Big Bend

[PEC]

Hi everyone.

I am thinking about heading out to BB, but not sure about which BB, the state park or national park.

Obviously, spring is cooler but I understand that summer is better for shooting the Milky Way. I assume that there is little light polution at BB.

Is two days enough to just a taste of the parks?

What are good locations for sunrises and sunsets?

Thanks.

[mdparthum]

Hey Paul,

I have been to BIBE several times and truly love it there. Big Bend State Park is a little more rustic and harder to access than BIBE. I would plan for at least three or four good days to start. There is lots to see there and can take several visits to get a good feel of the place.

In my opinion, one of the best places for sunrise or sunsets is Indian Head as well as for Astrophotography. The Ross Maxwell Road is a great place to see the Chisos Mountains at sunset. And, Sotol Vista is great for sunsets. These are my favorite places to shoot. If you would like to chat more about it, please feel free to PM me and I can give you more information. Also, there are lots of folks he that have great information on BIBE.

[mkweaver]

I wish people would spell things out. What is BIBE? And isn't Big Bend a National Park?

[mdparthum]

BIBE is the abbreviation for Big Bend. It is a National Park and next to it is Big Bend Ranch State Park.

[SCone]

BIBE is the web address for Big Bend... www.nps.gov/bibe

[SnapperUK]

Originally Posted by mdparthum

Hey Paul,

I have been to BIBE several times and truly love it there. Big Bend State Park is a little more rustic and harder to access than BIBE. I would plan for at least three or four good days to start. There is lots to see there and can take several visits to get a good feel of the place.

In my opinion, one of the best places for sunrise or sunsets is Indian Head as well as for Astrophotography. The Ross Maxwell Road is a great place to see the Chisos Mountains at sunset. And, Sotol Vista is great for sunsets. These are my favorite places to shoot. If you would like to chat more about it, please feel free to PM me and I can give you more information. Also, there are lots of folks he that have great information on BIBE.

Hi, I'll be visiting Big Bend at the end of next month and would love to pick your brains on the best places to visit and photograph. Would you mind sharing a bit of info on the park on this forum? Or should I PM you?

Many thanks
Ben

[mdparthum]

Hey Ben,

I have been to Big Bend "BIBE" four times and I still haven't seen all I want to see. I am partial to Indian Head because of the connection to the native americans that populated the area and also to Terlingua Abaja near Castolon.
1) Indian Head-Can be accessed from behind Big Bend Motor Inn via a walkers gate. Follow the trail around the mountain and you will see remains of were Indians lived along with some pictographs. There is a natural spring further down the trail. Also, the trail isn't that hard with little to no elevation change. Great area to explore.
2) Castolon, Terlingua Abaja, and Santa Elana Canyon-Great views along the river and Terlingua Abaja has some ruins of old adobe homes and graves.
3) Hot Springs is a neat place to see another old adobe building and some pictgraphs along the trail to the river and hot spring.
4) The Ross Maxwell Road is a great place to set up for sunset shots of the Chisos Mountains. For a split second they become a beautiful pink color if the sun light is right.
5) The Old Ore Road-Four wheeler is a must and it takes hours to drive. Lots of tinajas to photograph and explore.
6) The Basin and the Window up in the Chisos as well as the South Rim.

These are just a few suggestions and there are many more places to enjoy. I would suggest going to U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America and explore the information there and also at Bend it Like Maxwell! Real Big Bend National Park Advice from Avid Benders! for more suggestions. I have added the link to my Big Bend photos for you to see some of my favorite places inside and outside the park.

Big Bend National Park

[iCe]

Michael pretty much covered it but I'll add my link too. I don't have much of what I've shot there but it'll give you an idea.

If you can find him TJ Avery has done a ton of shooting in BiBe. BigBendChat (the Bend it like Maxwell link in Michael's post) is THE place to go for good advice.

2 days in the park is enough to set the hook so deep you'll never escape

[SnapperUK]

Wow, some great photos from you guys on those gallery links! Thanks.

Cheers for the BiBe links too, some good info there. Im thinking that maybe three or four days in the park (if i can stand the heat!) will fill up my memory cards before I have to find a camera store to buy more! Looks brilliant and very strange sitting here in the rain looking out the window at my lush green home-grown veggies getting a drink while viewing pictures of sunny scorched cacti i can tell you. I'm so looking forward to it.

Cheers
Ben

[BenE]

Information from a park ranger in Big Bend:

No fires, but they could happen at any time. Wildlife is stressed, not much for them to eat or drink. You need to have an absolutely reliable vehicle. We have closed the Chisos to backpacking, and a couple of roads are closed as well.

.................

Might be a good idea to call the park to get the latest information.

[iCe]

Whoa... they closed the Chisos to backpacking? That is amazing... it must be very very dry there.