Big Bend is one of the most remote and spectacular national parks in the country, with desert canyons, the Rio Grande, and the Chisos Mountains creating landscapes that feel like another planet. The isolation is both the appeal and the challenge: it is a three-hour drive to Del Rio, then another three hours to San Antonio. Stock up on food, water, and fuel before you arrive, as there is nothing resembling a strip mall for a very long way. The reward is some of the darkest night skies in North America and hiking that ranges from easy river walks to serious backcountry treks.
Big Bend National Park
Remote Texas national park where desert canyons, Rio Grande bends, and Chisos peaks meet.