National Parks of China
Overview
| Designation | US National Park |
| Location | Southwest Texas, on the border with Mexico |
| Latitude, longitude | 29.2, -103.3 Google Maps |
| Nearby cities | Alpine, Marathon |
| Top sights | Chisos Mountains Basin, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive |
| Wildlife | More than 1,000 plant species and over 400 bird species |
| Area | 801,200 acres |
| Highest point7,825 ft | |
| Nearby sites | Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, White Sands National Park, San Antonio Missions |
| Themes | Plant, Bird, Desert, Canyon, Mountain, River |
About
Big Bend National Park was established in 1944. It lies in southwest Texas, on the border with Mexico.
Travel tips
Getting there: the park lies in the far southwest of Texas, well away from large cities. The nearest airports are Midland and El Paso, each four to five hours by road; Alpine is a nearer town. A car is essential.
Entrances: most visitors enter from the north via Marathon or Alpine; it is about an hour's drive from the entrance to the Chisos Basin at the centre of the park.
Chisos Mountains: the basin has a visitor centre, lodge and campground; the Window Trail is short, and the Lost Mine Trail has wide views.
Scenic drive: the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive leads southwest to Santa Elena Canyon, through desert and mountain scenery, and you can walk into the mouth of the canyon.
River: the Rio Grande can be paddled through the canyons; the far bank is Mexico, and crossing must be done at an official port of entry with a passport.
Time: allow at least two days, three for comfort. Distances inside the park are long, so plan fuel and driving time each day.
Season: autumn to spring is mild; the desert is very hot in summer while the mountains stay cooler.
Where to stay: the Chisos Mountains Lodge and several campgrounds are in the park; nearby towns are the alternative.
Caution: fuel and shops inside the park are few and phone signal is weak, so carry water and food; avoid long walks in the afternoon sun in summer.
More photos
Photo credits: Big Bend National Park: US National Park Service (public domain)