Big Bend National Park

North America » United States » Texas » Big Bend
March 17th 2009

Published: March 17th 2009

After leaving Chiracahua National Monument and with a brief overnight at a nondescript RV park in Van Horn, Texas, we set out for a week of exploration of Big Bend National Park. Although Peter had canoed on the Rio Grande through the eastern end of the park before, this would be all new for Trudy, Lynn, and Jon (and of course the dogs, Moxie, Katie, and Modoc). When we arrived so did a warm spell... Read Full Entry

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Lynn & Jon Glase

Wondering Naturalists

Jon and Lynn are two sixty-something, retired, PhD ecologists seeking the wisdom from the natural world that can only come from first-hand experience with things and events. Our current arrangement is to keep a house as a home-base near Ithaca New York, where we have lived for the past 35+ years, spend summers in our trailer around New England (where Lynn's extended family resides), return to Ithaca for the fall and early winter, and depart for warmer climes after the Christmas-New Years holidays. We travel with Moxie, a Bichon Frise, in an 28 ft. Airstream trailer pulled by a Ford F-250 dies... full info

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Mortar holes

Used by Native Americans for grinding mesquite seeds and/or corn into flour.

Hot Springs

This popular Big Bend trail is near Rio Grande village at the end of a very rocky, narrow road, best suited for high clearance vehicles.

Hot Springs

Defunct store located at the site of an abandoned village near the Hot Springs.

Hot Springs

Lynn follows trail leading to Hot Springs.

Hot Springs

Native American pictographs. No information was available about these paintings nor was there any protection from vandals.

Hot Springs

Lush vegetation adorns the canyon walls on the way to Hot Springs.

Hot Springs

Lynn and Trudy on way to Hot Springs

Hot Springs

Lynn treats her feet to a 105° F mineral spring bath next to the Rio Grande river. Hot springs are common along this section of the river.

The Rio GrandeInternational Boundary

This riffle with ankle-deep water is all that separates the USA from Mexico. The Rio Grande (or Rio Bravo as it is known in Mexico) has been reduced to a trickle of its former self to support burgeoning upstream human populations and agribusiness.

Welcome to Terlingua

This area was the site of a mercury mine during the last century. After everyone was poisoned (just kidding) the mine and town were abandoned. The area is just west of Big Bend Park and has become repopulated with come services and an artist community. This café sign is typical.

Ruins of many homes for miners

These ruins were everywhere. Some had trailers parked in their shadows. I think many of those now living there live in mobile homes or trailers.

Somebody’s Silver Palace

This is one of several Airstreams that we saw in fields or near businesses where people are apparently living.

This submarine is really lost!

A person with a real sense of humor built this life-sized submarine conning tower in the middle of the desert

The Ship of the Desert

The same site, called “Passing Wind” contains a full-sized square rigger. I assume the name of the place refers to endless Texas winds!

Terlingua art gallery

There are numerous art galleries in Terlingua. This one was operated by a lady who was mainly selling her own art, much of it paintings of nature. We came away with a very nice roadrunner picture.

Road to Castolon

Another day trip we took from Rio Grande Village was to the Texas ghost town of Castolon.

Road to Castolon

Big Bend NP is huge and this trip covered some 140 miles, but the scenery is never boring.

Road to Castolon

During the monsoon many of these dry canyons will contain streams and flash floods are common.

Road to Castolon

The cliffs of Sierra de Santa Elena and the opening from the canyon where the river emerges are seen in the distance.

Store at Castolon, Texas

Castolon was settled in 1903 and had a maximum of 300, mostly Mexican, residents. Today, only national park employees live there and the main attraction is a small store and snack-bar. Its post office officially closed in 1954.

Castolon steam engine

Early on cotton farming was attempted, but most of the residents practiced subsistence farming. Eventually many of the inhabitants moved back to Mexico.

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Big Bend National Park

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