List of Big Bend Communities and links to locator maps
| Interactive Map Points | |
| Marathon |
Marathon - The northern gateway to Big Bend National Park has been transformed from a remote ranching community to a tour destination in its own right. The Gage Hotel, an eclectic handful of B&B's, and a charming Main Street Shopping district attract visitors who appreciate the laid back lifestyle of this historic West Texas town.
Study Butte/Terlingua Business District - At the confluence of TX 118 and FM 170, Study Butte is just two miles west of Big Bend National Park. There are recreational outfitters, gift shops and art galleries,motels, convienent and liquor stores, restaurants, auto service, service stations, churches, a post office, and a bank (ATM).
Terlingua Ghost Town - Perhaps the best-kept secret about the Big Bend is the view from the porch(s) in Terlingua Ghost Town. Visitors will also find a trading company, art galleries, lodging, restaurants and bars. Terlingua was a mining town around the turn of the century and was the site of the first famous championship chili cook off in 1967.
Chisos Mountains Basin - Is a small community nestled in a beautiful valley over a mile high in the Chisos Mountains. The Chisos Mountains Lodge 432 477-2291 is located here, along with ranger and information station, restaurant, and convenience store. Several hiking trails, from short and easy to long and strenuous, begin here.
Lajitas Resort- Lajitas Resort, located on FM 170 between the national and state parks, has 72 luxury hotel rooms, two full-service restaurant / bars, swimming pool, 18 hole golf course (open fall of 2009) , Big Bend Ranch State Park Visitor and Interpretive facility, and a modern airport accommodating corporate jets. The resort was built in 1978, and has recently been completely remodeled and sits above a historic river crossing that has been used for centuries. Call Toll Free 1- 877- LAJITAS
Alpine - Is the hub of the Big Bend and a major service center. There are 400 hotel rooms there, along with restaurants, shop and groceries. No Wal Mart! It is the home of Sul Ross State University, and annual events like Gallery Night and the Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
There are some views you just can't take in all at once. Like a dazzling sunset or breathtaking field of wildflowers—you just can't appreciate such beauty in the moment, a moment that is often over before you realize it, the forms and colors of that marvelous vista already fading in your memory. Perhaps it was with the goal of preserving such scenes that the first camera was invented, a goal that you may still share when you visit a place as beautiful as Big Bend and the surrounding area. Why not take a look through our new and improved photo galleries to see what amazing sights have been preserved by astounded visitors and appreciative locals? When you see the mountains, plains, flora, and fauna displayed in those images, you'll be glad the gallery contributors took their camera along.
Among the many activities available in Big Bend National Park that highlight the region's diversity of wildlife, birding can be enjoyable and promising. Big Bend engulfs a vast area, bounded by the the rushing Rio Grande valley to the south, containing high peaks in the Chisos Mountains, and boasting both desert and forest climates between the two. It embodies the very diversity that makes America great, providing countless opportunities to spot more than 450 birds in one area.
What are your new year's resolutions for 2012? Did you keep your resolutions for 2011? While the top resolutions each year include losing weight, learning something new, traveling, or getting out of debt, here's a new challenge you can take on this year: spot all the bird species in Big Bend National Park.
Big Bend has some of the most spectacular scenery in Texas, if not the entire US. Our big sky country rivals any other state and our night skies are as dark as anywhere for excellent star gazing. The beautiful light and great scenery make for a photographer’s paradise.
There are many things you may love to do in Big Bend National Park in the heat of summer, but running or jogging is probably not one of them. With 90+ degree temperatures, there simply is no such thing as a nice July run in West Texas. With the dry weather we've had this year, you have truly hostile workout conditions. That all changes this time of year, though, as temperatures drop and the sun gives us a break for a few months. What a great time to get out on some trails in Big Bend!
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