Big Bend National Park is one of the largest parks in the National Park System, and is home to a diverse array of wildlife and geological features. Big Bend entirely contains the Chisos Mountains, a sky island ecosystem vastly contrasting from the desert floor. The Rio Grande river flows through a dramatic landscape along the park boundary. A gold-tier International Dark Sky Park, Big Bend is a fantastic place to explore both day and night.

Big Bend Ranch is the largest park in the Texas state park system. The park includes a scenic route along the Rio Grande as well as an expansive and remote interior filled with rugged mountains, narrow canyons, and endless sightlines. An IDA-Certified Dark Sky Park, Big Bend Ranch is ideal for those craving solitude under the stars.

Black Gap is an IDA-certified Dark Sky Sanctuary, meaning it is a uniquely remote area with some of the darkest skies on Earth. The area is home to a population of threatened bighorn sheep as well as other species. Visitors should come well prepared, as services are limited, but campers will be rewarded with true solitude and exceptional skies.

Operated by The Nature Conservancy, the Davis Mountains Preserve is one of the core partners in the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. The Davis Mountains Preserve protects the fragile sky island ecosystem around Mount Livermore, home to a population of Ponderosa Pines, Aspen, and other flora and fauna one may not expect to find in a desert. The preserve hosts open days routinely and access on a limited basis.

Located near Fort Davis, Texas, Davis Mountains State Park offers easy access to hiking, birding, horseback riding, and more, as well as excellent views of the night sky. If camping under the stars isn’t your cup of tea, you can stay overnight in the historic Indian Lodge. The higher altitude offers some respite from heat in the summer.

Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of a frontier military post. The historical site preserves the fort structure as well as some of the surrounding hills and offers four miles of hiking trails. The site closes at 5pm.

Balmorhea State Park is located along one of the main entrances to the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, and is a popular spot to cool off on a hot day. The park is known for having the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. The San Solomon spring is one of only a handful of natural water sources in the desert, and is an important watering spot for migratory birds that depend on darkness to navigate.

Located near the center of the reserve, Elephant Mountain helps protect a population of desert bighorn sheep and is an important area for wildlife research and education. The area is open for recreational use.

This rugged mountain landscape is still undeveloped and not yet open to the public. The profile of Chinati Mountain can be seen from a distance from much of the reserve. The area is administered through Big Bend Ranch State Park and included in their Dark Sky Park designation. The area helps protect nocturnal environments for a diverse range of wildlife.

Cañón de Santa Elena Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna, located in Chihuahua, Mexico, protects the plants and wildlife found in the canyons and desert highlands along the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) river. The namesake Santa Elena Canyon can also be appreciated from Big Bend National Park.

Ocampo Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna protects plants and wildlife across a vast section of varied desert terrain. The small community of Boquillas, accessible from a border crossing in Big Bend National Park, is located on the northern edge of the area.

Maderas del Carmen Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna protects the plants and wildlife found in the Del Carmen mountains. The mountains are the highest in the reserve and home to an exceptionally diverse array of wildlife. The remote area is difficult to access but can be seen from Big Bend National Park.