Big Bend National Park
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Big Bend National Park
It is located in south west Texas, next to the Rio Grande River
Big Bend National Park boasts more types of birds, bats and cacti than any other national park in the US, making it prime bird watching territory. Whatever backpacking trip you enjoy, you will find it here where the vast difference in elevations offers exceptional hiking and camping on the roadless wilderness backpacking trails. There are ample bike riding opportunities or go exploring on the Rio Grande River with a kayak, canoe, motor boat or raft. For those who enjoy more daring outdoor adventure, there are rock climbing options available. Check out below for excellent Big Bend National Park information.
Uniqueness
Big Bend is one of the largest and least visited of America’s national parks. Over 801,000 acres await your exploration and enjoyment. From an elevation of less than 2,000 feet along the Rio Grande to nearly 8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend includes massive canyons, vast desert expanses, and the entire Chisos Mountain range. Here, you can explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the United States, and experience unmatched sights, sounds, and solitude. 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 miles downstream from the park.
Big Bend National Park also marks the northernmost range of many plants and animals, such as the Mexican long-nosed bat. Ranges of typically eastern and typically western species of plants and animals come together or overlap here. Here many species are at the extreme limits of their ranges. Latin American species, many from the tropics, range this far north, while northern-nesting species often travel this far south in winter. Contrasting elevations create additional, varied micro-climates that further enhance the diversity of plant and animal life and the park’s wealth of natural boundaries.
The park is a hiker’s paradise containing the largest expanse of roadless public lands in Texas. More than 150 miles of hiking trails offer opportunities for day hikes or backpacking trips. Elevations range from 1,800 feet at the eastern end of Boquillas Canyon to 7,825 feet atop Emory Peak in the Chisos Mountains. These elevation changes produce an exceptional variety of plants, animals, and scenic vistas making it easy to click an outdoor picture or capture that video adventure you’ve always wanted.
Big Bend National Park is a diverse area containing over 1,200 species of plants, 11 species of amphibians, 56 species of reptiles, 40 species of fish, 76 species of mammals, 450 species of birds and about 3,600 species of insects. The park boasts more types of birds, bats, and cacti than any other national park in the United States. Within the park, seven species are officially considered federally threatened or endangered. It’s no wonder people find this a great place for bird watching or wildlife viewing.
In addition to scenic vistas, abundant wildlife, and diverse geology, an outstanding aspect of this park is its system of unpaved roads. While most visitors will stay on the 112 miles of paved roads in the park, those with a sense of adventure and a high-clearance and/or four-wheel drive vehicle can enjoy over 150 miles of unpaved roads. The tremendous increase in popularity of four-wheel drive “sport utility” vehicles means that more and more visitors are enjoying Big Bend’s backcountry roads. While the unpaved roads can vary greatly in condition, they offer beautiful scenery, access to fascinating natural and historic sites, primitive roadside campsites, and some of the parks most primitive and remote hiking trails, as well as the opportunity to test the durability and limits of your vehicle and its occupants. The key to having a successful trip through the backcountry is being prepared to deal with large and small emergencies and the extremes of the Chihuahuan Desert.
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