Effective immediately, the Window Trail in the Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park is closed to public use until further notice. This emergency closure is due to significantly increased bear activity in the narrow trail corridor, and the safety of both the bears and the public is paramount. Both the upper and lower Window Trail trailheads are closed, and signs have been posted.

Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker said, “National Park biologists are monitoring the bear activity, and we will open the trail as soon as the bear activity in this area declines to normal levels. Our goal is to protect both the bears and park visitors. It’s their home - we’re the guests.”

The Mexican black bears in Big Bend National Park are a success story. When the park was established in 1944 , bear sightings were very rare and infrequent. In the mid 1980s visitors began reporting more and more bear sightings in the Chisos Mountains. Over the years through migrations from Mexico, the bears have re-established themselves in the park, with a stable population without human intervention, which is also a rare event.

In the interest of protecting natural resources, as well as for safety reasons, park visitors are asked to adhere to the Window Trail closure.  Entering this closed area would be a violation of federal regulations.