The Texas Big Bend Country

ONCE YOU HAVE ARRIVED in Fort Stockton, you will soon become aware of the spectacular landscape of the the Big Bend region of Texas.

This entire region lies within the Chihuahuan Desert, a vast area covering most of the northern Mexico, the Trans Pecos Region of Texas and parts of New Mexico. Annual rain fall is generally twelve inches or less. The desert abounds with plant and animal life that has adapted to this arid region. Take time to see the entire area and discover its natural wonders.

Emory Peak in the Basin of the Chisos Mountains is the park's highest (Photo courtesy of Big Bend Natural History Association)

Using Fort Stockton as your beginning point, the first place you should visit is Big Bend National Park. On your way to the park be sure to stop in Marathon, which is located in the famous Marathon Basin, representing our most ancient geological formations. Visitors will find a historic hotel and the numerous shops delightful.

Big Bend National Park encompasses over 704,000 acres (1,100 square miles), and was established in 1944 to preserve outstanding examples of the rugged Chihuahuan Desert wilderness.

In order for you to get oriented to the park, it might be helpful to think of it as three parks in one. The Chisos Mountains, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Rio Grande are three different parts of the park, and each provide a wide range of experiences. Be sure to stop at Panther Junction, park headquarters, for information on hiking, camping, rafting, and lodging.

Casa Grande and the Window at Dusk, a sample of the grandeur of the Chisos Mountains (Photo courtesy of Big Bend Natural History Association)

Traveling west from Big Bend National Park, you will discover the ghost town of Terlingua. Here the tailings from the quicksilver mining are still visible, and the old cemetery stands as a mute reminder of yesteryear. A must see in Lajitas is the Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center.

Should you decide to continue traveling west, you will be delighted with Highway 170, known as El Camino Del Rio or the River Road. Spectacular views abound along this scenic route.

At Presidio, you will have a chance to visit another of the many state parks in the region. Fort Leaton State Historic Site was the home and private fort of Ben Leaton, an early farmer in the area.

Another area of interest to visitors is Fort Davis, where you will find one of Fort Stockton's sister forts at Fort Davis National Historical Site. While in this area, you will also want to visit Davis Mountain State Park with its pueblo style lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's.

Just a few miles north of Fort Davis is McDonald Observatory. Enjoy a breath-taking drive up the highest paved road in Texas to Mount Locke's 6800 foot summit. There you can join the daily tour of the 108 inch telescope and the new Hobby-Eberley telescope, the third largest in the world. Be sure to ask about the frequent "Star Parties" held at the Visitor Center.

You will find an oasis in the desert at Balmorhea State Park. The park boasts the world's largest man made swimming pool. The San Soloman Springs feed the pool with 26,000 gallons of water per day.

Traveling north west of Fort Stockton on Highway 285, you will find the city of Pecos, which has numerous historic sites. Farm to market road 652, a well maintained road, intersects highway 285 in the tiny community of Orla. This is the shortest route to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, noted for foliage in McKittrick Canyon and as the highest point in Texas. It is also the quickest route to Carlsbad Caverns.

There are many other points of interest in this region such as Monahans Sandhills State Park, the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine and the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute Center between Alpine and Fort Davis.

Take time to see the entire area and discover its natural wonders.

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