Big Bend U.S. Department of the Interior Rio Grande WIld & Scenic River

2007 Fact Sheet Mark Hench

Big Bend National Park was authorized by Congress in 1935 to preserve and protect a representative area of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande for the benefi t and enjoyment of present and future generations. The park includes rich biological and geological diversity, cultural history, recreational resources, and outstanding opportunities for bi-national protection of our shared natural and cultural heritage.

Overview Park Purpose Park Signifi cance Big Bend National Park’s purpose is threefold: The park is signifi cant because it contains the • Preserve and protect all natural and national most representative example of the Chihuahuan register-eligible cultural resources and values. Desert ecosystem in the United States. The park’s • Provide educational opportunities to foster river, desert, and mountain environments support understanding and appreciation of the natural and an extraordinary richness of biological diversity, human history of the region. including endemic plants and animals, and provide • Provide recreational opportunities for diverse unparalleled recreation opportunities. The geologic groups that are compatible with the protection and features and Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils in appreciation of park resources. Big Bend National Park furnish opportunities to study the sedimentary and igneous processes. Establishment Archeological and historic resources provide Established as Canyons State Park in May 1933; examples of cultural interaction in the Big Bend name changed to Big Bend State Park, October 1933; Region and varied ways humans adapted to the authorized by Congress as a National Park in 1935; desert and river environments. The Rio Grande established as a National Park in 1944. is life-sustaining for plants, animals, and human inhabitants beyond its banks. Along with the two Name Mexican protected areas for fl ora and fauna, The Big Bend area of Texas derives its name from its Maderas del Carmen and Cañon de Santa Elena, Big location on the bend of the Rio Grande. The river Bend is now part of one of the largest transboundary creates a natural border that separates the United protected areas in North America. More than two States from Mexico. million acres of Chihuahuan Desert resources, along with more than 200 miles of river, are now under the national protection of the United States and Mexico.

Administration Staffi ng Youth Conservation Corps National Park Service 4 seasonal Superintendent William E. Wellman 92 permanent Volunteers in Parks 41 seasonal 157 volunteers contributed 41,419 hours of service

Big Bend Natural History Association Student Conservation Association 4 permanent 9 SCAs contributed 3,857 hours of service

Forever Resorts (concessionaire) 60 permanent 25 seasonal Natural Resources Size Climate and Weather 801,163 acres (1,252 square miles) Fall and spring are usually warm and pleasant. 15th largest in the national park system Summers are hot, although temperatures vary greatly between the desert fl oor and the Chisos Mountains; Elevation May and June are the hottest months. Afternoon Highest point is Emory Peak, 7,832 ft. and evening rains often cool the desert from July Lowest point is Rio Grande Village, 1,850 ft. to October. Winters are generally mild, although periods of cold weather (including light snow) are River Canyons possible. Santa Elena Canyon 20 miles Mariscal Canyon 10 miles Flora and Fauna Boquillas Canyon 33 miles 1,200+ species of fl ora 75 species mammals US/Mexico Border 450+ species birds Shared International Border—118 miles 56 species reptiles Mexican States Bordering the Park—2 States: 11 species amphibians Chihuahua & Coahuila 40 species fi sh

Landmarks and Elevations Major Resource Issues: Emory Peak 7,832 ft. Air Quality/Visibility South Rim 7,375 ft. Rio Grande Water Quality & Quantity Casa Grande 7,325 ft. Exotic Species Chisos Basin 5,400 ft. Theft of Park Resources Panther Junction 3,750 ft. Castolon 2,169 ft. Rio Grande Village 1,850 ft.

Cultural Resources Human History Cataloged Museum Objects Evidence of nearly 9,000 years of human occupation 123,074 by Paleo-Indian, archaic peoples and a variety of southwestern tribes, including the Chisos, Jumano, Archeological Resources Mescalero Apache, and Comanche. Around 1870 Nearly 10,000 sites (3% of park surveyed to date) ranchers began to migrate to the Big Bend, and by 1900 ranchers, miners and farmers occupied the area. National Register of Historic Places There are eight National Register of Historic Places Collection Summary sites or districts in Big Bend National Park. They Archeological objects systematically recovered from are Burro Mesa Archeological District, Castolon within the park’s boundaries and associated fi eld Historic District, Hot Springs Historic District, records; historic objects related to the park’s history; the Mariscal Mining District, the Homer Wilson herbarium and associated fi eld records; other Blue Creek Ranch Site, Rancho Estelle, Daniel’s biological specimens; geological and paleontological Farmhouse and Luna’s Jacal. specimens.

Visitor Services and Visitation Concessionaire Protection 301,080 (2006) Highest visitation in the park’s history Foverever Resorts operates the Chisos Mountains was 400,945 in 2005. Lodge (72 rooms in motel units and four historic cottages), camper stores at three locations and gas Frontcountry Camping stations at Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village. Chisos Basin Campground: 63 sites Cottonwood Campground: 31 sites Visitor Protection (2006) Rio Grande Village Campground: 100 sites Search and Rescue: 7 incidents Rio Grande Village RV Park (hookups): 25 sites Motor Vehicle Accidents: 22 Emergency Medical Incidents: 73 Picnic Areas Fatalities: 2 5 (Dugout Wells, Daniels Ranch, Castolon, Chisos Basin, Persimmon Gap) Interpretation and Education (2006) Programs: 631 programs presented to 9,305 visitors Backcountry Camping Educational Outreach: 8 programs to 347 students Backcountry Camp Sites : 116 Junior Ranger Program: 850 participants Includes both High Chisos and primitive roadside designated campsites. Big Bend Natural History Association A non-profi t organization that supports education, Backcountry Use (2006) research and other programs for the benefi t of Big Overnight Backpacking Permits: 1,742 Bend. Financial aid is provided to the park through Backcountry Roadside Permits: 2,448 the sales of interpretive products. Outlets for these River Use Permits: 796 products are located in all park visitor centers.

Hiking trails Friends of Big Bend National Park 201 miles A non-profi t organization whose mission is to support, promote, and raise funds for Big Bend Roads National Park in partnership with the National Park 304 total miles (Paved and gravel) Service and other supporters who value the unique 123 miles of paved roads qualities of this national resource along the Rio 45 miles of improved unpaved roads Grande. 136 miles of primitive unpaved roads

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ Produced by the Division of Interpretation and Visitor Services January 2007