Rio Grande River - Big Bend National Park

Rio Grande Village, Chisos Mountains - Big Bend National Park

Mariscal Mine - Big Bend National Park

Those who venture beyond the lure of Texas’s bright city lights won’t be disappointed when they arrive at Big Bend National Park.

The park, which runs along the Rio-Grande and forms nearly 400 kilometres of the US-Mexico border, is one of the largest, most remote and least-visited national parks in the country.

Formed by sediments of sand and mud left by a sea that once covered the area, the park’s canyons provide some of the most spectacular landscapes in southwest USA.

The Chisos Mountains rise up at the centre of the park. To the west, the dramatic plateaus and rock formations are the result of ancient volcanic activity. To the east of the mountains stretch desert landscapes.

Despite its harsh environment, thousands of species of plants and animals call Big Bend home. Awaiting adventurers are a wealth of fauna, including large black bears, box turtles, black-tailed jack rabbits and mountain lions, amongst others. Birdwatchers will be thrilled to discover more bird species here than at any other national park in the US.

For flora lovers, it's a wonderful spot to see wildflowers and the delightfully colourful cactus blooms.

Big Bend offers its visitors a range of recreational activities. However, the park’s primary attraction is its trekking and backpacking walks. Hikers will revel in the trails on offer at Big Bend. Most of the 240 kilometres of hiking trails are in the Chisos Mountains, and reward those fit enough with stunning vistas. From easy walks to rugged terrain, there’s something for nearly everyone here.