Big Bend
Around Big Bend
Photo: Adavyd · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · Texas · 19k people
Big Bend
Land of wide skies and deep canyons.
Burnt orangeDeep blueDesert tan
Welcome to the Big Bend, where the desert meets the mountains and the stars shine like nowhere else. Whether you're here for the trails, the art, or the quiet, you'll find a community that loves this wild, wide-open country.
Clubs for Big Bend
No clubs for Big Bend yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Big Bend. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Big Bend. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Big Bend National Park Vast desert and mountain landscapes along the Rio Grande.
- Davis Mountains State Park Scenic mountain park with hiking and wildlife viewing.
- McDonald Observatory World-renowned stargazing and public programs.
- Fort Davis National Historic Site Well-preserved frontier military post.
- Chinati Foundation Contemporary art museum in Marfa founded by Donald Judd.
- Marfa Lights Viewing Area Famous spot to watch the mysterious Marfa Lights.
- Outdoors Hike the Window Trail in Big Bend
- Outdoors Float the Rio Grande
- With kids Watch the Marfa Lights
- With kids Tour Fort Davis National Historic Site
- Evenings Stargazing at dark sky parks
- Evenings Live music at local bars
- Locals love State parks
- Locals love Hiking trails
Through the year
- Terlingua International Chili Championship November The world-famous chili cookoff held every November in Terlingua.
- Marfa Lights Festival September A weekend celebration of the mysterious lights with music, food, and arts.
- Fort Davis Fourth of July Celebration July Small-town parade, fireworks, and community picnic in the historic fort town.
- Alpine Cowboy Poetry Gathering February A gathering of cowboy poets and musicians in the heart of the mountains.
- Big Bend Nature Festival April Guided hikes, birding, and nature talks celebrating the region's biodiversity.
The Big Bend region has a high desert climate with hot summers, mild winters, and very low humidity. Nights are cool year-round, especially in the mountains. Best: Spring (March-April) and fall (October-November) are perfect for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Chisos”
- The Chisos Mountains, often called 'the Chisos'.
- “Marfa lights”
- The mysterious lights seen near Marfa.
- “Terlingua”
- Refers to the Terlingua chili cookoff or the town itself.
- “Border country”
- The area along the Rio Grande, especially near Presidio.
Getaways
- Carlsbad Caverns Spectacular limestone caves with guided tours and bat flights.
- Monahans Sandhills State Park Great sand dunes for sledding and hiking in the desert.
- Fort Stockton Historic Sites Annie Riggs Museum and historic fort ruins in the old frontier town.
- Pecos Rodeo Catch a rodeo at the historic West of the Pecos Rodeo.
Local flavour
Rooting for Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies
Eat and drink
- Tex-Mex Border-style enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas
- Cabrito Roasted goat, a traditional dish in Presidio and border communities
- Chili con carne Hearty cowboy chili, often with beef and no beans
- Sopaipillas Fried pastry with honey, a Tex-Mex dessert
- Prickly pear margarita Local twist using desert cactus fruit
Where people go
- Big Bend National Park Chisos Mountains, Rio Grande canyons, and desert wilderness
- Davis Mountains Sky islands with pine forests and McDonald Observatory
- Marfa art installations Minimalist art and the mysterious Marfa Lights
- Border towns Presidio and Ojinaga, where two cultures meet
- Ghost towns Terlingua and other mining remnants
- Dark sky parks Some of the darkest skies in the US for stargazing
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaFort StocktonTexasWide skies, warm hearts, and the spirit of the West.PecosTexasDesert skies, warm hearts, and the sweetest cantaloupes.MonahansTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patchOdessaTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patchBig LakeTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and a thousand stars.CarlsbadNew MexicoWhere the desert meets the cavernsMidlandTexasTall city, wide skies, and the pulse of the oil patch.AndrewsTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patch.
Brewster, Presidio, Culberson, Jeff Davis and Terrell counties, TX. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.