Big Bend National Park

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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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Cottonwood Campground

The campground at Cottonwood is very secluded and has great scenery. Lacking any hookups or even a dump station it is only suitable for short stays, which is part of its charm.

Canyon walls at Santa Elena Canyon

The Rio Grande runs parallel to these clifts after it emerges from the canyon.

Santa Elena Canyon

Opening of Santa Elena Canyon. We would have hiked the short trail to the canyon's mouth, except for not being allowed to take the dogs and the 95° F heat!

Casa Grande seen from the Chisos Basin

In part because it was so hot at river level, but mostly because it was such a beautiful area, we made two trips up into the Chisos Mountains. At 5580 feet, the elevation of Chisos Basin was about 3700 feet higher than Rio Grande Village and a lot cooler.

Lodge at Chisos Basin

The road to Chisos Basin ends at a picnic area, restaurant, and lodge. A campground is available, but only to smaller RVs because of the winding, steep road up from Basin Junction.

White-tailed Deer at Chisos Basin

Quite a lot smaller than the white-tailed deer found back east, these white-tails considered the parking lot part of their home range. The dogs were very excited!

Sage Thrasher

Normally a shy bird, this sage thrasher had habituated to people (and dogs). This species winters in the Texas area, but migrates further north to breed.

Trailhead at Chisos Basin

Most of the mountains in this part of the park are served by trails and Chisos Basin is the major trailhead.

View through the “Window” looking southeast.

Several of the peaks in this section of the park have elevations in excess of 7000 feet.

Old friends bid “Adieu”

When we left Big Bend after almost two weeks of camping together, Peter, Trudy, Katie, and Modoc headed west to San Diego, while Lynn, Jon, and Moxie headed east to the Lower Rio Grande. We all agreed to meet again, perhaps next winter in North America’s third great desert, the Mohave.

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Big Bend National Park

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