Big Bend National Park
1 / 5
Our first National Park stop of the trip was Big Bend. After miles of driving through open desert, it still took nearly an hour from the park entrance to reach our campground at Rio Grande Village, which was our first real clue to how spread out the park actually is.
Big Bend National Park Sign
1 / 18
On the way in, we stopped at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit, which sits on an active dig site. Fossils found here date back 54 million years and include ancient turtles, early horses, and pantodonts. The original fossils were once on display, but after theft attempts they were removed and replaced with plaster replicas. The exhibit also includes casts from around the Big Bend region, including a giant crocodile and an enormous prehistoric fish. Learning that this dry, desert landscape once supported fish and giant crocodiles was hard to wrap my head around.
When we arrived at Rio Grande Village Campground, we were greeted by something neither of us expected to see. A cow was calmly wandering through the campground. After talking with a park ranger, we learned that livestock from Mexico, including cows, donkeys, and horses, regularly cross the Rio Grande in search of grazing. In some places, the river runs shallow enough to make the crossing easy. While the Park Service considers them nuisances, it was hard not to find the situation amusing.
That evening, we took a drive through some of the park’s rougher back roads, bouncing along until we found an elevated spot to pull over. From there, we watched the sun sink behind the desert landscape as the light shifted across the mountains and valleys. It was quiet and still, and a satisfying way to end our first day in the park.
For our very first National Park, Big Bend introduced itself through long distances, unexpected details, and moments that challenged what we thought we knew about the landscape. By the end of the day, it was clear that this was a place that rewards patience and curiosity.
When we arrived at Rio Grande Village Campground, we were greeted by something neither of us expected to see. A cow was calmly wandering through the campground. After talking with a park ranger, we learned that livestock from Mexico, including cows, donkeys, and horses, regularly cross the Rio Grande in search of grazing. In some places, the river runs shallow enough to make the crossing easy. While the Park Service considers them nuisances, it was hard not to find the situation amusing.
That evening, we took a drive through some of the park’s rougher back roads, bouncing along until we found an elevated spot to pull over. From there, we watched the sun sink behind the desert landscape as the light shifted across the mountains and valleys. It was quiet and still, and a satisfying way to end our first day in the park.
For our very first National Park, Big Bend introduced itself through long distances, unexpected details, and moments that challenged what we thought we knew about the landscape. By the end of the day, it was clear that this was a place that rewards patience and curiosity.