Big Bend National Park encompasses 801,163 acres, an area of magnificent contrasts. Visitors can travel from the Rio Grande with its spectacular canyons and jungle-like floodplain up through Chihuahuan Desert, which constitutes majority of the park, to Chisos Mountains with cool woodlands.This variation in elevation and temperature makes Big Bend an ideal year-round park with diversity of Mexican and American plants. Over 1,100 plant types are found in the park. Animal life is just as varied. Desert wildlife is mostly nocturnal, but deer, coyotes, javelinas, gray
fox, skunks, raccoons, and jackrabbits might be seen during the day. Lucky visitors might spot some of the rarer animals, such as ring tail, black bear, beaver, and mountain lion. More than 430 bird species have been identified, more than at any other national park. Birds include the personable roadrunner, the raucous gray-breasted jay, beautiful hummingbirds, and the rare Colima warbler whose only U.S. nesting grounds are in the Chicos Mountains.
One hundred million years ago, this area was ocean. And 65 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the area, sharing land and air with other ancient creatures, such as the Big Bend Pterodactyl, largest flying creature known, with an estimated 51-foot wingspread. Big Bend is a geological showplace, where erosion has exposed geological structures from the simplest to the most complex. In this overwhelming landscape, even the non geologist will sense the magnitude of time and forces that shaped the land.
It is a vast land that invites exploring, not a park that can be seen in just a few hours. Several hundred miles of trails range from short, easy nature walks to primitive trails for experienced hikers. More than 100 miles of paved roads and about 170 miles of dirt roads; check with any ranger for current conditions of all primitive, back country, and graded roads before attempting travel.
A permit is required for all back country and primitive camping; also for all river-users. Free permits may be obtained at Park Headquarters or ranger stations.
Rangers present walks and illustrated talks throughout the year. Daily horse rides leave the Chisos Remuda horse concession in the Chisos Basin. Minimum age six years, maximum weight 210 lbs. Phone 915/477-2374. Fee.
Basic facilities in the park include visitor centers, post office, National Park Service campgrounds, a trailer park, store-gas stations, and a restaurant-gift shop-lodge in the Chisos Mountains Basin. Lodging is available in 58 motel-type rooms and eight lodge-type units, plus six more rustic cottages--all located in the Basin area of the park. Advance reservations are strongly advised throughout the year. Write Chisos Mountains Lodge, Basin Rural Station, Big Bend National Park, Texas 79834. Phone 915/477-2291.
Accessible from Marathon via U.S. 385 (79 miles), from Alpine via Texas 118 (108) miles, and from Marfa/Presidio via U.S. 67 and F.M. 170 (156 miles). Admission.
