Love the mountains? Love the desert? Enjoy viewing brilliantly-saturated cactus blooms? How about a little volcanic geology or maybe some paleontology? Are you a birder? A hiker? Enjoy stargazing? If any or all these ingredients combine to create a perfect national park experience for you, then Big Bend National Park in Texas is the place to visit. There’s something for everybody at Big Bend.

Located in the far western part of this very large state, Big Bend is one of the top 20 largest parks (it’s #15) in the National Park System. The park encompasses 801,163 acres (324,219 hectares) of desert and mountain landscape bordered on the south by the Rio Grande River wending its way from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico.

Often referred to as “three parks in one,” the three ecosystems of which Big Bend is comprised (river, desert, mountains) are home to a wide variety of plant, animal, and bird life. A multitude of trails for all ability levels highlight the vegetation and landscapes particular to these ecosystems.

Speaking of vegetation, if you love spring blooms, come visit between March and May, when some or all the park’s 60 cactus species sport bright magenta, yellow, orange, and red blossoms nestled between sharp, protective needles. These blooming cacti are a photographer’s dream.

The arid landscape of the Chihuahuan Desert gives way to the cooler, wetter, Chisos Mountains, formed from volcanic eruptions and intrusions some 40-60 million years ago and exposed through the forces of erosion. You’ll ascend from hot desert cactus and ocotillo into cool green juniper and pinyon pines as well as maple and aspen trees. The wildlife will change with the altitude and temperatures, too. Hike high enough and you’ll be able to view the vast geologic panorama below.

If you enjoy paddling the water, there’s the Rio Grande River to float during any season of the year. Even when the water level is low, there’s usually still enough for you to enjoy a stretch of the river’s 118-mile (189.9 km) southern boundary, with four canyons through which to make one- or multi-day float trips.

Stargazing is great during any season. The wide-open sky of this certified International Dark Sky Park - part of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve – showcases glittering stars and the Milky Way not dimmed by local light pollution.

There are plenty of trails to hike in the desert, mountains, and alongside the Rio Grande River. These trails introduce park visitors to the desert, mountain, and riparian ecosystems. During your hike, it’s practically guaranteed you’ll see and probably hear some of the 450 bird species that either call Big Bend home or migrate through. You may also see any of 75 species of mammals, 11 species of amphibians, and 56 species of reptiles (watch out for those rattlesnakes). Big Bend is also a “buggy” place, with over 3,600 species of insects. Plus, there are non-insect arthropods such as scorpions, tarantulas, and vinegaroons (whip scorpions). So, watch where you place those hands when hiking around rocks out there.

The National Park Service calls Big Bend “one of the world's true jewels for paleontological research,” and with good reason. Over 1,200 known fossil species have been discovered within the park, including the giant winged pterosaur, the horned bravoceratops (only found in Big Bend), fossil mammals, and fossil wood. There’s a Fossil Discovery Exhibit just off the park road on the way to Panther Junction packed with cool artwork and fossil specimens illustrating Big Bend’s ancient life.

While Big Bend National Park is reached via nicely-paved roads, it’s still off the beaten path from any large city, so it’s not exactly a national park you can see in a day and leave feeling like you’ve experienced it all. You’ll want to spend more than just a day exploring, and there’s lodging and camping available to do just that.

If you are arranging a trip to Texas, why not think about spending a couple of days at Big Bend. The articles below can help you plan your visit.

Traveler's Choice For: photography, blooming cactus and desert vegetation, camping, history, hiking, geology, floating the Rio Grande, history