The scenic, ecologic, and historic resources of the Big Bend have created an area of unique beauty with outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities.

Big Bend National Park was authorized by Congress in 1935 and established in 1944 to preserve and protect a representative area of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The park includes rich biological and geological diversity, cultural history, recreational resources, and outstanding opportunities for bi-national protection of our shared natural and cultural heritage.

Like each of its sister national parks, Big Bend must balance the competing demands of its dual mission: providing for a fulfilling visitor experience and preserving rare and fragile ecosystems. Key issues facing the park in the coming decade and identified in the General Management Plan include water quality and quantity concerns, air quality degradation, invasion of exotic species, management of endangered species, and degradation of natural ecosystems.