Along with the curve of the Rio Grande and deep rugged landscapes of Texas, Big Bend National Park is an iconic destination that offers a lot of exciting activities for visitors. It is home to more than 1000 species of wild plants and animals, including 450+ bird species, 75 mammal species, and 56 reptile species. This park is known for its amazing contrasted Chihuahuan Desert landscapes, the rugged peaks of the Chisos Mountains, and deep canyons carved river. During your Big Bend national park exploration you’ll enjoy numerous scenic drives, hiking spots, thrilling adventures and many more. In 2001 UNESCO gave the Big Bend National Park another name, which is a Globally Important Bird Area.

In this blog, we will discuss this lovely Big Bend National Park, its history, nearby top attractive places like Scenic Drives, Hiking Trails. Here, you will also get to know which season should be ideal for you to explore.

History of Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park was established on 12th June 1935 which is the largest tract of Chihuahuan Desert in the US. It is the first national park in Texas that contains a mountain range like the Chisos Mountains. The name of this park is given after the major 1,900-mile Rio Grande River. Which runs after the side of the border of the United States and Mexico.

Big Bend National Park has nine national registrations in historical and archeological sites all over the park that describe thousand years ago’s history. Some Native Americans lived in a big bend that included Chisos, Apache and Comanche. Spanish explore farmers, ranchers and inhabited areas. They discovered the fossil form of ancient plants and animals in which fossils of Flying Dinosaurs, the Pterosaurs and the skull of Chamosaurus have been found.

Famous Attractions to Visit in Big Bend National Park

There are a lot of famous attractions to visit in the Big Bend National Park which is divided into many different areas and places, like Mountains, Scenic Drives, Hiking Trails, Canyons Historical Sites and many more. These are just some names, there are also so many places available for you that you should visit at least once in your life. If this is your first time then you should know that this park is only chargeable at the time of entry only.

The entrance fees that you have to pay is $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle and $15 per person who is bicyclist or hiker and if you are self guided then you have to pay $13 to $17 but this is valid for only 7 days. This park doesn’t accept cash not at the entrance and not even inside the park so you should keep your credit or debit card with yourself. You will also not receive the refund money if the weather is not good. There is no reservation required so you can pay at entry too but if you want reservation you can do.

The hours and fees of the park depend on the season and weather but the entrance is open 24 hours. You can arrive at any time but the fee station and visitor place might be closed after their business time. But if you already book your tickets online then you can enter the park at any time.

Santa Elena Canyon

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park’s most attractive and nature preserved place, which can be perfect for jungle cruise adventure. It is the 1500 foot cliffs that mean 8 miles west from Castolon which is above the Rio Grand. It can be reached by the Rose Maxwell Scenic Drives and Old Maverick Road. If you want to track the Santa Elena Canyon then it will take you 45 minutes in 1.62 miles. You have to climb so many ramps and stairs to reach there, but the best way to see this is by raft or canoe. There are also a lot of opportunities to explore wildlife, hiking and camping.

Ross Maxwell Scenic Drives

Located between the desert and mountains, ross maxwell scenic drives is a most popular and interesting place of the paved sightseeing routes in Big Bent National park. It is a 30 miles of route that passes from the top stops like Mule Ears Overlook, Tuff Canyon and Santa Elena Canyon. When you climb up the park you will see the Rio Grande that has an old small store that provides cold drinks, snacks, lunch, ice cream, and private residences too. There are also campgrounds where you can sit with tables, which is the best location to watch the birds and wildlife.

Lost Mine Trail

The most popular place for hiking in Big Bend National Park is Lost Mine Trail which will be your next must visit place. It is a 4.8 miles track that will takes your 2.5 hours to complete. At the top, you can enjoy the refreshing wind flows, breathtaking views and a pleasant environment. While hiking, you can spot breathtaking views of scenic areas, and at the end, you will find the exposed rock section from a height but if you are afraid of heights then you can enjoy the view from afar too. The hiking of this track is highly recommended to do in the sunrise and sunset because of the incredible view.

The Chisos Mountain

The most popular and hearty place in Big Bend National Park is Chisos Mountain which is another must visit place. It is 20 miles away from Punta de la Sierra in the southwest of Panther Junction in the northeast. It is the only mountain that contains a single national park. A 7-mile long paved road climbs into the Chisos Mountains Basin. In the Basin, there is a developed National Park Service Campground. The Chisos Mountains only have a hotel in the park and a dining room with an amazing view of Texas and it is a proper vegetarian.

