Big Bend National Park

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.

The area became a national park on June 12, 1942, to protect rock art sites and traces of early settler communities. Indigenous peoples had used this region for thousands of years as a travel corridor and living space before that.

The name comes from the sharp curve where the Rio Grande flows north and then turns sharply southeast through the desert. Visitors today can see traditional river crossings and traces of trade routes that connected communities on both sides of the water.

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.

Location: Brewster County

Inception: June 12, 1942

Website: https://nps.gov/bibe

GPS coordinates: 29.25020,-103.25045

Latest update: December 12, 2025 20:21