Big Bend National Park: Where Desert Meets Mountains
Big Bend National Park
“A remote Texas wilderness where desert meets mountains, the Rio Grande carves deep canyons, and night skies burn with stars.”
Park Overview
Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas protects nearly 801,000 acres of the northern Chihuahuan Desert and the only U.S. mountain range—Chisos Mountains—fully contained within a national park. Carved by the Rio Grande’s dramatic bend, the park hosts desert landscapes, rugged peaks, hot springs, and international crossings along the U.S.–Mexico border. Established on June 12, 1944, it remains one of America’s most remote parks.
Fast Facts
| Location | Brewster County, Texas |
| Established | June 12, 1944 |
| Area | ~801,163 acres (1,252 sq mi) |
| Elevation Range | 1,800 – 7,825 ft (Emory Peak) |
| Annual Visitors | ~580,000 (2021) |
| Longest River Border | 118 miles along the Rio Grande |
What to See & Do
- South Rim Trail & Emory Peak — Panoramic hikes into Chisos Mountains.
- Santa Elena & Boquillas Canyons — Deep Rio Grande gorges with Mexico on the far bank.
- Lost Mine Trail — 4.8‑mile trek near Lost Mine Peak with great vistas .
- Langford Hot Springs — Historic natural hot spring along the river .
- Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive — A paved and unpaved road through diverse desert and mountain scenery.
Ecology & Biodiversity
Big Bend preserves four major life zones across its elevation gradient—desert, grasslands, oak-juniper woodlands, and montane forests. It’s home to more bird, bat, butterfly, ant, reptile, and cactus species than any other U.S. national park. Over 450 bird species and 75 mammal species (including black bears, javelina, mountain lions) are found here.
Paleontology & Geology
Big Bend features rich fossils—from marine life to dinosaurs—and remarkable geology, including volcanic dikes, sea fossils, and the Chisos volcanic range.
Dark Skies & Stargazing
Designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2012, Big Bend offers some of the darkest and most vivid night skies in the continental U.S.—a prime destination for astronomy and nature lovers.
Human History & Culture
The area bears traces of human activity dating back over 10,000 years, including Paleo-Indian cultures, Spanish mining and presidios, ranching, and early 20th-century mining around the Rio Grande. The 1930s CCC era also shaped park development.