Hot Springs Historic District

Visit Hot Springs Historic District, the most unique attraction in Big Bend National Park that can be enjoyed by soaking in 105°F natural springs while overlooking the Rio Grande and Mexico. It is a natural 105 degree F hot spring that is along the Rio Grande. You have to drive on the narrow and winding dirt road to get there. Once you reach there, you can capture its amazing photos while exploring a post office from the 1920s and a motel too for staying. You should visit early or at the time of sunset to avoid the rush and be able to take your time to click photos.

Rio Grand Village Store

The most composed and attractive place in Big Bend National Park is Rio Grande Village which is located on the eastern side of Big Bend. It is full of a campground, visitor center, dump station, small shops and a gas station. From here you can walk to the Village Nature Trail and it is perfect for birdwatching, wildlife and it is best to watch the sunset from the river.

Best Weather to Visit Big Bend National Park

Late October to November has the best weather to visit because, at this time weather will be so pleasant and the temperature will be around 60 degrees to 80 degrees F. It will make the view of trees, river and sky beautiful and at night you can see the clear and shining stars.
You can also visit from March to April because the weather will be so peaceful and the temperature will be around 50 degree F to 80 degree F. It makes the weather so beautiful, like dessert start to bloom with wildflowers, you can watch the migrating bird species.
Don’t plan to visit the park from May to August because the weather will be so hot and the temperature will be around 100 degrees F. It will make it difficult for you to do outdoor activities and also the months from July to September will also be tough for you because it will be the rainy season.
During the winter months of December to February, the temperature will be so cold that it will be around 35 degree F to 65 degree F. The sky stars will be clearly visible and the area will be quiet because of less visitors due to cold weather. But some places and services will be closed and limited.

How to reach Big Bend National Park?

Big Bend National Park is located in Southwest Texas at 1 Panther Junction, TX 79834. There are many ways but If you go by car, you are able to take it inside the park and there are also parking facilities too without any extra fees. You will also get the parking facilities in the place you will stay. And if you will go by bus then Chater bus is the best. It will drop you to nearby towns like Alpine or Marathon and after that you have to arrange the vehicle. As you will not get any vehicle from inside the Big Bend National Park.

Where to Stay Inside The Big Bend

The inside place to stay in the Big Bend National Park is Chisos Mountain Lodge and Cottonwood Campground.

Chisos Mountain Lodge: It is located in the basin of the majestic. It is the one and only lodge to stay inside the park. They provide all types of comforts and hospitality. It has 72 rooms for guests with non-smoking rooms and near to the dining. They don’t have telephone and cell phones inside the room as they want to give privacy to their guests. They provide free Wi-Fi in the gift shops and visitor center. It also has
some places to visit inside the hotel. The price of one night is approx $200 as per season. But you have to reserve your room before going because maybe after reaching there you will not be able to get in.
Cottonwood Campground: It is located on the western side of the park which is located between the Castolon Historic District. There are a total 22 campsites in which 21 are for individual and 1 is for group camp. But you have to reserve it in advance for 14 days only. In campsites no hooking and generators are allowed. For camping maximum 25 persons are allowed and minimum 9 persons. The price of one night per person is $15-$20 and for a group is $30-$40 but it also depends on the age.

Essential Tips for Visiting Big Bend National Park

You should keep your gas fill up because the park covers a vast area and there are many things to explore in the attraction and maybe inside the park the price of the gas can be expensive.
If you like the sunrise or sunset view then don’t miss this opportunity to witness this breathtaking view from the top of Chisos Mountains.
It is going to be a perfect place to see the stars. As Big Bend is known and popular for the dark night. So, when the nights are so dark then we are clearly able to see the stars, learn about the night sky and their different ways of showing stars to show.
If you like unique birds and animals then this is going to be your favorite place because this place is known as a home of plants, animals and birds. You should keep your eyes open widely while exploring the parks to capture all the special species.

Conclusion

I hope this blog helps you to understand the history of the Big Bend National Park in Texas. They found different species, different dinosaur fossils, plants and animals. It has many different attractive places to visit like Chisos Mountain and many more for hiking, seeing birds, stargazing, etc. You can go there by charter bus and by car. There are some tips for you to keep in mind while traveling.