Natural Beauty Alert: Big Bend National Park

While on an Arizona Raft Adventures trip a few years ago to the Grand Canyon, one of the guides had a saying, "Natural beauty alert." she would call that out when she noticed nature "showing off " with nobody paying attention. I loved getting the call from others and I especially loved making the call when I noticed the beauty! This post is a natural beauty alert for Big Bend National Park. 

Donna's birthday was on Easter this year, so as a present Peter let us take a few days off from the business of being wandering book artists to rest and recreate in Big Bend National Park. It is pretty far from everywhere, about 8 hours from either San Antonio or El Paso. Check out some of the pictures of this lightly visited place of awesome beauty:

Camp spot in the Chisos Basin

Telephone booth, minus telephone. Sunset on Casa Grande.

Hiking up the trail, oak, pinyon and juniper trees

Sharp spines everywhere keep one from wandering too far off-trail, luckily this one bloomed beside the path.

Lovely stonework adds beauty to the trail

 

We soaked in the 103 degree hot springs beside the Rio Grande in the moonlight and again in the 95 degree heat of the day!

Peter: beer and tin can art: fun at the campsite. Do you think it's fine to use power tools in the park???

Rio Grande at the Texas - Mexico border

Blooming cholla  

And a final photo: This unusual trailer was spotted in Big Bend. The family loves going off the paved highways to find hot springs and other spots of natural beauty.

The cute trailer is the kids' bedroom.