Big Bend National Park preserves a magnificent and diverse portion of the Chihuahuan Desert where the Rio Grande River, looping to the south, forms a “Big Bend” in the border between Mexico and Texas.
This park is rich with remote scenic splendors and diverse landscapes covering over 800,000 acres of desert, mountains, and canyons.

Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. For more than 1,000 miles, the Rio Grande forms the international boundary between Mexico and the United States.

Attractions
Big Bend National Park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States .Superb desert scenery, curiously eroded rocks, volcanoes, faults, anticlines, fossils, hot springs, old mines, archeological sites and a high and dry wilderness ecosystem are among Big Bend’s fantastic wonders.

Flora and Fauna
The rugged mountains, harsh desert, and majestic river habitats of Big Bend are home to a wide variety of unique creatures. The extreme temperatures and geographic isolation of the place has given rise to animals specifically adapted to the area’s many environmental niches. The Colima warbler, the greater long-nosed bat, and the Sierra del Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer are found nowhere else north of Mexico. The endangered Big Bend mosquito fish lives only here.

The variety of cactus and other plant life add color to the Big Bend region. Cactus species in the park include prickly pear, claret cup and pitaya. In the spring, the wildflowers are in full bloom and the yucca flowers display bright colors. Bluebonnets are prevalent in Big Bend, and white and pink bluebonnets are sometimes visible by the road. Other flowering plants such as the desert marigold, desert willow, ocotillo, rock nettle and lechuguilla abound in Big Bend.

Tourism
A great place for solitude; this is one of the less visited national parks due to its isolated location. Visitation is highest in March and April. The park is extremely crowded during spring break, which is usually the second and third week in March. Easter weekend, Thanksgiving weekend, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day are also very busy. All lodging and campsites are usually full during these periods. Visitation is lowest in August and September.

Activities
There are plenty of things to do in this park. More than 150 miles of trails are available for hiking and offer plenty of opportunities for viewing the desert scenery and wildlife. For those who prefer water sports, floating the Rio Grande is available and trips can be arranged with several local outfitters just outside the park. Springtime brings an incredible variety of migratory birds through the area, with 446 species recorded so far. This abundance makes for some great bird watching opportunities. It is also a one of the best sand boarding destinations in Texas.

Accommodations
To accommodate the many visitors to Big Bend the NPS operates three campgrounds at Rio Grande Village, Chisos Basin, and Castolon, as well as Chisos Mountains Lodge. Primitive camping is also available at backcountry campsites and along backcountry roads, permits required. You can find additional camping and lodging outside the park.

Climate
Fall and spring 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 are possible.

Big Bend National Park offers panoramic views, hundreds of species of wildlife, and an array of activities for visitors.

Tags: activities, flora and fauna, Tourism