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How
to Get There
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to Stay
In
Southwest Texas, the Rio Grande makes a U-turn, and
inside this large curve lies Big Bend National Park --
the size of Maryland, and a spectacular landscape of
mountains, canyons, stunted forests, badlands, and low
desert.
Volcanic
ash is heaped in great mounds, while unusual desert
plants dominate the hillsides, including gigantic yucca,
cacti of a dozen varieties, stands of lechuguilla,
bunchgrass, alligator juniper, pinion pine, and
creosotebush. This is the Chihuahuan Desert, flowing over
the Mexico/Texas border, creating a timeless scene that
remains largely untouched, even though mining has taken
place in the region over the past century.
Big
Bend is one of America's great national parks, still
largely unknown to non-Texans, but gaining popularity
among nature lovers who come here to gaze upon the stark
landscape, and to enjoy the wild beauty of the Chihuahuan
Desert. The park now sprawls over 1,252 square miles,
include the southernmost tip of the bend&emdash;all of it
an awesome scene, including flat sandy desert and
badlands areas. The Rio Grande draws the park's southern
boundary. From Rio Grande Village -- a park campground
and RV facility about a half hour's drive from the park
headquarters -- you can drive to the river's edge and
take a private boat to a tiny, primitive Mexican
town.
This
is truly a magnificent collection of ecosystems, many of
them seeming to be barren wastelands, but actually full
of life. You just have to look closely to find and enjoy
the Nature of Big Bend.
How
to Get There
The
northern park entrance is located at Persimmon
Gap, 410 miles from San Antonio and 323 miles from El
Paso. You reach the park at this gate, by taking U.S.
Highway 385, leading south from U.S. Highway 90 at
Marathon.
The
southwest entrance to the park is just east of Study
Butte. State Highway 118 leads south from U.S. 90 (at
Alpine), and continues to the park entrance.
From
the northwest and El Paso, take Interstate 10 to Van
Horne, then take U.S. 90 to Alpine and then turn south on
State Route 118.
To
reach the southwest entrance by driving the scenic
Camino del Rio (Texas Ranch Road 170), take U.S.
90 to the town of Marfa, head south on U.S. Highway 67 to
Presidio (61 miles), and turn east onto Farm Road 170 in
Presidio. This is the Camino del Rio, leading beside the
Rio Grande, and passing by the towns of Lajitas,
Terlingua and Study Butte, before reaching the park
entrance&emdash;70 miles from Presidio.
The
main visitor center is in the middle of the park, at
Panther Junction (at the intersection of U.S. 385 and
State Route 118).
Inside
the Park
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Chisos
Mountain Lodge is the sole lodging place
inside the park. Operated by the concessionaire
for Big Bend, the lodge offers comfortable
motel-style rooms, plus cottages, in the
incredibly scenic Chisos Basin, at the end of
Basin Road. All accommodations have private
baths (showers only in the cottages). These are
not expensive rooms, with overnight rates
ranging from about $60 to $70 for two people.
Rooms in the lodge have one double bed. The
cottages are furnished with three double beds:
perfect for large families on a limited budget.
Motel units have two large beds.
For
information, or to make reservations, call (915)
477-2291, or write National Park Concessions
Inc., Big Bend National Park, TX 79834-9999. The
same concession operates facilities, including
stores and RV/trailer sites in the Chisos Basin,
and at Rio Grande Village, and the store at
Castalon.
Campgrounds
Developed
campgrounds are located at Rio Grande
Village, Chisos Basin, and at
Castalon -- overlooking the Rio Grande
above Santa Eléna Canyon. Camping is on a
first-come, first-served basis, with no
reservations taken. A fee is charged at these
campgrounds, which accommodate RVs and trailers
of varying lengths. Hookups are not available.
The Castalon Campground has pit toilets, and a
water supply, but no hookups. Trailers longer
than 20 feet and RVs longer than 24 feet are not
recommended for traveling on the road to
Castalon (Ross Maxwell Drive). The same caution
holds for the Basin Road, which has a 15 percent
grade and tight curves.
Tent
camping is also available at primitive sites
along several backcountry roads, and in the
Chisos Mountains. Free backcountry permits are
available at park visitor centers (Panther
Junction, Persimmon Pass, Rio Grande Village,
and Castalon).
RV
and trailer hookups are available in
separate areas at Rio Grande Village and Chisos
Basin. There is no size restriction, but each RV
must be equipped with water and electrical
hookups, and a three-inch sewer connection.
Register at the store in each location. Remember
that the road into the Chisos Basin is not
recommended for long trailers and RVs. These
vehicles should be parked at Rio Grande
Village.
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For
more on Big Bend National Park,
go to Page 2
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