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South Lobo, Texas

65%

· Van Horn, Culberson, Texas

6 acres hosted by James B.

4 Caravan sites

Nomadic camping

Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

Off-leash friendly

Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.

Learn more about this land: This land is located on about 6 acres of Chihuahuan desert land, about 1 mile directly south of the old ghost town of Lobo (which is why this place is called South Lobo), which is about 17 miles south of I-10 at Van Horn, Texas. The Rio Grande valley is about 15 miles to the west of this site, and about 2 miles east is Chispa Mountain (about 1200 feet higher than the surrounding country). Some day I hope to operate a small interfaith chapel and emergency water station (this land is located about 15 miles as the crow flies from Mexico) but for now it is just a beautiful bit of country for camping. You can learn more about our mission by searching for "South Lobo, Texas." My pricing is per vehicle (since this is the most environmentally impactful thing that happens on this place), which means that primitive campers who are not parking on the property can camp for free (one extra camping space is reserved for primitive campers). There is no power or water on site and minimal shade. You are welcome to hike, mountain bike, explore, etc but ATV's are not allowed (except on the dirt road). This is also a great location for railfans (Amtrak goes through here six times per week while going between San Antonio and Los Angeles, but there is also some freight traffic) but also for stargazers and ham radio operators (very low electrical noise levels). Safety wise: The Border Patrol is frequently in this area, so please do not be surprised if they come by and say hello while you are camping. If they ask about your presence, tell them you are camping with the permission of the landowner. Other than the border patrol, you are unlikely to encounter any other people. The biggest danger out here is dehydration. Be sure and bring more water than you think you'll need as it is a long drive back to Van Horn. (and if you have any extra left, please consider leaving it behind for emergency use from refugees who may be passing through) Lots of things to see and do in the area --- Van Horn is a nice town (with some decent food, stores, etc.). The famous Prada Marfa isn't far away and of course there is the ghost town in Lobo (where they occasionally have film festivals and other events). Lots of folks pass through this area heading to Big Bend and other points further out. Please do your best to clean up your camp site when you leave so that this unique landscape will be preserved for future visitors to see and experience.This land is located on about 6 acres of Chihuahuan desert land, about 1 mile directly south of the old ghost town of Lobo (which is why this place is called South Lobo), which is about 17 miles south of I-10 at Van Horn, Texas. The Rio Grande valley is about 15 miles to the west of this site, and about 2 miles east is Chispa Mountain (about 1200 feet higher than the surrounding country). Some day I hope to operate a small interfaith chapel and emergency water station (this land is located about 15 miles as the crow flies from Mexico) but for now it is just a beautiful bit of country for camping. You can learn more about our mission by searching for "South Lobo, Texas." My pricing is per vehicle (since this is the most environmentally impactful thing that happens on this place), which means that primitive campers who are not parking on the property can camp for free (one extra camping space is reserved for primitive campers). There is no power or water on site and minimal shade. You are welcome to hike, mountain bike, explore, etc but ATV's are not allowed (except on the dirt road). This is also a great location for railfans (Amtrak goes through here six times per week while going between San Antonio and Los Angeles, but there is also some freight traffic) but also for stargazers and ham radio operators (very low electrical noise levels). Safety wise: The Border Patrol is frequently in this area, so please do not be surprised if they come by and say hello while you are camping. If they ask about your presence, tell them you are camping with the permission of the landowner. Other than the border patrol, you are unlikely to encounter any other people. The biggest danger out here is dehydration. Be sure and bring more water than you think you'll need as it is a long drive back to Van Horn. (and if you have any extra left, please consider leaving it behind for emergency use from refugees who may be passing through) Lots of things to see and do in the area --- Van Horn is a nice town (with some decent food, stores, etc.). The famous Prada Marfa isn't far away and of course there is the ghost town in Lobo (where they occasionally have film festivals and other events). Lots of folks pass through this area heading to Big Bend and other points further out. Please do your best to clean up your camp site when you leave so that this unique landscape will be preserved for future visitors to see and experience.

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65%

10 Ratings · 8 reviews

Jeff P.recommends

September 7, 2023

South Lobo, Texas

You get dirt, but dirt cheap!

Basic, as in a place on raw land to pitch your tent or sleep in your truck or van. Getting there from the freeway southbound was not straightforward--need to keep going south a bit, make a U turn, then come back up. Oh, and there's the train tracks nearby. Yes, all you get is dirt, but for dirt cheap!

Ryan T.recommends

May 9, 2023

South Lobo, Texas

Nice patch of West Texas

This was a great spot to overland camp on our way from Austin to Southern Arizona. The train passing was cool! Make sure to follow the host's directions and not just google maps. There is a road on google maps that runs through private property. We ran into the owner who was nice and gave us directions, but he clearly was tired of people thinking his driveway was a road.

Carlee H.doesn't recommend

March 21, 2022

South Lobo, Texas

Any marking to help campers find the property, a flag, etc is a vital addition!

Carl W.doesn't recommend

January 28, 2022

South Lobo, Texas

Better instructions for finding the spot might help and I wish all remote hipcamp hosts would put some minimal signage to help people unfamiliar with the area. Thanks

Carl W.doesn't recommend

January 28, 2022

South Lobo, Texas

Price was nearly free but we weren’t able to find the place. Roamed around on rough four wheeler roads trying to follow google maps till it got dark and we just parked for the night in a random spot in the desert. Had a good night’s sleep and all is good

Lauren S.recommends

November 15, 2021

South Lobo, Texas

Surrounded by Desert Mountains!

What a gorgeous tract of land surrounded by mountains on all sides! Not too, too far from Marfa, and a good stopping point if you're planning on heading out to the Guadalupe, Davis, or even the Franklin Mountains. We arrived early afternoon, which was a good call, because it was a little difficult to find the cut-across to the dirt road that led to the site. We did find it, and my little camper Prius made it to the site just fine. If you don't have a high clearance vehicle, just take it low and slow. It is doable! James provided excellent directions to find the spot and it does feel fairly secluded. We weren't visible from the highway at all, though the site is very close to the train tracks. There's lots of space to spread out and explore! We hiked across the tract of land, admiring Chispa Peak. Everything blazes orange and red during golden hour, and the peak itself turns a vivid crimson. Absolutely gorgeous. After sundown, the stars are beautiful. There is a little light from Van Horn 20 miles away, but you can still see the Milky Way out here. We fell asleep to the sounds of wildlife, which was lovely. The train didn't visit at all during daytime hours, but did roll through 6 times in the night. It wasn't a dealbreaker for us, but only because we live very close to a freight line "in real life". This is November in the desert, so we were aware that it was going to be toasty during the day and frigid at night. We watched the weather for Van Horn during our trip, and the temperature here was a solid 10 degrees colder than Van Horn at night, so keep that in mind when packing your cold weather gear! Lastly, you'll see the caches along the property. I did not take photos of them for the safety of those that need them. We left a couple gallons of water behind. It felt good to end our trip helping others in need. The desert is unforgivable, and James' land proves to be an oasis.

Location

Van Horn, Culberson, Texas, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Sumas, Mescalero Apache, and Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache) First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by James B.

Joined in April 2021

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