BIG BEND COUNTRY: BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK AREA

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK AREA

Texas is the biggest state, size-wise in the lower 48. Yet Texas only has 2 National Parks, those being Guadalupe National Park and Big Bend National Park.

Both of the Texas National Parks are in west Texas, within an easy drive of each other.

Big Bend National Park is so named due to a big bend the Rio Grande River makes in the area of the park. The Rio Grande has worn a deep canyon through the Davis and Chisos Mountains. North Bend NP is in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Towns in the Big Bend National Park Area include Lajitas, Alpine, Study Butte, Marathon and Terlingua, site of the famous Chili Cook-Off, and Marfa, site of the mysterious lights.

Big Bend National Park is big, covering 801,163 acres, with great geological contrasts. You can go from the canyons of the Rio Grande with its jungle-like flood plain, up to the Chihuahuan Desert. The desert makes up the majority of the park.

With it various elevations and temperatures, Big Big National Park makes for a year round attraction. The Chisos Basin is at 5,400 feet, so it stays pleasant even in the hot days of summer. In the Chisos you can backpack and camp, go on day hikes on a variety of trails, view wildlife (keep an eye out for mountain lions) camp and find a restaurant and lodging.

May and June in the Chisos Mountains are usually in the 80 degree range, but can get into the 90s.

Over 1,200 types of plants can be found in North Bend NP. The desert wildlife is mostly nocturnal, but during the day you might see deer, javelinas, coyotes, fox, skunks, raccoons and jackrabbits. A more rare sight would be a black bear, a beaver or the aforementioned mountain lion.

Big Bend has more than 200 miles of trails, that range from short, easy walks, to primitive, difficult trails geared to the more experienced hiker. There are more than 100 miles of paved roads and 170 miles of dirt road.

Basic services in the park include visitor centers, a post office, campgrounds, for both tents and trailers, convenience store/gas stations and a gift shop/restaurant at the lodge in the Chisos Mountains Basin. There are 58 motel style rooms, plus 8 lodge type abodes and six rustic cabins. Make reservations by calling 432.477.2251.

A permit is required for all back country camping.

You will find Big Bend Birding Expeditions headquartered at Terilinqua Ranch. Hallie's Hall of Fame Museum, with mementos and relics from Hallie Stillwell's Ranch is located just north of Big Bend, take F.M. 2677 east to the museum.

You will find licensed river outfitters that will take you on a Rio Grande Float Trip at various area towns. The float trips range from 1 day to 9 day floats.

email feedback