• Sierra del Carmen

    Big Bend

    National Park Texas

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  • PANTHER JUNCTION VISITOR CENTER TEMPORARY CLOSURE

    The Panther Junction Visitor Center will be closed Tuesday May 28 and Wednesday May 29 for needed maintenance. Information, backcountry permits, and entrance fee payments can be taken care of at the Chisos Basin Visitor Center.

Things To Do

Rio Grande Village Beaver Pond
Boardwalk on the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail
NPS Photo/Cookie Ballou
 
With over 100 miles of paved roads, 150 miles of dirt roads, and about 200 miles of hiking trails the park offers nearly limitless opportunities for scenic driving, hiking, camping, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, wildlife observation, and stargazing. Additionally, the Rio Grande borders the park for 118 miles providing options for half-day floats to extended excursion by raft, canoe, or kayak.
 
Canoeing the Rio Grande
Backcountry Use
Vast undeveloped areas in Big Bend National Park provide excellent opportunities for backpacking, river trips, horseback riding, and mountain biking. more...
 
Bird Watching

Bird Watching
Big Bend's location, (near the 100th meridian in the middle of the continent) along a migration route, is ideal for bird diversity throughout the year. more...

 
Snowy Morning on the Window Vew Trail

Day Hikes
Big Bend is a hiker's paradise containing the largest expanse of roadless public lands in Texas. More than 150 miles of trails offer opportunities for day hikes or backpacking trips. more...

 
Interpretive Program
Ranger-led Programs
Learn more about the nature, science, history, and culture of Big Bend National Park with a ranger as your guide. more...
 
Sierra del Carmen Sunset

Scenic Drives
100 miles of paved roads and 150 miles of dirt roads connect the desert to the mountains and the river and offer exceptional ways to explore the park by vehicle. more...

 
Casa Grande Night Sky

Stargazing
On the clearest nights, around 2,000 stars are visible to the naked eye! more...

Did You Know?

View from the South Rim

As planning progressed for the new Big Bend National Park in the early 1940s, one prominent proposal called for the construction of a cog railroad or monorail from the Basin to the South Rim. More...