7. Big Bend National Park

Today we’re talking all about Big Bend National Park. Texas was in the final 10 of my 50 states project from back in 2019. It was one I put off while looking for the best thing to paint for Texas. I’m still so happy with Big Bend as the final choice. Established as a park June 10th of 1944 and named for the prominent bend in the Rio Grande along the U.S.–Mexico border. Big Bend remains one of the largest, most remote, and one of the least-visited national parks in the lower 48 states.

This park encompasses a large and remote part of the Chihuahuan (chee-WAH-wheen) Desert.  And the Chisos (Chia-so’s) Mountains rise abruptly from the surrounding desert floor providing a stunning backdrop. Another name for them is sky islands and I love that. Not just cause I’m a "Tears of the Kingdom" nerd. 

A significant part of the park is the large biodiversity represented by isolated populations of plants and animals found in Chisos Mountains and in many of the desert springs distributed across the park 

That’s how Big Bend is home to more than 1,200 species of plants Despite its harsh desert environment. But plants aren’t all that call this diverse land home. With changes in elevation between the dry, hot desert, the cool mountains, and the fertile river valley brings species of amphibians, reptiles, fish, mammals, birds, and about 3,600 species of insects. The park boasts more types of birds, bats, butterflies, ants, and scorpions than any other national park in the United States. And Though most of the animals are not visible in the day, particularly in the desert. The park comes alive at night, with many of the animals foraging for food. About 150 cougar sightings are reported per year, despite the fact that only two dozen cougars live in the park. 

But speaking of it coming alive at night. Night sky photography is also a big deal in Big Bend. In 2012, the park was designated an international dark-sky park. I painted some Dark sky parks as night scenes that we’ll get to in the future!

Big Bend's primary attraction is its hiking and backpacking trails but another draw is the 118 miles of Rio Grande. Where visitors can Paddle through one of the many canyons. And If you have your passport you can even take a ferry across the river to visit Mexico through the park's Boquillas (boh·kee·yaas) Crossing Port of Entry

Have you been to big bend yet? Let me know in the Comments and if not what you’d want to see there. Next time I’ll be talking about the park that is home to the United States largest Mountain. 

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