The best time of year to visit Big Bend National Park is
the spring or the fall
. The desert is a land of extremes: Summer brings heat that often reaches 100 degrees, and winter brings snow and temperatures that dip into the 30s.
Is Big Bend worth the trip?
Located in southwestern Texas along the
Mexican
border, the long journey to Big Bend is definitely worth the trip. With more than 800,000 acres, it includes the northernmost section of the Chihuahuan Desert, the entire Chisos Mountain Range, and 118 miles of the Rio Grande River that forms the U.S. border with Mexico.
How many days do you need in Big Bend?
Plan to spend
at least 2 days
in Big Bend, although more time is better. This is a fairly large national park with three distinct areas: the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive region, Chisos Basin, and the sights in and around Rio Grande Village.
When can you see the Milky Way in Big Bend?
Generally the dense part of the Milky Way is best viewed when it is as high as possible in the Southern sky. Facing south during April and May the pre-dawn hours are best. From
June to early August
the best time is near midnight, though the Milky Way will be visible almost all night.
Is February a good time to go to Big Bend National Park?
If you're itching to fly south this winter, add Big Bend National Park to your travel list.
Late winter
, especially February and early March, offers an ideal time to visit west Texas — or, far west Texas, as the locals say.
Is Big Bend Texas Safe?
Big Bend National Park
is dangerous
as hell. Seriously. We're talking about more than 800,000 acres of desert and mountains, where most of the flora you see is sharp and spiny, and the animals you encounter are likely venomous. It's a place where the sun is hot enough to kill you.
What should I wear to Big Bend?
- Hiking Backpack. A hike without a backpack is just a long walk. …
- Sleeping Bag. …
- Hiking Shoes. …
- Socks. …
- Base Layers. …
- Camp Chair. …
- Water Bottle or Hydration Reservoir. …
- Flashlight or Headlamp.
Is Terlingua Texas Safe?
Terlingua is
in the 4th percentile for safety
, meaning 96% of cities are safer and 4% of cities are more dangerous. This analysis applies to Terlingua's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities. The rate of crime in Terlingua is 101.98 per 1,000 residents during a standard year.
Are there bears in Big Bend?
Big Bend National Park wildlife biologist Thomas Athens says the bears are
currently in a state of hyperphagia
, in which they are vigorously consuming water and food to prepare for winter denning season, which is December to March in the park.
Can you swim at Big Bend National Park?
Three hours north of the park is
Balmorhea State Park
, which offers excellent swimming opportunities in the world's largest spring-fed swimming pool!
Can you see Milky Way from Big Bend?
Big Bend NP
is an International Dark Sky Park and has the darkest skies of any National Park in the lower 48 states thanks to its remote location, sparse regional population, and measures to reduce light pollution. For many visitors, stargazing in Big Bend is their first opportunity to see the Milky Way in their lives.
Where is the darkest place on earth?
The measurements revealed
the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
as the darkest place on Earth, where artificial light only brightens the night sky by 2 percent.
Can you see Northern Lights in Big Bend?
Big Bend is known as one of the outstanding places in North America for stargazing as it has the least light pollution of any other National Park unit in the lower 48 states, according to NPS.
There are no visible lights indicating a house or even a town
.
How cold does Big Bend get at night?
Average Temperatures and Precipitation
At the higher mountain elevations temperatures average 5–10 degrees cooler during the day and
0-5 degrees cooler at night
.
Is Big Bend good in winter?
Winters in Big Bend are generally mild
, with the occasional short cold snap. Usually, the skies are clear, and day time highs can run into the 70's or higher. Many visitors perfer the winter time for strenuous outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking. …
Is Big Bend too hot in summer?
Although
summers in Big Bend can be hot
, the cool evenings create all sorts of new possibilities. From doing some truly world-class stargazing, enjoying locally brewed beer, or admiring the colors of the sunset, you'll discover that there's always something amazing to do in Big Bend.
