Big Bend National Park is in Far West Texas marking the boundary between the state of Texas and Mexico. This desert terrain is remote and has zero light pollution giving stargazers and night sky photographers some of the most breathtaking starry views in the world. Standing under the dark sky on a cloudless night, the Milky Way can be clearly seen a little way above the horizon. Showcasing a beautiful display of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity’s pull, this milky band of beautiful light across the night sky is a sight to behold!
But starry nights aren’t the only thing to enjoy when visiting Big Bend. Renowned for its hiking trails, scenic drive, solitary mountain range, and weather-beaten desert, there’s is so much more to this amazing National Park! Cutting through the park and creating some of its most beautiful features is the Rio Grande River, which bends and twists between canyon walls and desert making this place truly magical. If you love stars, canyons, deserts, and rivers or just want to get away from it all, then this is the place to go!
Map of Big Bend National Park:
Top Photography Locations and Sights at Big Bend National Park:
As photographers, we know that many of you will only have one chance in a lifetime to visit the National Parks. To make your life easier, we have compiled a list of our top photography locations and sights at Big Bend National Park! While this is not comprehensive, and there are many more amazing sights to see, it should give you a good feel for the park. For current closures and road conditions, visit the park website.
Big Bend National Park Wildlife Photography:
Big Bend National Park is filled with wildlife and biodiversity. If you like wildlife photography, you will love what this park has to offer!
Want to learn more about Big Bend National Park? Check out these maps, guides & books:
- Big Bend National Park Map (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
- Hiking Big Bend National Park: A Guide to the Big Bend Area’s Greatest Hiking Adventures, including Big Bend Ranch State Park (Regional Hiking Series)
- Enjoying Big Bend National Park: A Friendly Guide to Adventures for Everyone (Volume 41) (W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series)
- Big Bend National Park: A Photographic Journey
- Death in Big Bend
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Featured National Park Photographers:
- Andy Crawford: Hot Springs
- Tom Wagner: Santa Elena Canyon
- Vezzani Photography: Fossil Discovery Exhibit, Panther Junction Road, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Upper Burrow Mesa Pouroff
- NPS: Black Bear Cubs, Desert Cottontail, Fawn, Javelina, Rock Squirrel, Vermillion Flycatcher
- Shutterstock / Dean Fikar: Lost Mine Trail
- Shutterstock / imagoDens: Chisos Basin Road
- Shutterstock / Jeffrey M. Frank: Casa Grande Peak
- Shutterstock / Kelly vanDellen: Cattail Falls, Chisos Basin Loop Trail, South Rim Viewpoint, Tuff Canyon
- Shutterstock / NaturalPhotographyJackson: Balanced Rock
- Shutterstock / Paul Leong: Sotol Vista
- Shutterstock / VIKVAD: Window View Trail
- Shutterstock / William Silver: Boquillas Canyon, Rio Grande Nature Trail
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