If you’ve ever driven through the West Texas desert, you know just how remote it truly is. What most people don’t understand is that it’s not only one of the most isolated places in the state, but in the entire world. Boasting some of the darkest skies on earth, Big Bend affords visitors the opportunity to see more than 2,000 stars with the naked eye. Which is why stargazing in Big Bend National Park is such a magical experience.
Located hundreds of miles away from the nearest civilization, Big Bend is among the most remote, and least visited, national parks in the lower 48.
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Big Bend is one of the darkest places in the entire world. It’s so dark, in fact, that the park was officially designated by the International Dark Sky Association in 2012.
Flickr/Vincent Lock
Only 13 other places worldwide share the park’s gold-tier designation awarded by the IDA. Even more impressive, the organization ranked Big Bend #4 on its list of the top seven stargazing destinations on earth. Hot Springs Canyon Trail and Rio Grande Village Nature Trail provide some of the least obstructed vistas, and three different campgrounds give you somewhere to sleep to avoid a long, potentially dangerous hike back out in the dark.
Flickr/dianasch
Experts estimate about 2,000 stars are visible to the naked eye on any given night. That’s in stark contrast to the mere few hundred that one can see in a big city with light pollution.
Flickr/roberthensley
This is the Pleiades Star Cluster, located in the constellation Taurus. It’s the star cluster closest to Earth and most obvious without the use of any equipment. Isn’t it beautiful? You might even catch a glimpse of the International Space Station while your eyes are turned skyward.
nps.gov
Nearby Big Bend Ranch State Park is also a Dark Sky Place, receiving its certification three years ago. It’s the largest state park in Texas, sitting on more than 300,000 acres of rugged landscape. River Road, the West Contrabando Trailhead, Big Hill, and the Hoodoos offer the best views, and all are accessible by vehicle.
TripAdvisor/eur1q
If you need a place to stay and aren’t keen on camping, the Marathon Motel is just north of the national park. It has a high-powered telescope on site so visitors can see the stars up close and identify constellations.
TripAdvisor/waynevickiwheat
Visit Big Bend’s official page or the International Dark Sky Association website to learn more about stargazing at this Texas state park.
Google Maps
Flickr/Vincent Lock
Flickr/dianasch
Flickr/roberthensley
nps.gov
TripAdvisor/eur1q
TripAdvisor/waynevickiwheat
Have you ever gone stargazing in Big Bend National Park? If so, what area of the park had the best celestial views?
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Address: Big Bend National Park, TX, USAAddress: Big Bend Ranch State Park, 21800 FM170, Redford, TX 79846, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Stargazing in Big Bend National Park January 22, 2021 Sarah What are some must-visit Texas state parks? With more than 90 state parks to explore, Texas has plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Pedernales Falls State Park is one of the most special state parks in Texas. You can choose from a variety of trails, whether you want to climb along the limestone rocks on the Pedernales River, or ascend Wolf Mountain on a six-mile trail. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is another favorite, located 12 miles east of the small town of Canyon. Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the U.S., and it’s known as the Grand Canyon of Texas. This park has 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, and is easily one of the most beautiful places in the state. What’s another great place to stargaze in Texas? Stargazing in Big Bend National Park is sublime – but it’s not the only Texas park offering beautiful celestial views. Amid the West Texas desert that stretches for hundreds and hundreds of miles, the Davis Mountains are expansive and remote. So remote, in fact, that there are no streetlights or neon signs anywhere near close enough to interfere with the night sky, making the Milky Way band, as well as millions of stars, visible for casual star gazers. What’s the most remote town in Texas? With a state as big as Texas, you can get lost! Round Top, a quaint little town in Fayette County, has a population of less than 100 (but don’t let its size fool you: Round Top has one of the coolest antique barns in the state!). Mentone is even smaller; with a population of only 19, it is the only community in Loving County. In 1967, it was deemed a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark as the “Smallest County Seat in Texas.” Read about other notable tiny towns in Texas here.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Stargazing in Big Bend National Park
January 22, 2021
Sarah
What are some must-visit Texas state parks? With more than 90 state parks to explore, Texas has plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Pedernales Falls State Park is one of the most special state parks in Texas. You can choose from a variety of trails, whether you want to climb along the limestone rocks on the Pedernales River, or ascend Wolf Mountain on a six-mile trail. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is another favorite, located 12 miles east of the small town of Canyon. Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the U.S., and it’s known as the Grand Canyon of Texas. This park has 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, and is easily one of the most beautiful places in the state. What’s another great place to stargaze in Texas? Stargazing in Big Bend National Park is sublime – but it’s not the only Texas park offering beautiful celestial views. Amid the West Texas desert that stretches for hundreds and hundreds of miles, the Davis Mountains are expansive and remote. So remote, in fact, that there are no streetlights or neon signs anywhere near close enough to interfere with the night sky, making the Milky Way band, as well as millions of stars, visible for casual star gazers. What’s the most remote town in Texas? With a state as big as Texas, you can get lost! Round Top, a quaint little town in Fayette County, has a population of less than 100 (but don’t let its size fool you: Round Top has one of the coolest antique barns in the state!). Mentone is even smaller; with a population of only 19, it is the only community in Loving County. In 1967, it was deemed a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark as the “Smallest County Seat in Texas.” Read about other notable tiny towns in Texas here.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
With more than 90 state parks to explore, Texas has plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Pedernales Falls State Park is one of the most special state parks in Texas. You can choose from a variety of trails, whether you want to climb along the limestone rocks on the Pedernales River, or ascend Wolf Mountain on a six-mile trail. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is another favorite, located 12 miles east of the small town of Canyon. Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the U.S., and it’s known as the Grand Canyon of Texas. This park has 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, and is easily one of the most beautiful places in the state.
What’s another great place to stargaze in Texas?
Stargazing in Big Bend National Park is sublime – but it’s not the only Texas park offering beautiful celestial views. Amid the West Texas desert that stretches for hundreds and hundreds of miles, the Davis Mountains are expansive and remote. So remote, in fact, that there are no streetlights or neon signs anywhere near close enough to interfere with the night sky, making the Milky Way band, as well as millions of stars, visible for casual star gazers.
What’s the most remote town in Texas?
With a state as big as Texas, you can get lost! Round Top, a quaint little town in Fayette County, has a population of less than 100 (but don’t let its size fool you: Round Top has one of the coolest antique barns in the state!). Mentone is even smaller; with a population of only 19, it is the only community in Loving County. In 1967, it was deemed a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark as the “Smallest County Seat in Texas.” Read about other notable tiny towns in Texas here.
