UNITED STATES: Big Bend in West Texas

We fell in love with Big Bend National Park, in West Texas, the first time we went in 2004.

It is a long 10 hour drive from Houston, but, the park is beautiful with mountains and desert.

It is so different than anywhere else in Texas.

So many Texans have never been and say they want to go, but somehow don't.

They don't know what they are missing!

In some ways it is the best kept secret in Texas.

Big Bend National Park is one of the most remote national parks in the United States. The park is huge, over 800,000 acres. It is named after the big bend in the Rio Grande River. 

We love it for the rugged scenery. There is a combination of desert and mountains. It is beautiful!

The Rio Grande river has played an important role in the area for thousands of years. Native Americans relied on it for water, food, and travel. Later Spanish explorers and settlers used it as a trade route. 

In Big Bend, the Rio Grande defines the border between Mexico (on the left) and the US (on the right.)

The Santa Elena Canyon was carved by the Rio Grande over a million years ago. The canyon is a 457m deep gorge (that's 1,500 ft, for those that are metrically challenged.) 

The canyon stretches for about 8km (5 miles) along the river. 

The cliffs are home to desert-adapted plants like cacti, ocotillo, and mesquite, while the river corridor is lush by comparison with cottonwoods and willows. 

It is also a playground for hikers and kayakers.

I always think the Rio Grande should be a raging river. And it was at one time. But now, dams up-river divert the water for human consumption, agriculture, etc., so it is nothing like it was back in the day when it carved out the canyon. In some places it is so shallow you can walk across it and not get your knees wet.

It is illegal to cross the river to the Mexican side, but, as you can see in the background below, some "tourists" do it anyway. Back in the day, Mexican locals would make crafts and bring them across the river to the US side to sell, but, for obvious reasons, that doesn't happen anymore. 

Also in the park are the Chisos Mountains, which have rugged peaks over 2,400m (7,800 feet), and cooler temperatures with oak and pine forests.

We hiked the Windows Trail.  

At the end of the trail are the "windows" which are natural stone openings in the cliffs that frame the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rio Grande Valley and distant mountain ranges.  

We also hiked the Lost Mine Trail which winds through a mix of pinyon pine, oak, and juniper forests. 

Hiking to the top is not always easy or fun, but, it is worth the slog. We were rewarded with views overlooking the Chisos Mountains, the desert below, and the distant Rio Grande.

The Lost Mine Trail is named for a legend that early explorers or settlers found a rich mine in the Chisos Mountains and then lost its location. Despite prospectors searching the area, no confirmed mine was ever found, leaving the name as a piece of "frontier folklore".

In case its not already obvious, I love the mountains. For me, it is always a time for quiet reflection and peacefulness. 

Many thanks to Bill and Bettie for joining us in the best kept secret in Texas.

Tired bodies mean great memories were created.