Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Texas is a huge state. We actually have parks and ranches that are bigger than states. King Ranch in South Texas is 1,289 square miles and Big Bend National Park in West Texas is 1,252 square miles, both bigger than the state of Rhode Island. Big Bend National Park is situated out in West Texas, about 3.5 hour south of Odessa. It’s right there on the border between Mexico and Texas. It’s a heck of a drive out there, so you’d better be sure you have everything you need for your vacation. If you forget something, there’s not civilization for miles around. Stocking up on food and water would be the first priority.
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Breathtaking Views
Big Bend is home to the Chisos Mountain range, which is the only mountain range located fully inside of a national park. With Emory Peak rising a whopping 7,825 ft above sea level, you’re guaranteed to get a kick out of visiting.
The Rio Grande River runs through Big Bend and is the cause of some amazing canyons (Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas) and spectacular limestone rock formations.
A Hiker’s Dream
Big Bend has over 150 miles of recreational hiking trails. If you love the outdoors, then you need to make it a point to visit. The desert hikes can be short trip or even multi-day hikes! If exploring the Rio Grande is in your wheelhouse, sign up for a river hike and see how the river has changed the border between 2 countries. For the experienced pro, the mountain hikes are a wonderful way to view Big Bend from the top.
Campsites
The Rio Grande Village RV Campground is your best bet for parking your RV. They are open year round and have full hookups. They are a 25-site park with 20 available for reservation and 5 available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
In my reading and researching for this blog, I also read that Big Bend is one of the lowest attended park in all of the United States. This park is a gorgeous tract of land located here in our home state. Next time you’re considering traveling to a national park, put Big Bend at the top of your list.