Big Bend National Park is a land of borders. Situated on the boundary with Mexico along the Rio Grande, it is a place where countries and cultures meet. It is also a place that merges natural environments, from desert to mountains. It is a place where south meets north and east meets west, creating a great diversity of plants and animals. Big Bend National Park encompasses more than 800,000 acres in southwest Texas. For more than 1,000 miles, the Rio Grande forms the international boundary between Mexico and the United States; Big Bend National Park administers approximately one-quarter of that boundary. Within the 118 twisting miles that also define the park’s southern boundary, the river’s southeasterly flow changes abruptly to the northeast and forms the “big bend” of the Rio Grande.
The legendary Rio Grande an icon of the American Southwest flows through some of the most beautiful and desolate desert canyons in North America. Forming the long, wild Texas/Mexico border and cutting through the intensely rugged Big Bend Country, the “Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande” is truly one of America’s premier wilderness areas. The Rio Grande was not surveyed in its entirety until very late in the nineteenth century and it is a still regarded as one of the country’s last real frontiers.
Because the Rio Grande serves as an international boundary, the park faces unusual constraints when administering and enforcing park rules, regulations and policies. The park has jurisdiction only to the center of the deepest river channel; the rest of the river lies within the Republic of Mexico.
Authorized June 20, 1935; established June 12, 1944. Designated a United States Biosphere Reserve, 1976.
Nature & Science
The portion of the earth’s surface known as the Big Bend has often been described as a geologist’s paradise. In part this is due to the sparse vegetation of the region, which allows the various strata to be easily observed and studied. It is also due to the complex geologic history of the area, presenting a challenge to students and researchers from all over the world. Not all field geologists, however, refer to the Big Bend as a paradise. For some, this land of twisted, tortured rock is a nightmare. The abundance, diversity and complexity of visible rock outcrops is staggering, especially to first-time observers.
From 500 million year old rocks at Persimmon Gap to modern-day windblown sand dunes at Boquillas Canyon, geologic formations in Big Bend demonstrate amazingly diverse depositional styles over a vast interval of time. For most of us, time is measured by the passing of days, years and generations. The concept of geologic time, however, is not so easily understood. Events that occurred 2 million, 26 million or as many as 120 million years ago are, at best, difficult to comprehend. Since astronomers now place the age of the earth at approximately 4.6 billion years, we should perhaps consider ourselves fortunate that the oldest rocks found in the Big Bend are only about 500 million years old.
Attractions
Chisos Mountains
The Chisos Mountains receive more precipitation than the rest of the park and are often referred to as a temperate island in a desert sea. The Chisos are the most popular hiking area in Big Bend National Park. You will find many designated campsites to help reduce damage to this delicate environment.
Desert
The scenery varies widely ranging from the Rio Grande floodplain to arid badlands to grasslands to rugged volcanic peaks. The desert provides virtually any backcountry experience sought by a hiker. Some areas are often used; others, more isolated, are seldom used and reflect a true wilderness setting.
Mesa de Anguila and Deadhorse Mountains
Mesa de Anguila and the Deadhorse Mountains are the most remote areas of Big Bend National Park. Exploring this best done by foot but these magnificent limestone uplifts are best left to experienced backpackers. In the oven of summer, Mesa de Anguila and the Deadhorse Mountains are particularly dangerous.
Recreation
Hiking
Containing the largest expanse of roadless public lands in Texas, Big Bend National Park is a hiker’s dream. There are more than 150 miles of trails in Big Bend National Park offering opportunities for day hikes or backpacking trips. Hiking is the best way to experience, enjoy and appreciate Big Bend National Park. A permit is required for all overnight trips and can be obtained up to 24 hours in advance of the trip in person only. It is advisable to plan an extended backpacking trip upon arrival in the park with a park ranger’s assistance. Bear in mind how much distance you want to cover and how much time you have.
