- State: TX
- NPCA Region: Texas
- Est. Date: 1935
Issues
Big Bend National Park features broad expanses of Chihuahuan Desert shrubland and grassland interspersed with smaller areas of high-elevation woodland in the Chisos Mountains. Rugged rocks and deep canyons along the Rio Grande are among the park's most striking features; wetlands and springs add to the park's biological diversity. Visitors can explore the rugged trails, seek out the colorful array of birds and wildflowers, and spread out on a blanket after dark enjoying some of the darkest night skies in the country.
Birding at Big Bend
Recognized as a Globally Important Bird Area, this park may be visited by an astonishing 450 different species of birds.
More about Big Bend
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Trip Big Secret, Big Bend National Park Tucked like a secret into a sweeping bend of the Rio Grande is Big Bend National Park, a hiker’s paradise, birder’s mecca, stargazer’s heaven, and explorer’s jackpot.
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Report Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks “Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
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Blog Post Water You Waiting For? 10 Perfect Parks for Paddling Go beyond the hiking trail and enjoy parks from a refreshing vantage point: water. Rivers and lakes offer adventurous routes through some of the country’s most remarkable landscapes, including views you just can’t see from land. From lazy float trips to exhilarating whitewater, national parks have fun options for visitors of every experience level—sometimes even on different stretches of the same river.
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Blog Post Dreaming of Spring? 9 Great Spots to See Wildflowers Soon, national parks in some of the warmest regions of the country will begin blooming with a new season’s worth of wildflowers. What better way to shake off the winter doldrums—or charm your Valentine—than with the promise of a front-row seat at a national park to watch the landscape come alive with color?
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..they, more than any other government or private institution, best represent America. — roy
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Blog Post 10 Spectacular Parks for Stargazing As the days get shorter, stargazers have more opportunities to celebrate the night—and national parks offer some of the darkest skies in the country.
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Magazine Article A Wing and a Prayer Want to spot a Colima warbler in the United States? Head to Big Bend National Park—and cross your fingers.
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Fact Sheet Polluted Parks: Fact Sheets Haze pollution limits views of our most valued national parks and wilderness areas, affecting not just how far we can see, but also the color, sharpness, and quality of the view. It also makes the air unhealthy for people, wildlife and natural resources.
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Magazine Article A Bird’s Eye View There’s no place like Big Bend National Park to slow down, grab a pair of binoculars, and reconnect with your inner birder.
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Magazine Article Call of the Wild Eighty years ago, a biologist named George Melendez Wright reminded us that wolves, bison, and grizzlies came before people. And because of him, they still do.
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Report Texas Pride This report profiles the 13 national park sites here in Texas, visited annually by nearly 5.5 million people. They are the pride of our state and economic boons to local communities, with national park tourism providing nearly 5,000 jobs and $308 million annually for state and local economies.
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Report Center for State of the Parks: Big Bend National Park In this report, the National Parks Conservation Association incorporates findings from an assessment by its State of the Parks program to describe the current condition of Big Bend National Park’s natural and cultural resources and many of the stewardship challenges ahead.
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