Journal

Notes from the basecamp.

Trip reports, gear tips, and field guides from the people who run these rivers and roads. New entries when we have something worth saying.

June 4, 2026 · 6 min read

Running Santa Elena at low water

A trip report from a late-summer float through the park's most famous canyon, and what we learned about reading the gauge before you launch.

May 12, 2026

We pack hundreds of camping kits a year. Here is what we put in the two-person setup, why each piece is there, and what we leave out on purpose.

April 22, 2026

Big Bend has some of the darkest skies in the country. A short guide to what you can see, when to look, and how to keep your night vision.

March 30, 2026

The primitive roads lead to the best of the park, but they are not for every vehicle. What you need to know before you point a 4x4 down River Road.