Enjoying Big Bend National Park: A Friendly Guide to Adventures for Everyone

Gary Clark

Texas A&M University Press, Mar 6, 2009 - Travel - 128 pages

This book will help turn every trip to Big Bend National Park into a memorable adventure. Veteran naturalist Gary Clark and photographer Kathy Adams Clark help you choose the best hike or drive in Big Bend National Park, based on the season in which you visit; the number of days you have in the park; and your activity, age, and fitness levels. The Clarks provide valuable practical information, along with a descriptive list of items essential for being outdoors in desert and mountain environments and an overview of park rules. They describe more than thirty activities available in the park: two-hour or half- and full-day adventures; adventures for the physically fit or physically challenged; and adventures with children, for nature lovers, or in vehicles. The Clarks also point out scenic highlights and animals and plants that might be seen along the way.

Contents

• The Lure of Big Bend: 3
• Practical Information about Visiting Big Bend: 16
• Equipment List: 17
• Park Rules: 22
• Adventures in Big Bend: 24
• TwoHour Adventures: 27
• Learn and Snack at Panther Junction: 28
• Walk the Trail from the Chisos Mountains Lodge to the Chisos Basin Campground: 30
• Walk the Chisos Basin Loop Trail: 32
• Enjoy a Journey on Dagger Yucca Drive: 34
• HalfDay Adventures: 37
• Drive and Hike Rio Grande Village and Boquillas Canyon: 38
• Drive and Learn about Geology on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive: 40
• Hike and Picnic on the Window Trail: 42
• A FullDay Adventure: 45
• Hike to the Southwest Rim: 46
• Adventures with Families and Small Children: 49
• Take a Nighttime Drive to Look for Mammals and Reptiles: 50
• Explore the Sam Nail Ranch Homestead: 52
• Journey through Time at Hot Springs Historic Area: 54
• Do an Outing with a Topographic Map and Compass: 56
• Walk the Window View Trail: 58
• Enjoy a Scavenger Hunt: 60
• Adventures for the Physically Fit: 63
• Hike to Boot Canyon: 64
• Hike to Emory Peak: 66
• Hike to Dog Canyon or Devils Den: 68
• Hike to the Chimneys: 70
• Explore Santa Elena Canyon: 72
• Hit the Hiking Trails: 74
• Adventures at an Easy Pace: 77
• View the Sunset at the Window View Trail: 78
• Lunch and Learn at Castolon Historical Compound: 80
• Hunt for and Identify Cactus at Panther Path: 82
• Explore Dugout Wells Desert Oasis: 84
• Adventures for People with Limited Physical Mobility: 87
• Eat While Nature Watching in the Chisos Basin: 88
• Watch the Full Moon Rise over the Mountains: 90
• Linger along the Window View Trail: 92
• Adventures in a Vehicle: 95
• Drive Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive: 96
• FourWheel Drive through Glenn Spring: 98
• Picnic at Rio Grande Village: 100
• Adventures for Nature Lovers: 103
• Listen to the Dawn Chorus at Sam Nail Ranch: 104
• Go on a Nighttime Owl Prowl: 106
• Picnic at Cottonwood Campground: 108
• Watch Dragonflies at Rio Grande Village: 110
• Recommended Reading: 113
• Index: 115

About the author

GARY CLARK, an active Texas birder, is dean of business, social, and behavioral sciences at Lone Star College in Houston. The author of Texas Wildlife Portfolio and Texas Gulf Coast Impressions, he writes a weekly nature column in the Houston Chronicle. His articles on birds, nature, and travel have appeared in many magazines, including AAA Journeys, Birder's World, Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, and Texas Highways.

Nature photographer KATHY ADAMS CLARK, owner of the photo agency KAC Productions, has served as president of the North American Nature Photography Association. Her photographs have appeared on the covers of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, Texas Highways, as well as in numerous books, magazines, and calendars. Her photos illustrate Gary's weekly newspaper column in the Houston Chronicle. They reside in The Woodlands, Texas.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Enjoying Big Bend National Park: A Friendly Guide to Adventures for Everyone; Volume 41 of W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series
• Author: Gary Clark
• Photographs by: Kathy Adams Clark
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press, 2009
• ISBN: 1603441018, 9781603441018
• Length: 128 pages
• Subjects: Nature / General; Travel / General; Travel / Parks & Campgrounds; Travel / United States / South / West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)