Big Bend National Park, Texas
January 30-31, 2011
Big Bend National Park is the largest protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert topography in the U.S. It encompasses over 800,000 acres which is larger than the state of Rhode Island! There is a lot of history here including artifacts found to be over 9,000 years old. The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo forms the international boundary between Mexico and the U.S. and the park was named after the large bend in the river of the Mexico/Texas border. There is truly a magic here and with so much park to discover, the hiking and adventures are endless.
Our Accommodations - Government Springs Primitive Campsite
Big Bend has several semi-developed campgrounds and many primitive camping spots tucked away throughout the park. We opted for a primitive spot in the desert plains called Government Springs. As luck would have, we were also able to connect with a friend from Minnesota.
The Lost Mine Trail
The Lost Mine Trail was a pretty hike up a mountain in the area known as Chisos Basin. We hiked to the top for beautiful views of the mountains and area.
Balanced Rock Trail
Santa Elena Canyon Trail
The Santa Elena Canyon Trail was a leisurely path that meandered by the famous Rio Grande River. Although the river didn't seem all that "grande" since the water levels were really low!