Big Bend National Park

One of the wonderful and difficult things about traveling is choices.  We had three choices after leaving Fredericksburg and we, paraphrasing Whitman, took the road we had not traveled.  Big Bend had been recommended by Paul and Carol (previously mentioned for Chinati) and was a new place for us.

The film at the Visitors Center explained the uniqueness of this park.  It has three distinct ecotones (transition areas), the river, the mountains and the desert.  Combined they make this a most unusual park.  The Chisos Mountain Range is entirely within the park.  Its other distinction is that just across the Rio Grande River is Mexico.  The deeds to the park were presented to President Franklin Roosevelt on D’Day 1944 and the park was created six days later.

We spent three days here exploring many of the wonderful trails.

The Homer Wilson Ranch trail leads to the remains of Homer’s cabin.  When it was in operation, he had 4000 sheep and 2500 goats.  It was abandoned in 1945.

 These formations are called Mules Ears.

The trail at Santa Elena Canyon goes down to the Rio Grande, across (on a US arm of the river) and up a slope.   The trail starts out on a narrow sand path hovering over the river and then climbs to provided outstanding views.  This is a popular rafting area.  It is also a great place to photograph the 1500 foot high walls on the Mexican side.  (perhaps Trump should look at them).

Boquillas Canyon is another walk to the sandy shores of the Rio with excellent views.

This horse was grazing on grass in Mexico.

Jerry took a dip in the Hot Springs, a remnant of a former resort.

Road runners seem to enjoy seeing how close they can get to a car and still make it safely across the road.  This one is smart.  He hangs out waiting for handouts near the picnic tables at the store.  We disappointed him.

On our last morning, we drove thirty-five miles for an “easy” walk through the Grapevine Hills to Balanced Rock.  On the last quarter mile we scrambled around rocks and crawled up boulders climbing and climbing, determined to see the rock since we had come so far. 

To return Anna Lee had to scoot on her tush because the steps were too tall for her.  This was our goal.

Big Bend Natl. Park is a place of incomparable beauty.  Its remoteness should not be a deterrent to anyone wanting to see this unique park.  As with almost all places created by nature, photos tell a better story than words.