What a beautiful hidden gem! The moment you step through the gates it feels like you've entered a…read morewhole new world. My wife and I spent about 45 minutes just wandering, chatting, and taking it all in, we still didn't make it through all 27 acres. The garden is meticulously maintained, with an incredible variety of native Texas plants thoughtfully arranged to highlight the natural beauty of the region. Everywhere you turn, there's something to appreciate from colorful blooms to shaded pathways that invite you to slow down. The fountains and water features are absolutely stunning, adding a sense of calm and tranquility to the walk. The sound of the water pairs perfectly with the natural surroundings, making it a peaceful escape. We noticed lights strung throughout the garden, which makes me think an evening stroll here would be absolutely magical perfect for a date night. If you find yourself in Marathon, don't miss the chance to step inside this garden oasis. It's a place where time slows down and nature truly takes center stage.

I had a little time to kill while traveling from Big Bend National Park and happened to see this…read moreplace on Google maps. Decided to stop by, and very glad I did. This is a desert oasis that is exceptionally well maintained and cared for. Beautiful dark green grass, big shade trees, and wandering walkways invite you in to relax by a fountain and just enjoy nature. Lots of plants and birds. Dogs are welcome. There is even a little putting green if you have clubs with you and feel so inclined. I stopped in late morning on a Monday and there was only 3 other people I saw while there. Definitely worth a visit!

Nice little park south of Marathon. Looks like 1 road in and out. Good for a jog or a bike ride…read more Nice well maintained park. Little pond with ducks. Also looks like there was a pool at some point. Plenty of space for picnics or a little BBQ.

This hidden gem of a historic public park lies just 5 miles south of tiny Marathon, Texas…read more(population 430). Camp Peña Colorado (today simply known as "Post Park") was the site of a U.S. military encampment around the spring-fed Peña "Colorada" Creek in the late 1800s and now serves as a perfect little picturesque picnic stop on your way out of Big Bend if you're headed back to Austin. If you're lodging in Marathon or otherwise have the time, the nearly deserted scenic road (southbound Avenue D, aka Post Road, the only one to cross the railroad tracks) out to the park is ideal for running, walking, and biking; bicycles can be rented from the Gage Hotel. Located in the middle of the Combs Ranch and generously donated to the county by the family in 1935, the land was converted from the ruins of the old cavalry post to a public park by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Brewster County now maintains the place, which is surrounded by the Los Caballos Novaculite Mountains. If you're from around these parts, you have likely attended many a public event at Post Park, such as the long-running annual 4th of July Dance, the summer Chili Cook-Off, and the West Fest Cabrito Cook-Off in September. Check the Marathon, Texas tourism page https://www.marathontexas.com/events for details on upcoming events. The park features several educational historic markers and interpretive nature plaques, a few picnic tables & grills, some covered tables, a couple of cinder-block restrooms, a large concrete slab/dance floor, tons of cottonwood shade trees, and a dammed up portion of the creek that is often home to several species of birds and any other critters seeking a free drink. Wildlife such as deer, javelinas, turkey, jackrabbits, quail, and the occasional fox can be seen in the early morning or around sunset. Fishing is allowed. A weathered old wooden sign suggests that camping *could* be an option with a permit, but it's not clear how one would obtain such a permit. You might try calling Brewster County offices to check on that. More info about the park site's history: http://texasmountaintrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/post-park

