Mariscal Mine

"The drive is very long to get here. Well worth it, but we went in June and if we would have got a flat or something, we would have been in trouble. I recommend the Garmin inreach or an IPhone 14 or newer for the satellite S.O.S. feature. We didn’t see another soul the whole time."

"If you visit Big Bend National Park and explore the back country, the Mariscal Mine is a must stop and see. There are several routes that will get you there, some requiring high clearance 4X4, so choose your route wisely. The easiest route here is coming up River Road East, the hardest is probably Black Gap Road. Enjoy"

"Took us about 2 hours to get here from Rio Grande Village. We took our time stopping here and there. The road was pretty rough but not really difficult. This is a great piece of history that is the middle of nowhere. I would love to come back when I have a little more time to explore. The trail has a lot of loose rocks and incline so be prepared for that if you have mobility issues or out of shape. I highly recommend visiting this area. The ride gives you more perspective about how life must have been back then. Can you imagine getting in and out of here on mules?"

"Amazing piece of history. Need at least high clearance 2WD or 4WD to get back here. But worth the drive and climb! Gorgeous at sunset too."

"Great place to explore while you’re on the River Road. I took about a 1 hour break from the trail to explore the mine. There is a sign that says the rocks/bricks have mercury in them. I can only imagine what this place looked like bustling and busy over 100 years ago. I also took a look at some of the old houses, and equipment left laying around, including an old car with an exposed engine!"