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Presidio
Located in the most mountainous county in the state, Presidio rises above 8,000 feet in some places. Its position on the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and just west of Big Bend National Park means that the average rainfall is only 8 to 12 inches per year. Presidio serves as the only legal border crossing between El Paso and Del Rio, making it the gateway to the interior of Mexico. The sunsets here are picturesque, and National Geographic has called the drive on East FM 170 one of the most scenic routes in North America. The south side of town affords a mountain-framed view of the city you won’t want to miss. Presidio has 70 economical and 6 moderate accommodations.
Slide show about Big Bend
Eat! Sleep! Terlingua!Fort Leaton Historic Site
Three miles east on FM 170, Presidio, 79845
432-229-3613
This huge adobe fortress, rebuilt in 1848 by infamous frontiersman Ben Leaton and his wife, Juana Pedraza, on the site of much older Spanish construction, served as a trade center for Indians as well as a supply house for the U.S. Army. Of the fort’s original 40 rooms, 24 have been restored. Exhibits portray the history of the area and the local Spanish and Mexican culture. Visitors can enjoy picnics at various areas and hiking on nature trails. Open daily 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed Christmas). Admission: $3, seniors $1, children 12 and under free; free with state park pass.
Travel Itinerary
Big Bend National Park, Terlingua, Lajitas, Presidio - 5 Days
Majestic canyons and towering cliffs make Big Bend National Park an absolute must for hikers, bikers, birders, and all-around adventurers. This is Texas at its most rugged; it’s not surprising that the area attracts so many visitors each year, most of them filled with awe at this incredible landscape.
The park itself covers more than 800,000 acres, so it will take you a few days to explore it. Tune in to the serenity of the Chisos Mountains (the only complete mountain range within a U.S. national park) at the Chisos Mountain Lodge, located right in the park.
Have dinner at the Chisos Mountain Lodge Restaurant, which features Tex-Mex food and a selection of wines. It also opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast. In a hurry to tour Big Bend? Pick up a breakfast-in-a-box to take with you.
Terlingua, which celebrates the “three languages,” or “tres linguas” –of the Indians, Mexicans, and Anglos–that once dominated the area, is known for its prestigious chili cookoffs. If you’ve earned a showing at Terlingua, you’ve got some good chili in that pot. Pick up gems, rocks, and fossils at Many Stones Gifts. Stay overnight at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge, located at the foot of the Corazones Peaks and the Christmas Mountains, and enjoy lunch or dinner at the ranch’s Bad Rabbit Café.
Or if that scenario doesn’t suit, hold out for ultimate Western luxury at the Lajitas Resort on the Rio Grande. It’s called “the ultimate hideout” for good reason. This luxe resort attracts both celebrities and tourists for its gorgeous setting, spa, top-notch equestrian center, gourmet cuisine, and golf course–which includes an optional par one in Mexico, Hole 11A. Explore the desert on horseback with an hour-long ride, an overnight excursion, or a one- to two-day horseback/rafting trip.
It’s easy to pretend you’re touring Italy’s Amalfi Drive as you maneuver your ride along the two-lane River Road (FM 170), packed with hairpin turns and steep grades, to Presidio. Put on the brakes at El Patio (O’Reilly Street) and grab some real Mexican food before heading to Peguis Canyon, 2,000 feet deep, with 100-mile views from the top.
On the way out of Big Bend Country, have one final picnic lunch, at Big Bend Ranch State Park, 300,000 more acres of wilderness that stretches along the Rio Grande. Once privately owned, it’s now open to all and encompasses some of the most remote territory in all of Texas, with ancient extinct volcanoes (calderas), deep gorges, Indian pictographs, and miles of hiking trails.
