Big Bend National Park and the majestic area around it represents the mythos of Texas more than any other part of the state. It is also home to some of the most beautiful vistas the state has to offer, including the Chisos and Chinati mountain ranges and a stretch of the darkest night skies in the continental United States.
West Texas is home to some of the world's most spectacular fossils, from the gentle moose camel to the fearsome tusked swamp beast.
Sarah Wilson's ‘DIG’ combines photos, her grandfather’s Kodachrome teaching slides, and creatively staged paleontological artifacts.
The NBA guard can search for the Earth’s edge in Big Bend and bone up on JFK conspiracy theories when he’s not getting buckets in Dallas.
Acclaimed for his research on the Big Bend region and the Porvenir massacre, David Keller was suddenly marched out of Sul Ross State University in December.
What happens when hundreds of thousands of people go to the same place looking for a little quiet time? One of our two national parks is finding out.
Wildsam field guides have more in common with indie zines than with Fodor’s or Lonely Planet. Ten years in, the road less traveled is paying off.
Plus, a man stole $10,000 worth of bleachers, and landscapers discovered human remains in a backyard barbecue pit.
My dream of navigating through Big Bend’s stunning canyons finally came true. I just had to start a little farther downstream.
Near Fort Stockton, Hoven Riley has been quietly growing more than 20,000 of the prized plants, which are being illicitly uprooted from public and private lands to meet a growing demand.
For decades, Terlingua was a refuge for cowboys, wanderers, and weirdos. Now it’s an increasingly popular getaway for well-heeled urbanites.
Tentative plans call for the beloved dining-hall structure to be rebuilt and modernized—with even better views.
Texas Country Reporter revisits James H. Evans after thirty years. His long career has taken different turns, but his unwavering commitment to the people and places of West Texas defines his legacy.
Designating Big Bend as a federal wilderness area, advocates say, will ensure it stays rugged for decades to come.
Some idiots carved their names on prehistoric petroglyphs in Big Bend—and it's part of a disturbing spike in vandalism.
A shoot-out at a Big Bend ranch captured the nation’s attention: first as an alleged ambush by undocumented migrants, then as a fear-mongering hoax. The real story is much more mysterious.
Yes, it has fearsome pincers and shoots acid when threatened. But it’s essentially harmless!
They’ve been extinct for millions of years, so you'll just need a little imagination—and this handy guide.
For a food obsessive like me, Big Bend’s culinary scene rivals the nature.
Big Bend Ranch State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area both saw a 50 percent surge in backcountry rescues last year.
This scrappy town on the edge of the Big Bend region has a trendy motel, pistol-packing waitresses, and starry nights aplenty.
Two major conservation funding victories could create a brighter future for Texas's public lands.
Ahead of tomorrow’s nail-biter, we present a grab bag featuring a Big Bend documentary, Beyoncé clips, the Houston Zoo’s baby animal playlist, and more.
Contrary to what a viral video suggests, it’s unrelated to the pandemic.
Some were written long ago. Some appeared this year. But whether it’s a sign about snakes or a sign about diesel fried chicken, a simple message seems to mean the most.
In what’s normally the beloved park’s peak season, officials make the call for the safety of employees and area locals during the pandemic.
Spending time outdoors is good for mental health. But as COVID-19 spreads in Texas, officials and citizens are grappling with whether, and how, we can enjoy public parks.
Not many people will drive the mail to places the U.S. Postal Service won’t. Seventy-one-year-old Gilbert Lujan is one of them.
After an eventful first year as superintendent, Bob Krumenaker has a vision for the park’s future as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Volunteers and others step in to help maintain Big Bend, the San Antonio missions, and other beloved sites, but fears about lasting damage grow as the impasse drags on.
The untouched vastness of the largest state park in Texas makes you feel like you’re exploring a whole other world.
Ninety-three-year-old Armando Vasquez tells of a place that used to be.
From the red-rock canyons of the Panhandle to the towering forests of the Piney Woods, some of the best parts of our state are accessible only by foot.
These mountain hikes will take you to new heights—and new extremes.
What to do, where to eat, and more if you’re heading to Fort Davis, Marfa, Marathon, and/or Big Bend this season.
What Texas Monthly's style contributors are inspired by right now.
A 39-year resident of Houston is gearing up for his first experience of the greatest road trip Texas has to offer.
Over three installments, we follow a film team as they—by bike, horse, and canoe—document how a physical wall would affect the area, water, and its people.
What does it take to protect the stars of West Texas? A year of persuasion, counting light fixtures, and traversing 315,000 acres under a moonless sky.
For an affordable stay in a new city, with built-in friends.
We found fast cars, big skies, and a whole bunch of daredevils at this annual high-speed race weekend out west.
My grandfather’s work as a paleontologist took him to West Texas over and over again. Fifty years later, I found myself retracing his steps.
A day in the life of a mobile large-animal veterinarian.
Big Bend roared back to life last year after spring rains unleashed a bounty of ocotillos, bluebonnets, and yuccas. Thankfully, photographer James H. Evans was there to capture it in living color.
Are big and bright—and ready for their close-up.
It's never too early (or too late) to plan your escape.
The festival titan wants access to government-owned lands for its events.
The Instagram accounts that’ll have you itching to take a Texas road trip.
Our great big beautiful backyard awaits.
A taste of the majestic vistas Big Bend National Park has to offer.
A mid-life triumph on the Outer Mountain Loop.
