LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Big Bend National Park: Miles
built 353 days ago
With over 100 miles of lightly used paved roads and 160 miles of backcountry dirt roads, Big Bend National Park is Texas's premier mountain biking destination. The panoramic views, desert solitude, and unexpected beauty of the region make any ride a pleasant one, provided that you're adequately prepared (water, water, water!).
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Big Bend National Park lies in south Brewster County, one of the most sparsely populated areas of the country. Brewster County consists of 6,204 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people.
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The extremely diverse landscape and environment at Big Bend has undergone extensive change over the years. At the end of the Cretaceous period, the sea was only 100 miles to the east and Big Bend had an upland forest environment with towering 150-foot trees. Dinosaurs wandered around in herds and enormous crocodiles that grew to be 50 feet long lived near the shorelines. The crocodiles may have been powerful enough to pose a threat to the dinosaurs, as dinosaur bones with crocodilian bite marks have recently been discovered at Big Bend. Above these formidable land creatures flew the extraordinary animals known as pterosaurs.
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The most popular river trip in Big Bend is the Santa Elena Canyon run of about 20 miles, making for a great two day trip with some more serious rapids. The deepest canyon is the Mariscal, but it takes a long time to get in and out because of its isolation. It has the best rapids though, in an area aptly named "Tight Squeeze." And then, there’s the more easily reached Boquillas Canyon, which, at 33 miles in length is the longest of the park’s canyons. They all have dramatic, sheer walls in places which may be followed by grassy slopes, ideal for camping, or just stopping for a picnic.
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Following the Mexican-American War, which ended in 1848, military surveys were made of the uncharted land of the Big Bend. Military forts and outposts were established across Trans Pecos Texas to protect migrating settlers from the Indians. A significant proportion of these soldiers were of African American ancestry and came to be known as the "buffalo soldiers," a name apparently given to them by the Native Americans of the region. In fact, Lt. Flipper, the first American of African ancestry to graduate from West Point, served in Shafter, Texas toward the late 19th century. Shafter is just west of the Big Bend along the highway that goes from Presidio to Marfa. Around 1880, ranchers began to migrate into the Big Bend, and by 1900, sheep, goat, and cattle ranches occupied a majority of the landscape.
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Exploring Big Bend on foot is a must with 150 miles of trails. Take a day hike or a backpacking trip! There are steeper climbs for the more athletic visitor, shorter walks for the novice sightseer. A diverse array of animals and plants call Big Bend home, making bird watching and wildlife viewing popular pastimes.
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