Big Bend National Park

Sunday October 11, 2026

Big Bend National Park is a large national park in the Texan Chihuahuan Desert. Here the Rio Grande runs along the southern edge of the park forming the border of the US and Mexico. When it comes into and leaves the park it goes through deep canyons. There is a lot of life in this desert especially in the Chisos Mountains.

They are in the middle of the park with the Chisos Basin in the middle. This is the only mountain range in the US that is completely inside a national park. There, at a higher elevation than most of the park is a campground, lodge and high elevation trails.

I spent two days in the park. The first day I drove out to the east side past the Rio Grande Village to the Boquillas Canyon. The second day I drove to the to out the west side, to Santa Elena Canyon. This series is planned to have seven photo essays of hikes and two driving videos. These are a few photos from the park that were not on the hikes.

Big Bend NP Entrance Sign National Park Entrance Sign

Due to the cold weather, I stayed in a cabin at the Chisos Mountain Lodge. I was planning to camp, but did not have the gear for the temperatures. The lodge also has a restaurant and bar and motel style rooms. It is the only lodging in the park.

Inside Chisos Mountain Cabin The Inside of a Cabin Chisos Mountain Lodge

One popular short hike is through the Hots Springs District to the thermal pools along the Rio Grande. It goes through a historic town and by some cliffs to the hot springs. Even in January it was very popular and the pools were full.

Hot Springs District - Post Office and Store

River by the Cliffs in the Hot Springs District Rio Grande Near by Hot Springs District

It was so cold that the road out of Chisos Basin was closed the first day I was there and the second the surrounding mountains had a dusting of snow.

Cloud Covered Mountain Chisos Basin

Snow Dusting on a Mountain in the Chisos Basin Snow Dusting in the Chisos Basin

On the west side of the park is Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. It goes out to Santa Elena Canyon, where the Rio Grande comes out of a canyon on the west edge of the park. There are several hiking trails, scenic overlooks and a small visitor center with historic mining equipment outside.

Chihuahuan Desert View from the Sotol Vista Overlook View from the Sotol Vista Overlook

Mining Equipment at the Castolon Visitor Center

Roadside View on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive View Along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

There is more to do in Big Bend than what I did. There are many 4x4 roads with camping on them for overlanding. The Chisos Mountains has more trails, including a climb up Emory Peak which while not the highest peak in Texas, at 7832 ft it is the highest peak in the park.