07 February 2009

Big Bend

Made what's becoming an annual pilgrimage to the Big Bend last week. I've been to the National Park at least a dozen times, going back over 20 years.

This time, we decided to try out the Big Bend Ranch State Park as well. Two days at the National Park and then 2-3 days at the State Park. All I can say is that I think I've found a new place to hang out.

The State Park is rugged (you've got to drive down a 27 mile dirt road just to get to the Park Headquarters inside the Park; there are two other entrances along Hwy 170) and as isolated as you can get. It's made up of 300,000 acres of mountains, valleys, mesas, canyons, cliffs and ridges, and while we were there, we saw a grand total of 2 visitors in the Park and a handful of Park Ranger types congregated around the interior headquarters. Compared to the National Park, which is rapidly becoming crowded as hell - even in the backcountry campsites - the absolute quiet is stunning at the State Park.



Can you find the deer?



I'll definitely be back.

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