Marathon Mountain Adventures

Tom's grandfather, Roland Rochester Osborn of Pampa, was in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He built trails and bridges and planted trees in Big Bend National Park. Tom served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps and ten years in law enforcement, including first response and Special Reaction Team service. He is CPR certified and a member of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). He is a Texas Master Naturalist with the Tierra Grande Chapter and serves on the Board of Directors of the Big Bend Natural History Association.

The Big Bend National Park day tour drives south on Highway 385, about 1 hour 15 minutes, to Panther Junction Visitor Center, then on to Santa Elena Canyon. The Santa Elena Canyon Trail is an easy hike to the river, and the canyon walls rise to 1,500 feet. Lunch is at the Chisos Mountain Lodge in the Chisos Basin. When time allows, the group walks the Window View Trail, an easy 0.3 mile path, with scenic photo stops along the day. Everyone is back in Marathon in the late afternoon.

Meet in the parking area directly across from The Desert Ghost Distillery in Marathon. Check-in is 8:00 AM, and the group departs at 8:30 AM sharp.

The Boquillas, Mexico day tour is a scenic drive through the park, with a short stop at Panther Junction, then the Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry. A valid passport is required. Guests cross the Rio Grande by small boat or on foot, then continue into Boquillas del Carmen, a village of about 200 residents, by horse, donkey, pickup, or a walk of about 3/4 of a mile. Time in town includes lunch, handcrafted goods, and a village walk. Restaurants named on the tour page are José Falcon's and Boquillas Restaurant. The village is cash only. U.S. currency is accepted, and smaller bills are recommended.

The tour page publishes these local crossing and town fees, separate from the Marathon Mountain Adventures tour: boat $5 per person round trip, horse $15, donkey $10, pickup $10 per person, and an access bracelet at $7 per person for the Maderas del Carmen protected area (CONANP). The company suggests a minimum of $65 in small bills for the bracelet, lunch, and local transport. Do not bring food, alcohol, vanilla, or restaurant leftovers back into the United States. Firearms are prohibited in Mexico. Gratuities are appreciated.

Meet in the parking area directly across from the Gage Hotel in Marathon. Check-in is 8:00 AM, and the group departs at 8:30 AM sharp.

The Terlingua day tour drives south on Highway 385 to Terlingua Ghost Town and its mining ruins, with time at Starlight Theatre and Terlingua Trading Company. Lunch is in town. The day includes the Window View Trail in Big Bend National Park and photo stops on the return to Marathon.

Meet in the parking area directly across the street from the Gage Hotel. Arrive on time.

The Maderas del Carmen overnight begins in Marathon, travels through Big Bend National Park to Boquillas, Mexico, crosses the Rio Grande, and continues into the Sierra del Carmen and the Maderas del Carmen reserve. Guests spend three nights at Campo Uno or Campo Dos, with comfortable accommodations and traditional meals. Days are on foot and by vehicle, with Marathon Mountain Adventures hosting and experienced local Maderas guides. The days cover wildlife, overlooks, caves, and ecology, and the evenings are under dark skies. High-country summer temperatures are commonly in the 50s to 70s. Wildlife named on the company site includes black bears, mountain lions, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, buffalo, Montezuma quail, and birds of prey. The company says there are no guarantees of sightings. Trips are small, limited, and customized. Call for availability and pricing. Summer trips are limited, so book early.

The Desert Dwellers Adventure is an overnight ranch trip listed on the company website. The group departs early from the parking area across from The V6 Coffee Shop in Marathon, and transportation is provided. Time on the ranch includes off-road travel, ocotillo groves, and possible wildlife such as mule deer, elk, and blue quail, and maybe a black bear or mountain lion. The trip includes lunch, a sunset view of the Sierra del Carmen, a steak dinner cooked on site, s'mores, a night in covered cots, a cooked breakfast, and more exploration, with a return to Marathon around lunchtime. Meals are included.

Have an adventure in mind? Give us a call. Custom trips can include Fort Davis.

There is no online checkout. Groups are limited to four guests, and the company wants a conversation first. Check availability, then call or use the booking form. A 50% deposit holds the date. The deposit is refunded if the trip is canceled more than 48 hours before the tour. Within 48 hours, the deposit is not refundable. Details are on the cancelation policy.

Call or text (432) 201-1004. Email tom@marathonmountainadventures.com. Cell service is unreliable, and they reply when they have a signal. The company is based in Marathon, Texas.

Bring water, wear closed-toe shoes, and plan for the sun. Give wildlife room, and stay with the group.

Photographs on this page are from the Marathon Mountain Adventures website. Campo Uno is credited to the Maderas del Carmen Reserve. The black bear is credited to Hugo Sotelo Gallardo.