About 30 miles of park trails are developed and heavily used. These include short nature trails and the trails in the Chisos Mountains. Most other trails are primitive, difficult to follow, and in some instances no more than a route up a dry wash. Due to the complex topography and vague trails, detailed 7.5 minute topographic maps and a compass are necessary for most hikes.
Biking
Lightly traveled roads and varied terrain make Big Bend a premier bicycling location. Over 100 miles of paved roads and 160 miles of backcountry dirt roads provide challenges for riders of all types and abilities. Bicyclists must be extremely cautious and well-prepared, but bicycling allows outstanding panoramic views, unobstructed by a windshield. It also allows the bicyclist to see and hear some of the smaller wonders of Big Bend from a more intimate viewpoint.
Bicyclists must share the roads with vehicles and obey all traffic laws. Traffic is sparse in summer and highest during March and early April and on holiday weekends during the winter. Use extreme caution, especially on paved roads, during busy times. In order to protect the fragile desert environment, off-road cycling is not allowed in the park. All bicycles must remain on paved and dirt roads.
Camping
What’s a full day of exploring Big Bend without a night out under the stars Big Bend offers a variety of camping experiences, regardless of your means of travel. For those who want to camp with some degree of civilization, the park maintains three developed campgrounds with individual sites, charcoal grills, picnic tables, water and restrooms. For those who don’t mind having close neighbors, these campgrounds are the most convenient.
Visitors also have a number of primitive camping options. A free backcountry use permit, available at a visitor center, is required. Over seventy primitive campsites line the park’s dirt roads; what these sites lack in amenities, they make up in scenic views. Many campers request specific sites based on the sunrise or sunset views visible there. Many of these backroad areas are single sites, giving campers a private camping experience.
Getting There
While the isolation of Big Bend National Park is a drawing point for many visitors, it also means that your trip must be well prepared and carefully planned. Big Bend National Park is located in southwest Texas, hundreds of miles from the nearest cities and transportation hubs. There is no public transportation to or in Big Bend National Park. You can drive your own vehicle, or take a plane, train, or bus and then rent a vehicle to get to Big Bend. Several highways lead to Big Bend National Park: TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte or FM 170 from Presidio to Study Butte (then 26 miles west to park headquarters) or US 90 or US 385 to Marathon (then 70 miles south to park headquarters).
Distances between towns and services can be considerable. Always be sure you have plenty of gas, oil, food and water for your trip. The park has four camper stores, but supply and selection can be limited. There are also small stores in the communities outside the park. The last major shopping areas (grocery and hardware stores) are Alpine, Fort Stockton and Del Rio.
Traveler Facts
Contact Information
Big Bend National Park
P. O. Box 129
Big Bend National Park, TX 79834
Phone: 432-477-2251
Fax: 432-477-1175
Visitors Centers
Chisos Basin Visitor Center
Open All Year 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Panther Junction Visitor Center
Open All Year 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Weather/Climate
Fall and spring in Big Bend National Park are usually warm and pleasant. Summers are hot, although temperatures vary greatly between the desert floor and the Chisos Mountains; May and June are the hottest months. afternoon and evening rains often cool the desert from July to October. Winters are generally mild, although periods of cold weather (including light snow) are possible. Winter visitors must prepare for a variety of conditions.
Annual precipitation is just under 10 inches in most of the Big Bend National Park, but in wet years may exceed 30 inches in the mountains. Typically, winter and spring are dry seasons; the rains usually begin in June and last into the fall.
Summer brings hot days and warm nights to Big Bend National Park. Dramatic afternoon lightning storms with high winds are common and come on quickly. Heavy downpours may result in flash floods. Winter days may be sunny and warm, but the nights tend to be cold. Winter storms can blow in suddenly with plummeting temperatures and rain or snow.
The weather in Big Bend National Park, hot or cold, injures and kills more hikers than any other factor. Come well prepared because weather changes can be dramatic and unexpected.
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