Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is a large protected area in southwest Texas that preserves portions of the Chihuahuan Desert, the Chisos Mountains, and a long bend of the Rio Grande. It was designated a national park in 1944 and encompasses diverse desert and mountain landscapes.

The park offers mountain hiking in the Chisos range, river-based recreation along the Rio Grande, and long scenic drives with desert vistas; developed trailheads and campgrounds provide access to popular routes. Popular natural highlights include rugged canyons, desert basins, and elevated viewpoints with extensive views across the park’s roughly 800,000 acres.

The area was protected as a national park in 1944 to conserve its unique combination of desert, mountain, and river environments and to provide for public enjoyment and scientific study. Since designation, park management has balanced conservation with recreation and research activities.

Big Bend occupies a remote region of far-west Texas along the Mexico border, with the nearest small towns serving as gateways and larger regional centers several hours’ drive away; the landscape is characterized by the Rio Grande valley and isolated mountain ranges.

• Park Size and Ecosystems: The park covers roughly 800,000 acres and protects desert, mountain, and river ecosystems along a lengthy stretch of the Rio Grande border with Mexico.
• Established and Visitor Planning: Established as a national park in 1944, it is remote with limited services in-park; visitors should plan fuel, water, and timing carefully for long drives and hikes.

What to See #

• Chisos Basin: Chisos Basin is a high-elevation area within the park that offers trails, viewpoints, and access to the Chisos Mountains' hiking routes.
• Scenic Drives and River Corridors: Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and the Castolon/Boquillas areas provide scenic overlooks of the river, desert basins, and access to trailheads along the Rio Grande corridor.