Sam Nail Ranch is a very short hike in Big Bend National Park. This hike, located in the Castolon area, takes you down to a dry wash where Sam Nail settled his family over one hundred years ago. There isn’t too much of the ranch left to see, but the area is pretty. The large trees provide some shade, and there is a good chance to see animals, particularly birds.
Trailhead
The ranch is located at a turnout a few miles south on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. There is plenty of parking as this walk is short and turns over quickly. The trail walks gently down hill to a sign showing areas of the ranch. Then it loops through those areas. Mostly, you won’t see any structures, though the chicken coop is sort of still standing.
The Ranch trail
The Sam Nail Ranch Trail winds narrowly through the trees. There is a sign that warns that bears have been seen in the area, but we saw nothing more intimidating than vultures. A few open spaces mark the buildings that once stood on Sam Nail’s Ranch. Follow the loop as it winds down to the dry wash. From there, ghost trails run very short distances up and down the wash, but the main trail is obvious.
Two things really make this short walk worth the effort. First, there are massive trees that Mr. Nail planted. In this area of Texas, they are not native trees like this, and a sign tells you what varieties you are looking at.
Second, there is short section of the hike that walks through the closely spaced trees. These trunks are just a few inches around, and their canopy make you feel like you’re walking through a room with many poles from the floor to the ceiling. Our boys really enjoyed this tiny area.
Sam Nail Ranch in Big Bend is a great short stop on the way out to the Castolon area. Make sure to get the kids out of the car and explore the Nail’s ancient ranch. For other great family-friendly hikes in Big Bend, visit our kid hikes post.
