Nestled in far west Texas, down on the Mexican border, is one of the least visited national parks, Big Bend. The 3,242.2 km² park is situated in the Chihuahuan Desert and was named after a large bend in the Rio Grande/Río Bravo river.
Big Bend entrance marker (Photo © MM)
One of the most iconic views inside the park is Santa Elena Canyon, where the Rio Grande river carves through 460 metre high (1,500-foot) limestone walls. I couldn’t walk the short hike into the canyon, usually a must-do, because the river was too high due to recent rains.
Santa Elena Canyon. The cliffs on the other side of the Rio Grande are in Mexico (Photo © MM)
Santa Elena Canyon at dawn (Photo © MM)
Rio Grande river, called the Rio Bravo in Mexico (Photo © MM)
Dawn on the Rio Grande (Photo © MM)
Santa Elena Canyon in the distance (Photo © MM)
Rio Grande river (Photo © MM)
Desert Mountain Panorama from the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive at Big Bend (Photo © MM)
Incredible beauty at Big Bend. Note the Ocotillo plants in the landscape (Photo © MM)
Red, white and ochre strata at Big Bend (Photo © MM)
Hills made of white volcanic ash dating from eruptions 38 million years ago (Photo © MM)
The area has a complex geology. Note the Santa Rita Prickly Pear cactus in the foreground. These cacti turn reddish-purple when stressed by cold or drought (Photo © MM)
Tuff Canyon. Rains in the distant Chisos Mountains feed Blue Creek, carving a spectacular canyon through layers of volcanic tuff and basalt deposited 30 millions years ago. Pebbles, rocks, and even large boulders are embedded in the canyon walls. These materials were all once airborne before landing here. Older darker basaltic rock on the canyon floor was exposed as the canyon was carved through the layers of tuff. (Photo © MM)
Big Bend, with Santa Elena Canyon in the distance. Note the Sotol plants in the foreground, used to make tequila. (Photo © MM)
Big Bend National Park (Photo © MM)
Big Bend National Park (Photo © MM)
Big Bend National Park (Photo © MM)
Big Bend National Park (Photo © MM)
Big Bend National Park (Photo © MM)
Big Bend National Park (Photo © MM)
Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus (Photo © MM)
Big Bend National Park (Photo © MM)
Wave rock formations north of Big Bend National Park, also known as Caballos Novaculite “flat-irons”, along Hwy 385 (Photo © MM)
Next, Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
