Santiago Peak and the Dead Horse Mountains

A panorama of Santiago Peak and the Dead Horse Mountains. The Dead Horse Mountains run from the eastern side of Big Bend National Park north west toward Alpine.

This view is from US385 somewhere south of Marathon looking toward the park.

Rio Grande Sunset from the Big Hill

The Rio Grande looking west from the top of the Big Hill at sunset.

The ribbon of river comes out of the distant Colorado Canyon and makes it way downstream toward the small canyon at the Big Hill.

The view from the hill is great anytime and only gets better at sunset. Hope for some clouds and then take in the show. I got a great one this day. I sat here until the land went dark and the river glowed with the last light of the day.

The Big Hill Sunset

Sunset light from "The Big Hill" looking toward the Chisos Mountains.

If you have ever driven FM 170 in west Texas then you know what the Big Hill is. This stretch of highway is one of the most scenic in Texas.

It is a great place in the middle of the day (when I normally seem to pass by) but it is best at sunset when the view to the east toward the Chisos lights up in the late afternoon light.

If you can catch a big west Texas sunset you get a "double feature".

Closed Canyon

Closed Canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park. The steep, narrow walls of red rock remind one of a slot canyon in Utah. To find it in Texas is a nice bonus.

I have made several hikes through here, it is an easy one but always draws me back. The curves and depth of it are always interesting. On my last visit we saw desert sheep along the rim of it.

This is a great desert experience.

Cactus

Cactus high on the canyon wall at the Big Hill. From the top of the Big Hill one stares down several hundred feet into the Rio Grande.

Down about 30 feet from the top is a small ledge with a prickly pear thriving in the vertical realm.

Big West Texas Sunset

West Texas has some of the biggest and best sunsets I know of. When you are out here, you have to stop and watch them.

This is sunset off the Big Hill. It is the highpoint on the river Road, that's FM 170 that runs between Presidio and Lajitas.

I happened to be there right as the sun was setting so I scrambled to the top and caught one of those classic west Texas sunsets.

This is the view west at the very end of the light. The Rio Grande is the glowing ribbon in the dark rocky canyon below. The perfect ending to a great west Texas day.

Colorado Canyon

Colorado Canyon is a canyon of red igneous rock (Colorado is Spanish for red). This is the last free turn before the river makes the full passage of the canyon.

This is just one of many canyons on the Rio Grande in the Big Bend region. Float trips are possible on this section of the river.

Looking Toward Terlingua

A view west from Maverick toward the mining town of Terlingua. The mountains of Big Bend Ranch State Park rise in the distance.

Shafter Ghost Town

The Shafter, Texas ghost town. Sitting on the edge of the Chinati Mountains between Marfa and Presidio-Shafter was once a silver mining town.

Now there is not much there.

The High Plains of Marfa

The high plains near Marfa. This is the land of "Giant".

The big sky and open range here create a huge canvas on which to paint life. A single image just cannot do it justice.

Look at the bigger image and take it all in.

Hoodoos

Hoodoos along the River Road in Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Hoodoos are normally associated with Utah and a place like Bryce Canyon, but here are some found in the Big Bend country.

As I posted in some images a few weeks ago BBRSP also has some Utah like canyons so I guess you can find a little bit of Utah style adventure right in your own Texas backyard. It's a whole lot closer and a whole lot less crowded too.

The Big Bend Country in Wide Screen

The Big Bend country is wide screen country. It is the perfect place to truly make a big image. It is also the kind of place John Ford would have loved to use as a movie set.

Here is a big wide view. It is taken just off the road between Lajitas and Terlingua and takes in the western side of Big Bend National Park. You can see the Chisos in the middle left distance. You can see the volcanic activity that left Cerro Castolon. You can see the Sierra Ponce in which Santa Elena Canyon is carved where the Rio Grande has cut through the Ponce wall.

Be sure to click for the full sized image so you can take in the big country.

Closed Canyon-Dry

Closed Canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park is a true hidden gem. It shares alot of characteristics with what one might find in Utah. I would even go as far to say it often reminds me of the Narrows in Zion National Park minus the running water.

Even though it is dry, the signs of past rains and flood are readily visible. The walls are mostly red and rough, but the bottom 6 feet or so is gray-white and smooth. Yes, the water has roared through here 6 feet deep or so. Rocks, gravel, and sand occasional are found along the bottom.

The sun rarely strikes down this deep in the canyon making it cool. It only adds to the sense that water has, can, and will wash this canyon clean. It is only dry temporarily.

Closed Canyon

Closed Canyon is a narrow canyon found in Big Bend Ranch State Park. The rock is reddish. The walls are high. The canyon is sometimes 15-20 feet across. It looks more like something you would find in Utah rather than Texas.

It is a great hike anytime but especially cool on a hot day. It is also a great place for the sleep in photographer as the best photography light is closer to mid day.

One morning I photographed the sunrise in Big Bend National Park, caught breakfast, and then went over to hike Closed Canyon in the mid day.

Normally I put the cameras away between 9am and 4pm, but with the reflected light bouncing off the canyon walls opened up new daytime photo possibilities.

I liked this place so much, I made a second trip back the next day. Go see it. It is that neat.