking lot has multiple handicap-accessible parking spots and the entire surrounding area is made accessible for everyone.