How to get out Big Bend National Park
Amistad National Recreation Area encompasses a huge, startlingly blue man-made lake in the middle of rugged desert and offers boating, hiking, and camping. Nearby Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site also offers camping and hiking, as well as caves and ancient Native American pictographs. If traveling to points further east, this route is a scenic alternative to I-10 ? take US-90 east from Marathon.
Big Bend Ranch State Park, a sister park just next door that's somehow even more rugged and remote. Offers hiking, backcountry camping, off-road tours, the Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center, and a spectacular drive down Ranch Road 170 ("El Camino del Rio"). From the west entrance, drive north on TX-118 until you see the Ranch Road 170 turn-off on the left after a few miles (well-marked).
Fort Davis and environs, a charming, historic town set amidst gorgeous scenery, just north of Alpine via TX-118. Nearby are McDonald Observatory, Balmorhea State Park (a huge artesian well you can swim in), and Davis Mountains State Park ? sometimes called the "Texas Alps".
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas' other national park; the Guadalupe Mountains are home to the state's highest peak and offer great hikes and sites of historical interest. Some argue that McKittrick Canyon in autumn may very well be the prettiest scenery in Texas. Take US-90 west from Alpine through Van Horn and then steadily north until you reach the park, for a total of about 260 mi (418 km).
Marfa, a small, quirky town known for the mysterious "Marfa Lights" and a thriving art community; just a relatively short jaunt west of Alpine on US-90.
Mexico and its many nearby border towns can be explored using the Presidio-Ojinaga border-crossing as a jumping off point. For the adventurous traveler with plenty of time and preparation, other exciting options open up such as stunning Peguis Canyon and the remote but impressive Copper Canyon area.
|
Routes through Big Bend National Park
|
|
This is a star article. It is a high-quality article complete with maps, photos, and great information. If you know of something that has changed, please plunge forward and help it grow!
|
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Big Bend National Park
