Big Bend National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. Take advantage and see thousands of stars while visiting the park.
Big Bend National Park
3 Hours
Spring, Fall
$30 per Vehicle
Overview
While we were in Big Bend for Spring Break in 2024, the first thing we did was go to their night sky program called Stars Over Big Bend. This was a ranger talk held behind the Panther Junction Visitor Center. It was crowded, and the stars hadn’t all come out yet.
We were tired that evening after getting up at 5AM to make the drive to Big Bend, so once the program was over we went back to the hotel to sleep. The next day was spent exploring Big Bend, including the Santa Elena Canyon, Lower Burro Mesa Pour-Off Trail, Castolon, and the Fossil Discovery Exhibit Area.
That second night, Justin decided that we didn’t see enough of the stars and he wanted to see more. We all thought he was crazy, but hey, we went along with it. His plan: wake up at 4AM and head straight to the park, find a place to sit outside and stargaze for a while, then have breakfast in the vehicle with us so we can stay to watch the sunrise, too. He decided that since this is part of the identity of the region, we needed to check it out ourselves while enjoying the Texas parks.
Seeing the stars like this was a new experience for the boys. And watching that long, seeing what we saw, was new for me, too. When we were in Utah years ago we were able to go out at night and stargaze, but we didn’t stay out long like we did here. We also live in flat Houston, so even when we see the sunrise, it isn’t over the mountainscape like it is here.
What Is International Dark Sky?
According to the International Dark-Sky Association website: “Founded as the International Dark-Sky Association in 1988, DarkSky is the globally recognized authority on light pollution issues and night sky conservancy.”
The International Dark Sky Association helps protect those areas with the darkest skies to stay that way. They also study the effect human beings have on nocturnal environments including light pollution, The group advocates for those areas in North America and around the world that already see dark nights to keep them that way. You can also learn about DarkSky-friendly lights from the group such as red light and the types of lights that have low levels of light pollution.
International DarkSky Places are also hubs for astronomical research since they are great spots to watch the night cycle on a clear night. In these areas you can often see meteor showers, study the moon phases or the full moon, and study the nocturnal ecosystems.
Stars in the night sky
Stars in the night sky
Stargazing & Sunrise Plan
- Wake up at 4AM and leave the hotel in Terlingua
- Park at Sotol Vista and set up a blanket on the sidewalk in front of the vehicle to lie on
- Lay down (to save your neck muscles from pain later) and let your eyes adjust their own night vision
- Marvel at the thousands of stars above you that you can’t see at home
- After stargazing for an hour, use the parking lot toilet then take a nap in the car
- Set the alarm for 30 minutes before sunrise
- Watch the sun as it rises over the mountains
- Eat breakfast in the car as we continued on with our plans for the day in Big Bend
Getting There
Location
Big Bend National Park is in the southernmost part of west Texas. It is not an easy park to get to as there are no major airports nearby. Even those who fly into Odessa, San Antonio, or El Paso, have to drive for hours to get to the park.
Once you are there, though, you can see why it is worth the travel time it takes to get to the park.
Big Bend is in Southwest Texas, along the big bend in the Rio Grande River. The park follows the border between the United States and Mexico for just over 100 miles.
Best Time to Go
Due to the extreme weather conditions, the best time to visit Big Bend is in the spring or fall. During the summer months of June, July, and August the temperatures soar to over 100 degrees, making it brutal and dangerous to walk the trails.
On the other hand, in the wintertime, you will often run into snow or ice in the park. This can also make driving and walking the trails dangerous at those cold temperatures, especially the time of night for stargazing.
We were there in March and the weather was perfect. It was chilly in the morning and evening, but quickly warmed up during the day. Dressing in layers is the way to go at a park like Big Bend.
So many stars in the sky
Trying to stay warm while stargazing
Stargazing & Sunrise in Big Bend
Who Can Go?
This is an activity that is suitable for anyone, of any age as long as they are able to sit or lay still for a little while. It was a fun activity to plan for ourselves on a whim, but you could also look for Ranger-Led star parties, especially when there’s a huge astronomical event taking place.
What You'll See
It’s amazing how many stars you can see when you get away from the light pollution of the city. We saw dozens of shooting stars during the hour we laid out to look at the stars. This was the first time Tyler and Ryan ever saw a shooting star so that was neat for them.
The amount of stars we were able to see in these dark skies was mind-blowing. Tyler and Ryan really loved being able to see the Milky Way since they’d only heard of it before but never seen it. After learning about the severe negative consequences of light pollution in big cities the first night, we were able to show them the difference and the importance of dark night skies.
What to Bring & Wear
Even in the middle of the warm summer months, the park is often cool at night in the desert climate. Plan for the weather and wear layers to keep warm. The sun won’t be out to warm you and since you are laying still you aren’t moving to warm your body up.
Bring a blanket or two for lying on the ground to look up at the stars. You should also bring water into the park and possibly some breakfast that you can eat while you’re watching the sunrise. I’m not a coffee drinker, but for those who are, bring some coffee in a thermos to enjoy a cup while watching the day greet you over the mountains.
Sunrise over the Chisos Mountains
Sunrise over the Chisos Mountains
Where to Go
When looking at the map, and based on our previous drive down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, we decided that the parking area at Sotol Vista Overlook would be the best spot for both stargazing and watching the sunrise.
The parking lot was on the side of the turnout facing mostly east so we knew we would be able to see the sun rise over the mountains from that location. There’s also a vault toilet in the parking lot so we were able to use the restroom.
How Long Does it Take?
The amount of time you need depends on how long you want to watch the stars and how early you leave. We left at 4 AM to get to the park to have ample time to view the stars after letting our eyes get adjusted to the darkness.
Cost
There isn’t a cost specifically for the overlook or the stargazing, but you’ll have to pay the entrance fee for Big Bend National Park.
For a passenger vehicle to enter the park, the fee is $30 per vehicle. The pass is valid for 7 days from the date of purchase. If you are on a motorcycle, you will pay $25 to enter the park, and pedestrians either walking or on a bicycle pay $15 per person.
The Big Bend Annual Pass is available for $55 and is good for one year from the date of purchase. If you will be making a trip to Big Bend multiple times in a year, outside of the one week your standard pass would be valid for, this will save you money.
Lastly, if you are visiting multiple places within the National Park System, it may be best to purchase one of their annual passes.
Other Places to Stargaze In and Near the Big Bend Region
Big Bend National Park is part of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. This encompasses over 15,000 square miles of land in Texas and Mexico which has been designated as the largest Dark Sky Certified area in the world.
- Big Bend Ranch State Park about 2 hours west
- University of Texas McDonald Observatory about 2 hours north of the park
Tips for Stargazing & Sunrise in Big Bend
- Bring a flashlight. There is no light in the park, so you may need it as you get yourselves set up to watch the stars. You’ll also need it if you use the vault toilet as there’s no light in there, either.
- If you have it, bring a red flashlight. This is better for the dark sky area and makes it easier on your eyes.
- Pack a few blankets. You’ll want at least one to lay down on the sidewalk to lay on and may need some to bundle up.
- Give your eyes about 5-10 minutes to adjust to really see all that the night sky has to offer.
- Check the weather forecast the night before and the morning of your stargazing adventure to make sure the sky will be clear.