Location:

Tucked along the southwestern edge of Texas, in the curve where the Rio Grande turns south toward Mexico, Big Bend is about four and a half hours from El Paso and three hours from Odessa, but its landscape is so remote you might think you're on another planet.

Vital Stats:

Nearest airports: El Paso (325 miles) and Midland-Odessa (230 miles)

Established: June 12, 1944

Size: 801,163 acres

Park website: www.nps.gov/bibe

Snapshot

They say everything is bigger in Texas, but you really begin to understand the phrase in Big Bend. From the lush Rio Grande floodplains to the majestic Chisos Mountains, the park is home to more than 1,200 plant species and vast topographic diversity. Stretching 118 miles along the border with Mexico, the area has been inhabited for more than 10,000 years.

Did You Know?

At least 450 species of birds inhabit the park—more than any other national park in the United States.

Scenic Drive

The Maxwell Scenic Drive serves up one postcard-worthy panorama after another. Departing from the north side of Burro Mesa, this 30-mile trek winds through pioneer settlements and along the Sotol Vista, where you can enjoy a tremendous view of the Santa Elena Canyon and nearby Mexico. It then dips into the Castolon, a former Army post that was established during border disputes between Mexico and the U.S.