Big Bend National Park, National park in West Texas, United States

Big Bend National Park is a protected area in Brewster County, Texas, along the border with Mexico. The site covers 324,000 hectares and includes desert landscapes, mountain ranges, and deep canyons carved by the Rio Grande.

Big Bend National Park was established on June 12, 1944, after the state of Texas transferred the land to the federal government. Before that, the region was home to the Chisos Indians, nomadic hunters and gatherers linked to the Conchos of northern Chihuahua, later displaced by Mescalero Apaches around 1700. Spanish expeditions passed through from about 1535, and presidios such as San Vicente and San Carlos were built along the Rio Grande in the late 18th century.

The name refers to the large bend where the Rio Grande turns from its southeast course and heads northeast before curving back, forming the Mexico–United States border. The Comanches crossed the region along the Comanche Trail on raids into Mexico until the mid-19th century. The last major Native American military leader here was an Apache of Spanish ancestry named Alzate, active as late as the late 1860s.

Four campgrounds offer overnight options for visitors with different needs and equipment. A network of 241 kilometers (150 miles) of trails leads through different elevations and vegetation zones.

The area holds International Dark Sky Park certification and allows observation of over 2,000 stars on clear nights. The low light pollution makes it one of the darkest places in the continental United States.