Big Bend Chihuahuan Desert – Sun sets on the Chihuahuan Desert
Big Bend Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert stretches across the northern state of Chihuahua and spills over into west Texas and parts of Arizona and New Mexico. It is the second largest desert in North America behind the Great Basin Desert.
The desert features several mountain ranges. In Big Bend National Park the beautiful Chisos Mountains rise up from the Chihuahuan Desert reaching up to its highest point at Emory Peak at 7825 feet. Most people come to the Chisos Basin and hike the trails on the plateau. The Chihuahuan Desert section of the park is also worth a look.
View of the Chihuahuan Desert
Different desert than the popular conception
When people think of the desert, they think of flat and sandy with little vegetation. The Chihuahuan Desert in Big Bend is much different though. It is rugged and rocky with a vibrant bird and animal life. The Dodson Trail as it passes through Big Bend is anything but flat.
The colors of the desert are extraordinary. It is a stark golden brown terrain that changes character depending on the way the light plays on its features. The prime time for this display is during the evening when not only does the temperature cool down, but the waning light turns the desert into an impressive painting.
Read the three part adventure from the author starting here – Big Bend Chisos Mountain hike
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend Chihuahuan Desert
The rugged Chihuahuan Desert near St. Elena Canyon
The Homer Wilson Ranch in Big Bend National Park
Big Bend Chihuahuan Desert
A look down on the Chihuahuan Desert from the Chisos Mountains
Desert blooms in the Chihuahuan Desert in Big Bend
Big Bend National Park
Looking toward the Sierra Del Carmens and the Rio Grande
Big Bend Chihuahuan Desert
Big Bend National Park near Homer Wilson Ranch
Big Bend National Park
The Blue Creek Trail in Big Bend National Park
Close up of a desert butte in Big Bend National Park
Typical desert flora in the Chihuahuan Desert
The Dodson Trail as it cross the Chihuahuan Desert in Big Bend
More spectacular rock formations in the Chihuahuan Desert
Big Bend Chihuahuan Desert
The Dodson Trail through the Chihuahuan Desert
Blue skies over a Big Bend hill – Check out the plant at the very top
A closer look at a yucca plant on top of the hill
An extreme close up
Looking down on the Chihuahuan Desert from the Blue Creek Trail
Hiking the Blue Creek Trail in Big Bend
The rugged Chihuahuan Desert
The rugged Dodson Trail in Big Bend National Park
Read tips on hiking Big Bend here – Big Bend Outer Mountain Loop hiking tips
Adventure on!
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Wow, you’re right, the colors are spectacular! Great photos!
Francesca (@WorkMomTravels) recently posted..BlogHouse Chicago at Villa D’Citta
Thanks FF!
Ted, glorious light and color, elevation and vegetation in this world of the Chisos. Big Brnd has been on my to do list for some time, but never more so than now. Thanks!
You definitely would love it hear Stephen. Surprisingly, this area of the world is a birding heaven. There are almost as many bird species found here as there are in Florida. Something you would not expect from a desert, but this has a lot to do with the different environment found in the higher elevations.
these photos are gorgeous! but all i could think the whole time was… there must be SOO many snakes/scorpions/tarantulas. well, and also meth, but i blame that one on breaking bad.
the lazy travelers recently posted..no travel required
I read that there are 17 different kinds of scorpions here. I did not see one myself, but they usually only come out at night. I did see a small harmless snake, but no dangerous snakes or spiders.
I did see a bag of pot in the stash for water. Apparently people come to Big Bend with drugs, and leave what they do not use in the park because you have to pass through immigration with a drug sniffing dog on the way out of the park even if you don’t go to Mexico because the border is unprotected here.
This photo essay makes me long for Texas. This is such a great part of my state that many Texans don’t even know about. It’s great you got to see it finally.
Leah recently posted..A Flavorful Food Tour of Buenos Aires
I can imagine many Texans don’t go here because it is a 10 plus hour drive even from certain points in Texas. It is such a big state.
Thank you for sharing, You helped me make my decision to visit the area very soon.
From: Austin, TX
Hi James,
I hope you do make it there in the near future, although you might want to wait until it cools down a bit in the late fall. It was torrid in April – I can only imagine how hot it gets in the summer.
Beautiful photos! We visited the sonoran desert last December, such a completely different experience and look and feel…for some reason I thought deserts were so alike but that’s not true is it?
Charu recently posted..How Cruise Travel Broadens Children’s Horizons
Thanks Charu! The only similarity that deserts share is they are hot. They also share spiders, snakes, and scorpions. Other than that, they can be quite different. Just look at the Sahara. I have never been, but seems like it is more sand. The deserts I have visited in America are more rock than sand.
Looks really pretty, I have never been able to be there.
Big Bend is amazing. I hope you get there someday Suki.
i can only review the photographs 😛 i must say great use of light and landscape, nice collection of pictures
I am glad to hear you enjoyed the photos Muhammad.