Black Gap 3.0

Black Gap is the only trail in Big Bend rated higher than 2.0, and that is for a single obstacle traveled on one direction.
Most of this run is 2.0 or 2.5 except for this obstacle sometimes called "The Step" or "Pinch Canyon".  

Users have stacked many rocks at the face of this ledge for easier passage.  Adequate clearance is all that is needed to go down the ledge in a south to north direction.  Extra traction may also be needed to go up the potentially loose rocks in the other direction, and this is the reason for the 3.0 rating.

​This trail is described north to south, but it can be run in either direction.  Plan on one to one and a half hours.

​There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.
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Black Gap obstacle
Turn off Glenn Springs 2.0 and immediately cross Glenn Canyon.  This will almost always have water running.

​A short spur to the left will take you to the cemetery for "Mexican Glenn Springs".
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Glenn Draw water crossing
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Graves at Mexican Glenn Springs
Drop down a somewhat rough hill and cross Juniper Draw.  Black Gap is at the far side, but is hard to distinguish from a distance.

Nice views of Chisos Mountains along most of the run.
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Juniper Draw
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Chisos Mountains
Entering, crossing and exiting washes will usually be fairly easy, unless there has been a recent flash flood that eroded the trail.

The southern portion of this road is flat and smooth, ending at River Road 2.0.
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Climb out of a wash
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South end of Black Gap Road
Page updated 2018.
black_gap_3.0.gpx
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File Type: gpx
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black_gap_3.0.pdf
File Size: 221 kb
File Type: pdf
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