One of our favorite trails in Big Bend National Park is Santa Elena Canyon, where you hike alongside the Rio Grande River as it flows through spectacular 1,500-foot cliffs. Roundtrip Distance: 1.6 miles Elevation Change: 80 feet Average Hiking Time: 1 hour The trailhead is at the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. At the river, to access the trail you’ll have to first cross the bed of Terlingua Creek, and then climb a short but steep bank. Sometimes there’s water in the creek and sometimes it

Big Bend National Park is a wildlife photographer’s paradise, but it’s not always easy to find wildlife across the park’s 801,000-plus acres. Its terrain requires determination and a willingness to embrace the unknown. That’s exactly why National Geographic Photographer Filipe DeAndrade loves it. | National Geographic

Big Bend National Park in West Texas protects more than 800,000 acres of Chihuahuan Desert, with its rugged, diverse ecosystem of mountains, desert, and river habitats. And it’s one of the most beautiful, pristine places we’ve ever seen. The DHS announced that plans are underway to build a PHYSICAL 30-ft tall border wall through both the National Park and the nearby Big Bend Ranch State Park. DHS also issued a notice that it would waive 28 environmental protection and historic preservation laws

🌵✨ TOP 3 Reasons Big Bend National Park Should Be Your NEXT Adventure ✨🌵 1️⃣ The Epic Views – From towering canyons to endless desert skies, Big Bend is jaw-dropping at every turn. 2️⃣ Wildlife & Wilderness – See javelinas, roadrunners, and over 450 bird species in one of America’s most diverse landscapes. 3️⃣ Starry Nights – Big Bend is part of the largest International Dark Sky Reserve in the world 🌌… you’ve never seen the Milky Way like this! 🎒 Hike. 🚙 Jeep. 🛶 River Trips. 🌌 Stargaze.