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[JoeKidd]

From El Paso to Big Bend, Hueco Tanks (Nepheline Syenite, not a Granite) is a bit out of the way. If your want to see the Guadalupes(Hueco Tanks is on the way),they are really worth seeing, and the Guadalupes are only 40 miles from Carlsbad Caverns...if you do this side trip, eat a Lucy's resturant in Carlsbad..the best. If El Paso direct to Big Bend, you'll take i-10 east, and suggest 67 South at Marfa to Persideo, through the old mining area of Shafter, the BIG payoff is you get to 170 SE-the 'River Road'. Highway travels through spectacular senery along Rio Grande. You'll go through Lahitas, Terlingua and Study Butte before you get to the park. Once in the park, be sure to go back out to Terlingua for dinner one night, resturant name La Kiva(and buy a sticker for the FJ)....well worth the time. While in the park, tons to see, a few off road trails. Last time I was ther rangers advised all river crossings to Santa Elana and Boquillas were unauthorized as a result of boarder security, don't know current status. Plenty to see/do in park without risking a ticket or worse. On your way back to El Paso, north to either Marathon or Alpine, you can stop to see the Marfa lights if night time....really cool experience. From Marfa a slight detour north to Ft. Davis is worth the trip, a State Park, National Historic Site and University of Texas McDonald Observatory are there. Have fun, your visiting the best, most beautiful part of Texas. My favorite hikes in the park are up in the Basin down to the Window, the Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff (lost my wedding ring during a graduate field trip on that trail) and the Tuff Canyon trail. Wish I could go with you.