The Window Pour Off
Brewster County, Texas
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Brewster County, Texas
- Access status
- Guide: park trail to the Window pour-off
- The walk
- 5.5 miles round trip from the Chisos Basin trailhead; 4.0 miles round trip from the Basin Campground trailhead
- Ground & access
- Rocky dirt trail with log steps, creek crossings in wet periods, and slick rock in the final quarter mile. About 1,000 feet of climb on the return from the Basin trailhead.
The Window pour-off is where Oak Creek drops out of the Chisos Basin through a narrow notch called the Window, in Big Bend National Park. The Window Trail starts from a paved walkway near the Chisos Basin Store and descends through Oak Creek Canyon; the first mile is the steepest, with wooden log steps. A shorter start is at the Basin Campground trailhead near campsite 51, with parking at the Amphitheater lot. In wetter periods Oak Creek may be flowing and must be crossed several times. The last quarter mile is in a slickrock canyon where footing is difficult. The park reminds hikers that the walk down is easy but the return is a climb of about 1,000 feet. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Window Trail from the Chisos Basin trailhead near the Chisos Basin Store, or from the Basin Campground trailhead, down Oak Creek Canyon to the Window pour-off
The National Park Service gives 5.5 miles (8.8 km) round trip from the Chisos Basin trailhead and 4.0 miles (6.4 km) round trip from the Basin Campground trailhead.
Rocky dirt trail with log steps, creek crossings in wet periods, and slick rock in the final quarter mile. About 1,000 feet of climb on the return from the Basin trailhead.
Where to start
Chisos Basin Visitor Center parking lot for the main trailhead. For the campground trailhead, park at the Amphitheater parking lot across from the campground entrance; the park says not to park in the campground.
Timing & water
Start early to avoid the heat of the day and carry plenty of water, per the park.
Before you go
Big Bend National Park entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. No separate booking is mentioned for day hiking. Dogs are not allowed on park trails.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.