Big Bend - Hiking the Window Trail

On Saturday three of us decided to hike to the Window instead of going to the Annual Terlingua Chili Cook-off. The trail head is just below the Lodge in the Basin. The trail follows a canyon that narrows down to the Window. About half way the trail becomes a stream bed that is usually dry except for some pools of water until the Window where it flows out and drops to the desert floor below. I don't know how high the drop is to the desert, but I have heard estimates as high as 1,000 feet. I don't get close enough to the edge to check it out, but the Window can be seen from the desert floor and it's quite a drop. The view through the Window is spectacular. The pictures don't do it justice. There was more water going through the window this year than I've ever seen. This is an easy hike for young children and we passed several young families along the trail. Last year the trail was closed while we were there because of a black bear with a cub hanging around. The trail is down hill all the way so naturally it is up hill all the way back. The last quarter mile is pretty steep getting to the top.