WHY I LIKE IT: Experience the Chihuahuan Desert and all of its sweeping beauty – Big Bend is a whopping 801,163 acres, with an elevation range of 1850 feet to 7832 feet and 196 miles of river. There are also three canyons to explore: Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas Canyons. So there is plenty to see and do!

DON’T MISS THE: nearby small Mexican village of Boquillas del Carmen, which is always a memorable experience, but Remember to bring your passport.

DON’T KILL MY VIBE: Big Bend is too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip to the park might include a trip down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and a visit to the Chisos Basin. Another fun excursion includes the Saint Elena Canyon Trail, which is a Big Bend classic.

WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW: The entrance to Big Bend National Park is about ten miles east of Terlingua. The visitor center is located in the center of the park, as is the Chisos Basin Lodge and many trailheads. The hot springs are located on the far side of the park, near the entrance to Boquillas del Carmen, the nearest legal border crossing into Mexico.