Big Bend Country, Texas
In Big Bend Country, the sky's no limit. Nowhere else in Texas do the stars at night shine quite so bright or the sunsets seems quite so rosy. Here, too, the earth displays its own vigor. Prickly pear cacti bloom with fuschia ferocity and golden exuberance as desert vistas shimmer far into the distance. Nomadic tumbleweeds bounce erratically across lonesome prairies, and craggy mountain peaks form a jagged phalanx on the horizon. Nature needs no introduction in this awe-inspiring terrain.
Explore Big Bend Country
Franklin Mountains State Park Camping
A limited number of tent camping sites are available. There are two types of campsites; one type (walk-in developed) is traditional, in that tents are placed directly on the ground and have tables and grills. The park has recently established an area with 5 self-contained RV sites(
, TX CampingBig Bend National Park Boating
The Rio Grande, or El Rio Bravo del Norte, borders Big Bend National Park for 118 miles. A 1978 Act created the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River and charged the National Park Service to care for an additional 127
, TX BoatingBig Bend Ranch State Park Equine Trails
Daily/Hourly horseback rides are offered at the Sauceda Ranch Headquarters with Park staff guiding visitors through some of park's canyon trails. For information and reservations please call office (432)229-3416
, TX EquestrianIndian Lodge Historic Site
On the slopes of the Davis Mountains within the bounds of Davis Mountains State Park, this rustic inn was built in the 1930s and modeled after southwestern Indian pueblos. The historic section of the lodge was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
, TX Historic SitesThe Post
Located five miles south of town on the Post Road lies what remains of old Fort Pena Colorado, built in 1879 to protect area residents from Indian raids.
Marathon, TX Historic FortsBig Bend Camping
Most campsites in Big Bend National Park are on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservations. The National Park Service operates 3 campgrounds at Rio Grande Village, the Chisos Basin, and Castolon. The cost is $10.00 per night for a site.
, TX CampingAdobe Courthouse
Under a neat white stucco sheath, the 1919 Hudspeth County Courthouse is the Southwest's only in-use governmental structure of adobe. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Sierra Blanca, TX Historic CourthousesFr. Alfred Villanueva, the current pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, had a grotto built in the church yard in honor of "Our Lady." The statue was brought over from Portugal and blessed during an outdoor mass on Mother's Day, 2001
Van Horn, TX ShrinesDavis Mountains State Park EquineTrails
Seven miles of equestrian trails are located in the beautiful Limpia Canyon Primitive Area. Visitors must provide their own horses. The trail takes riders from a 4,900 feet elevation at Limpia Creek to over 5,700
, TX EquestrianBig Bend National Park Birdwatching
Big Bend National Park is a birdwatcher's paradise. It is home to about 450 species of birds, more than any other national park in the United States. Visit the website for specie lists, warbles, rare birds, and Big Bend's "Most Wanted."
, TX BirdwatchingBig Bend National Park Rappelling
Big Bend National Park is not typically considered a climbers' destination, but it offers some scenic, challenging, and wildly varied rock climbs. Over the years, park visitors have often inquired about climbing, but there is little written.
, TX Rappelling