Study Butte

Find & reserve the best bell tents near Study Butte, Texas with fishing. Tent, cabin & RV camp on private & State Parks, on local farms, vineyards & nature preserves.

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Big Bend National Park

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Balmorhea State Park

Davis Mountains State Park

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Garner State Park

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Jackass Flats Campground

Located 25 miles north of Terlingua, TX on State Highway 118, close to the historic Comanche Trail, under the brilliant west Texas stars and below famous Nine Point Mesa. Within 25 miles of Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Terlingua Ghost Town, Rio Grande Outfitters and river access.

The area is not only famous for its rich ranching history but also for its diverse geology and awesome night skies.

Enjoy the Terrymar Pavilion for group gatherings, picnicking or taking in the panoramic views, phenomenal night skies, sunrises and sunsets. View our resident Texas Longhorn steers and horses in the restored nineteenth century stock pens. Please DO NOT GET CLOSE TO THE FENCE, THESE CATTLE ARE STOCK, not PETS.

Be sure to FILL YOUR WATER tank before arriving.

NON POTABLE water can be accessed. There is no city water services available in our area.

Stay connected with free Wi-Fi at The Little Burro Country Store which is also on premises. Password is "jackassflats" all lowercase, 1 word, no special characters.

 We offer wood/snacks/groceries/ice and food items to meet your needs.

Great Spacious Pull-through sites with Elec/water. Septic dump is avail on property if needed.

Little Burro Country Store & Jackass Flats Office

Cooking equipment

Robert and Debbie's beautiful Eco-Ranch, built from the ground up

Smiling Dog Ranch

Formerly known as Eco-Ranch Sustainable Living, new hosts assumed the ranch on February 1, 23 and look forward to hosting you. 

The Smiling Dog is a remote property located on 20 acres close to both the National and State Parks. With unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains and arroyos, the property offers guests a chance to unplug and enjoy exploring unique terrain on site.

The Big Bend region is a certified dark sky community and is recognized as the darkest park/community in the lower-48. With no light pollution on the ranch, the stargazing is spectacular. Guests are encouraged to bring headlamps or flashlights with red filters to allow you to safely see your surroundings while preserving the darkness for your eyes to adjust. 

The ranch is fully off-grid, powered by solar energy. Water is collected through rain catchment and is pumped into filtered tanks which provides the majority of our water supply. At times during drought conditions we do have to bring water in from Study Butte or Alpine so we ask all of our guests to conserve whenever possible. 

Wildlife is in abundance in the desert, our naturally created water reservoir often brings in a variety of animals in the evenings. Guests could expect to see coyotes, rabbits, foxes, mule deer, aoudad sheep, and even elk. There is also a large drove (herd) of wild donkeys that roam freely and are beloved by the community. There are also predators but they are rare in the area. Mountain lions and bears do live in the area, but stick closer to the mountains instead of open areas like the ranch. Insects and snakes can be found throughout the desert as well as migratory butterflies and birds. 

Guests have several options for their stay- there are 16 dispersed campsites that can accommodate a single camper to large groups with multiple vehicles. Each site has fire rings for campfires dependent on weather conditions. During periods when there is a high fire danger, ground fires are not allowed. Guests can bring above ground fire rings, or small propane grills and provide their own wood. There are also 2 small, basic rooms with full size futons that can house 2 adults or 4 if you are really good friends. A communal area houses a small kitchen area with a propane powered camp stove, mini-fridge, sink with basic cookware and utensils. In addition there are two restrooms, one with a shower, and both with sinks and flush toilets. There is a third bathroom located near our largest camping area. You are free to use the restroom outside, our plants love the extra water, but you are asked to pack out any toilet paper and use the restrooms for solid waste. 

We do offer all guests free Wi-Fi internet access but we cannot guarantee the strength and availability, though we do find most guests can connect. We have upgraded to Starlink which we hope will offer more stability and stronger signal. There is absolutely no cell signal once you turn off of the highway and at the ranch- we use Wi-Fi calling and texting to reach the outside world. 

We are located just under 5 miles from 118, though it takes 15-20 minutes to reach the ranch on dirt roads. Most vehicles can safely make the drive but high clearance vehicles are strongly encouraged. For the most part the road is smooth but you should pay close attention as their are ruts- take your time and watch the road. We strongly recommended that you download directions before arriving.

Any rain, even small amounts make the roads impassable due to bentonite clay which becomes thick mud which guarantees the need to be towed out. If the forecast calls for rain you should be prepared to make plans for other accommodations or you will be risking getting stuck. Rain is not common outside of the late summer months but should you need to cancel due to weather, you will  be fully refunded. This should not discourage anyone, 99% of the time there is no rain to be concerned about, but as your hosts, we care about your comfort and safety and feel obligated to make all guests aware. 

A few other things about the ranch- we live on site in the main house (as of March 1, 23) and are in the process of renovation. We are also upgrading guest rooms and communal areas, as well as working on projects throughout the ranch. We have a small flock of chickens and sell their eggs when available. There is a large greenhouse with an aquaponic system that is a work in progress, the heat over the summer made it hard for any plants to survive.  Check in is located at the main house, at times we will not be immediately available but you will find your information and a map outside the main door. We will come greet you as soon as we are free. Because we live on site and this is our home, we ask that guests do not explore the main house, livestock pens, greenhouse or covered work areas without permission. We welcome your friendly and well-behaved pets, we have pets of our own who love guests. We ask that you leash them when near the house and watch them when at your campsite or exploring. Please pick up after your dogs if they use the bathroom in common areas, or near campsites. Any waste in the arroyos can stay where it is. 

