Visit to Big Bend National Park

When we left  Canyon Lake, TX we headed west on US 90 through Bracketville and Del Rio and then on westward.

As we travelled west we encountered more and more of the Hill Country

and came upon the historic site of Judge Roy Bean, the "Law west of the Pecos"

This is the original building from which Judge Bean handed out his brand of western justice.

On down the road we turned south on Rt 385 for what seemed like days until

we finally came upon Big Bend Nat.Park.

Then we travelled on for what seemed a couple more days

and passed through this beautiful tunnel toward Rio Grande Village.

We dry camped (no hookups) in the village with the Rio Grande River between our campsite and the mountains in Mexico.

We were visited regulary by some local residents like this Javelina

and this coyote.

The "Nature Trail" leads up to the hillside and

allows you to overlook the river into Mexico on the other side.  

On one or our daytrips we travelled west in the park

about 40 or

50 miles

and into the Chisos Mountains

and the Chisos Basin

with one gorgeous view after another.

Local flora of the lowland

with increasing numbers of trees as we climed the mountain.

Then worked our way back down.

On another day, we traveled further west on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive toward  Castolon.

with increasing variety of views.

When we stopped at this spot, we could see the gap between US and Mexico in the center of the photo, 14 miles ahead.

and the gap here is but 4-5 miles away

and here is the gap.  The Rio Grande flows through here with Mexico on the left and US on the right.

and more beautiful views on the way back to camp.

and as we leave the park behind the next day.  Now it's on to Arizona.