Where the Rio Grande Turns Left in West Texas: Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park was established in 1944 to preserve and protect over 800 thousand acres of the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest desert in North America. Because of its remote location, it is one of the least-visited national parks in the country. The park is home to over 1,200 species of plants, many of which are more common in Central and South America and do not exist anywhere else in the United States. The Rio Grande River stretches 118 miles along the southern edge of the park, offering visitors a place to float, kayak, or boat while straddling the border with Mexico. The best way to experience the park is on foot, hiking through desert expanses, deep canyons, and forested areas that lead to mountain peaks. Begin your adventure at one of the five visitor centers before exploring one of the most unique destinations in the National Park system.

Things to Do

• Hiking and backpacking are two of the most popular activities to enjoy while visiting the park. Choose from trails that traverse sections of the Chihuahuan Desert, lead into the Chisos Mountains, or offer views from the banks of the Rio Grande River. Spend a few days hiking the 30-mile Outer Mountain Loop and experience the diverse terrain that can be found in the park. A few other notable day hikes are Chimneys Trail, Marufo Vega Trail, and the South Rim Trail.
• Take a guided float trip on the Wild and Scenic Rio Grande River, a great way to experience the desert landscapes while traveling through deep canyons. Tour companies offer trips that last a few hours to a few weeks. Two of the most scenic areas to float or kayak are Mariscal and Santa Elena Canyon.
• Visit Hot Springs Historic District and see the remnants of the former bathhouse, once a popular meeting place in the local community. The resort hasn’t offered spa services since the 1930’s, but you can take a soak in a small thermal pool while enjoying the scenic views along the river.
• For a great introduction to the park, get a feeling for the geological features and historic sites while on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. The thirty-mile adventure travels along the western slopes of the Chisos Mountains before entering Castolon Historic District and Santa Elena Canyon. In addition to spectacular views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape, trailheads lead to the Old Sam Nail Ranch and Homer Wilson Ranch historic sites.
• The national park and much of West Texas are perfect for stargazing. Big Bend is popular with stargazing enthusiasts and has been designated an international dark-sky park. There are no large cities around the park, making thousands of stars visible with only the naked eye.

Travel Tip: A vast majority of the national park is wilderness area. There are only five paved roads that stretch across 100 miles of desert landscapes, leading to various points of interest. To see more of the park, a four-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance is best to navigate the improved dirt roads and primitive roads in the park. Some are rougher than others, stop by the information desk at one of the visitor centers to get more information on the current conditions.

Wildlife Observation

The diverse habitats in the park are home to an impressive variety of birds and colorful butterflies, more than any other national park in the country. The desert conditions, which include warm temperatures throughout most of the year, limit the number of animals that are active during the day. As the temperatures cool, the park comes alive with a unique variety of species. A few of the desert animals that can be seen along the roads and trails are roadrunners, jackrabbits, peccary, and javelinas. Larger mammals tend to be more elusive, but black bear, bobcat, cougar, and coyote all coexist within the park.