Ernst Tinaja

— As we prepare to revisit Big Bend National Park in a couple of weeks, I’m finding myself going through some old photos and trying to decide what trails I want to revisit. An easy and favorite trail of mine is the one to Ernst Tinaja. I’ve been there several times, including this time when I biked to the trailhead. Most people drive the 4.5-mile (7.25 km) dirt road on Old Ore Road. It is recommended a high-clearance vehicle. On this particular bike ride, however, we did see a couple of women driving a Prius! After you get to the trailhead, the actual trail is very short (just about 0.5 miles or 0.8 km). The closest thing that comes to mind when a visitor starts looking at these vibrant colored swirling striations in the rocks is that one is seeing the Earth inside out and upside down. Ernst Tinaja itself is a 13-foot (4 m) natural rock pool. Occasionally, an animal might get trapped in one of these pools if the water levels are low. The rocks are very slick, making it impossible for some animals to climb back up. A hiker must also use caution not to slip and fall in one of the pools.