Chihuahuan Desert and Chisos Mountains scenery, Big Bend National Park / Rebecca Latson

Named after the big bend made by the Rio Grande as it flows from southwest to northwest, creating a watery border between Texas and Mexico, Big Bend National Park is a place of vast Chihuahuan Desert and volcanic Chisos Mountains landscape, blooming cacti, hundreds of bird species, and a rich history of people, places, and stories dating back thousands of years – millions, actually, if you include the fossil finds within this national park. There’s definitely plenty to see and do if you are there for a day or a week.

Map of Big Bend National Park / National Park Service

• Big Bend is located in the southwest corner of Texas, about three-hours south of the Midland, Texas, airport. The nearest town with full services is Alpine, about 72 miles northwest of the Persimmon Gap entrance. A visit to this national park means your vehicle needs to be in good working condition with a spare tire handy.
  
  
• The Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only brick-and-mortar accommodation in the park. The next closest lodging is the historic Gage Hotel in Marathon Texas, population a little less than 400, about 50 miles north from the Persimmon Gap entrance. The Gage Hotel is a large breath of cool air out in hot, sunbaked southwest Texas, with a first-class restaurant and a great prickly pear margarita. If you choose to stay there, ask for a Los Portales room. It’s a good idea to get reservations for either place far in advance of your trip.
  
  
• There are four developed campgrounds in the park (three NPS campgrounds and one concession campground) and several options for backcountry camping. Reservations are required for all of developed campgrounds and permits are required for backcountry camping. To learn more about the  campgrounds and where to make reservations, click here.
  
  
• Once inside the park, stop and spend a little time at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit, 18 miles south of the Persimmon Gap entrance, and eight miles north of Panther Junction, to learn a little about Big Bend’s amazing fossil record. If you don’t have time to see the exhibit, then check out the Fossil Discovery Exhibit webpage.  
  
  
• Two must-do hikes are the Lost Mine Trail and the Windows Trail, both within the Chisos Mountains. The Lost Mine Trail is a little less than 5 miles round trip and the Windows Trail is a little over 5-1/2 miles round trip. These popular hikes provide grand vistas of mountain and desert landscapes.
  
  
• Drive the 30-mile Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive for views of area geology and historic sites such as the Sam Nail Ranch. This road leads to the Castolon Historic District and Santa Elena Canyon, where you can hike the 1.7-mile roundtrip Santa Elena Canyon Trail into the mouth of the canyon. Take your camera with you to photograph the morning sunlight bathing the red canyon wall entrance with golden light.
  
  
• Stop off at Sotol Vista along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. “From Sotol Vista, the western side of the park sprawls before you. Santa Elena Canyon appears as a small gap in the distant mesa. Sotol Vista is a must-see stop at any time of the day, but is particularly nice at sunrise or sunset. Far from any artificial lights, the vista is also a great place for stargazing.”
  
  
• Stick around to watch the sunset. One of the most iconic spots is anywhere along the 0.3-mile paved Window View Trail directly below the Chisos Mountains Lodge parking lot. While any season is a great time to watch sunset, summer is when the sun lines up with the “V” of the Window formation.
  
  
• Speaking of stargazing, stay up past dark to view (and photograph) the vast expanse of sparkling stars against the clear, inky sky. Big Bend National Park has the least amount of light pollution of any park in the lower 48, and was awarded International Dark Sky Park status in 2012 by the International Dark-Sky Association.
  
  
• After a day hiking, relax those sore muscles with a soak in the hot spring contained by the foundation remains of historic J.O. Langford’s bathhouse. Note: due to Covid-19, the hot springs area is currently closed.
  
  
  

  The spring magenta bloom of a pitaya cactus, Big Bend National Park / Rebecca Latson

• If you are looking for wildflowers, Mid-April through May is the best time for spotting the saturated magenta, orange, yellow, and red blooms of prickly pear, eagle claw, pitaya, cholla, claret cup, and other cacti, in addition to patches of iconic Texas bluebonnets and scarlet Indian paintbrush.
  
  
• More than 450 species of birds have been recorded in Big Bend, so bring your binoculars for a little birding. You might spot a Mexican jay along the trail, a Say’s phoebe hanging out on a branch over the Chisos Mountains Lodge outdoor patio, a road runner hamming it up in the parking lot, or perhaps even the most sought-after sight of the Colima warbler.
  
  
• If you feel like a little bicycling, there’s 100 miles of paved road and 160 miles of backcountry dirt roads to challenge all cycling levels. Just be aware you are sharing the roads with other vehicles and must obey all traffic laws. Although summers can get extremely hot at Big Bend, road traffic is sparse compared to the more popular visitation months of March and April. Make sure to carry plenty of water with you.
  
  
• If you need to tank up after all the driving and exploration, there are two places within the park for gasoline: Panther Junction Service Station, west of the Panther Junction Visitor Center, and Rio Grande Village Service Station.
  
  
• Basic camping supplies, groceries, and souvenirs can be purchased at Rio Grande Village, Chisos Basin, and Castolon. ATMs are available at the Chisos Basin and Rio Grande Village stores, Panther Junction Service Station, and outside the park at Study Butte.
  
  
• If you have the time, why not float the river at Santa Elena Canyon or elsewhere along the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River (Mariscal Canyon, Boquillas Canyon, Lower Canyons). Note: Due to Covid-19, groups are limited to no more than 8 people.
  
  
• No matter what you do, whether cycling, floating the river, hiking, or driving, it’s essential you bring with you plenty of water and snacks. Even during the cooler seasons of the year, the atmosphere is bone-dry and you’ll lose moisture without even realizing it.
  
  
• Remember to check the park’s website for any alerts and closures of trails, roads, and campgrounds  due to construction, weather-related damage, or Covid-19 precautions, and whether or not pets are allowed.
  
  
• Although Texas has lifted the mask mandate and reopened all businesses to capacity, the coronavirus pandemic is not over, yet. Per the National Park Service, whose parent organization is the Department of the Interior: “To protect the health of those who live, work, and visit America’s national parks, face masks are required in all NPS buildings and facilities. Masks are also required on NPS-managed lands when physical distancing cannot be maintained, including narrow or busy trails, overlooks, and historic homes.” So, travel safely, take some masks, practice social distancing and wash your hands often.
  
  
  

  The road to adventure, Big Bend National Park / Rebecca Latson