Big Bend National Park Facts
801,000 Number of acres in the park
400,000 Number of annual visitors
7,825 Height of tallest peak
1,200 Number of plant species
450 Number of bird species
200 Number of miles of trails
112 Number of miles of paved roads
Of course facts don't tell the story of a Park, so then just what is Big Bend National Park? First off it is big, big as in Texas big, meaning it is about the size of Rhode Island. Of course since almost 180 Rhode Islands would fit inside of Texas its only a small part of the Lone Star state.
The Park is defined by the big bend in the Rio Grande River and from the Parks lowest point down at the river, the Chisos Mountains rise to almost 8,000 feet, towering up and forming the center from which all this radiate. The park is renowned for its hiking trails, plant life and wildlife. But it is also a long way from anywhere. There are only two roads that enter the Park and they are between 40 and 80 miles from a town of any size. Its climate is as harsh as its landscape, with summer highs soaring well above 90 degrees. Given the difficulty in reaching the park, and the rather inhospitable landscape, why do so many people still flock to this jewel of a park?
Since Big Bend is a place of superlatives, not only in what you can do, but also what you can see, we will let the following photos do the job of talking about the Park.
First there are the entrances to the Park, each which is proud to display the Park sign
There are five visitors centers, in the Park, the largest of which is Panther Junction. Please note that in 2008 this center is undergoing renovation and you have to walk all the way to the back of the building if you stop. It is also where you can find information on the four developed campgrounds and the numerous other undeveloped ones.
There are the many hiking trails, some in the mountains.
Some in the desert country.
For those who don't camp there is a lodge area.
There are the cactus, some of which may to in bloom, but look close or you may miss them.
There are even mountains that look like an sleeping Indian.
Or roads that seem to simply drop off the end of the earth.
But always there are the mountains
Some that nature uses for her own magic show.
But always, no matter where you are in the park, there is the feeling that you are getting away from it all. It's the distances, always the enormous distances.
Big Bend National Park, an out of the way place tucked into the corner of the world, that is simply world class.