You will be expected to pack your trash out, there is no trash service for the ranch. 

Safety information: This is the desert and you are responsible for your own safety at all times. There is absolutely no swimming in the catchment reservoir and you should not drive anywhere outside of the defined roads. The nearest hospital is located in Alpine, a 70 mile drive north, so drink lots of water, wear a hat and sunscreen, sturdy shoes, and don't touch anything pokey or that has a face. We do have first aid supplies available and you'll find commonly used supplies in the communal area. All food and drinks should be securely stored and under no circumstances should you feed the wildlife, with the exception of birdseed for our resident birds. If you have food scraps that are safe for the chickens, they will be more than happy to handle that for you. 

We look forward to the opportunity to host you, and welcome you to enjoy the desert we love so much. One sunrise or sunset and we are certain that you will also love it here. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out. 

-Ashley and Raymond

Debbie giving a tour of the self sustaining greenhouse

A look at the lower campgrounds, including Bus Stop Mesa and the Far side.

The yellow and orange doors are two of the bathrooms at the camp. The open air kitchen is at the end.

Our new "Desert Wetland" just after the first water was held behind the dam. It holds over 7 MILLION gallons of water when full. 

The wetland "lake". this is a place to observe wildlife, bird watch & even swim when the water is deep enough! It should have water year around!

Amazing view of the distant mountains from our elevated campsite.

Tierra del Sol Basecamp

The Tierra del Sol Basecamp is an open desert camping area located within Terlingua Ranch, 3 miles off of Hwy 118, 19 miles north of Study Butte and 22 miles to the entrance to Big Bend National Park. This region of far west Texas is well known for its remote ruggedness and beauty rapidly becoming the go-to place for those wanting to get away from it all, without having to spend a fortune to do it.  It’s one of the last frontiers of North America and One of the only two National Parks in Texas.  The Basecamp will reside on the 40 acre property.  In the center is an area of approximately 6 acres flat, with rising limestone ridge lines to the east and west, open skyline to south with a view of Bofecillos Mountains, an area characterized by volcanic deposits of lava and ash-flow tuff and sedimentary deposits of conglomerates and sandstones.  The four mountain tops; Packsaddle, Hen Egg, Panther and Agua Fria Mountains provide an amazing view during the day and at night, breathtaking night time views of the Milky Way and the multitudes of stars to gaze upon unlike any other place in North America.  The morning sunrise over the eastern mesa brings its own spectacular views.  Surrounding the 40 acres are many things of archaeological wonder.  A Rock Hounds dream of minerals, stones and fossilized prehistoric microorganisms, as well as, the potential of finding the fossils of large prehistoric aquatic mammals.  Yes, you are free to take a small sample of the thousands of quartz and calcite stones found in huge abundance.  
As you come to then end of Mailbox Rd., you'll see a residence to your left.  This is "The Field Lab", owned by the well know sustainable engineer John Wells.  If you'd like to pay him a visit, please contact him in advance.  

We took our camp chairs and dinner on a short hike to watch the sun set between the mountains.

View from Site #2 looking south.  The vehicle in the distance is at site #4.

Cooking dinner just in time to catch the sunset.

The entrance to The Goat Pens from the South County Rd. 

Goat Pens, Cigar Springs Ranch

This central location provides an ideal basecamp close to the Terlingua Ghost Town and both Big Bend State and National Parks. The unique geology and topography of the Goat Pens made this a popular movie set and many westerns were filmed here in the 80's and 90's. Come out and enjoy seclusion, peace and quiet, awesome scenery with sunrises and sunsets to die for. All while still being able to easily take advantage of the area's other attractions.

The Goat Pens includes an outdoor events venue that hosts concerts, stargazing parties, festivals and weddings. The Goat Pens also has the only drive-in movie theater in the Big Bend area. Send a text or check The Goat Pens Facebook page (@goatpens) for information and dates of events.

The Goat Pens of Cigar Springs Ranch is a beautiful part of the ranch. It is well known for its scenery and unique topography. The Goat Pens served as a set location for many westerns filmed during the 1980's and 90's.

Remarkable beauty, easy access, centrally located, seclusion, peace and quiet. All add up to an unforgettable vacation experience.

**New This Winter**

Rachel Wey Ranch Petting Zoo and Pony Rides
Please contact us about hours and availibilty
Rachel.wey.ranch @faceboook.com-

We tucked our rv in this perfect secluded campsite

There are parts of the desert that are composed of ancient volcanic ash

View of the Chisos mountains and 9 Point Mesa.

AREA9: The Edge of Nowhere

I took a vacation by myself an drove to Terlingua. On my drive, I fell in love with the area. As I was driving, I noticed a few "for sale" signs along the way and thought how amazing it would be to own property in Big Bend. Most people fantasize about doing something like that, then dismiss the idea. Not me. About a year later, I purchased 40 acres of desert paradise.Terlingua Ranch is 200,000 acres near Terlingua, Texas. Terlingua Ranch is an interesting place that attracts a diverse group of people, from ranchers to artists.  There are many types of houses found here, each built according to the dreams of the respective land owners.This area is perfect when you want to just get away from it all. The stress will just fall off. Learn more about this land:This is truly an off-the-grid experience. Located in the Terlingua desert, 5 miles off the highway, this property has no electricity, no water, no wifi, no cell service, and no light pollution. It's a wide open desert landscape with mountain views on the horizon. If getting away from it all is your goal, you found the right place.

Lots of flat areas to set up tents or park an RV.

Great roads for bike touring, bikepacking, and mountain biking.

This is a dark sky area, so if you're into astrophotography, this is for you.

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