Out on the frontier removed from the frustrations of civilization sits Balmorhea an artesian gem…read morehiding among the tumbleweeds. The springs themselves are astonishing. Crystalline water, a natural oasis. Wilderness as a touch of elegance. The water is cool, refreshing, and large enough you can swim without bumping into a flotilla of inflatable flamingos every ten seconds. It is serene. Now, the true pièce de résistance: tiny fish. Yes darling, little cousins of piranhas nibbling delicately at your skin. At first, it's mildly horrifying. Being lightly snacked upon by aquatic creatures isn't typically on the itinerary. It's nature's exfoliation service. Truly. These miniature aestheticians gather around and provide the most delightful, ticklish skin treatment imaginable. Think of it as a rustic version of spa fish pedicures, except this one is completely natural, wildly entertaining, and performed by creatures that actually live in the ecosystem instead of a questionable salon tank. The entire place has this fascinating ecological charm that sneaks up on you. You're floating in a massive spring-fed pool, mountains in the distance, dragonflies skimming the water, and tiny fish politely tend to your skincare needs. The magic of Balmorhea (I'll let you figure out how to pronounce it correctly) is that it's a living ecosystem, and being able to swim in the middle of it is special. It's frontier chic. Don't expect marble spas and cucumber water. Following an afternoon, my skin felt absurdly smooth, stress level plummeted, and it was imperative to recommend the remote desert destination without qualification. Five stars for the fish running the spa.

Fun time at this park…read more Enroute from San Antonio to El Paso, we were able to stop at this park to get the kids out of the car and into some refreshing spring water It was clean, not crowded and left us already planning a return on our next trip back or towards Big Bend National. There are cabins on the ground, picnic tables, barbecue pits. I saw a basketball court. They had a few nature areas to enjoy. I was certainly pleased with just getting my feet wet, but the water is clear and if you were interested in seeing more below the water, I recommend goggles or snorkeling gear. I hear companies teach scuba here too. There's not much else near the park, so bring all the amenities you need or want there. Good times with nature. We will return.

Davis Mountains State Park is a park that I've always wanted to come back to and I finally did…read moreafter 8 years. As one of two Texas state parks that provides mountain trail access, this place can offer some phenomenal views of nearby mountains both near and far. I came here for a two-night camp. I made all my reservations online and arrived before the office closed to check in. The campsite I reserved had both water and electric hookups, which I did occasionally use during my time here. There are many hiking trails to choose from, although some trail access was restricted due to recent flooding. But all the trails I hiked were well-maintained and clearly marked. My favorite trail, Skyline Drive Trail, took me up the side of the mountain via switchbacks up to the mountain ridge. The trail leads all the way to the famed CCC overlook that allowed me to see differently-shaped mountains in the distance. I thought it was cool that I could see the University of Texas McDonald's Observatory from the overlook, even though it requires a 13-mile drive to get there from the park. During my stay, I also had the opportunity to attend a ranger talk. The ranger came from the nearby Fort Davis National Historical Park with some relics of times past. The talk was informative and entertaining. I enjoyed the clean bathrooms near the campsite, though you'll have to bring your own shampoo and body soap to shower. The water provided at the campsite is potable and I thought it tasted better than the tap water I get at home! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and would love a chance to come back in the future!

Stumbled upon this stunning state park during a short stay in Fort Davis. We did a scenic drive on…read morethe Skyline Trail, and did some short hikes to enjoy the absolutely stunning vistas o west Texas from various viewpoints. We also briefly visited the recently renovated Indian Lodge (open for breakfast and lunch), which we hope to stay at next time. This state park is a hidden gem and absolutely worth a visit!

The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center was a fantastic stop for my daughters, our dog, and me on…read more2.15.2025. I knew from scrutinizing their website that I would love this place. I love their video tour by David Politzer from 2022. In fact, the only things I didn't love were their map and outdoor displays that needed maintenance or repair. The map lacked key details and was a bit confusing. There were several uprooted signs, at least one overturned bench, and exterior paint wearing. Otherwise, it's a very cool place. Clean women's restrooms. Bottle refill station inside the visitor's center. In 2023, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center celebrated its 50th year anniversary, so it definitely deserves constant maintenance. Open: Mon. - Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed on Sunday. Very nice lady at the front desk. She only charged me half price since we got there at 4 p.m. My kids and dog were free. Admission Fees ADULTS $6.50 CHILDREN 12 & UNDER FREE MEMBERS FREE SRSU STUDENTS $3.25 DOGS ARE WELCOME FREE My dog loved it here. A little rocky, but not many issues with stickers and weeds as long as you adhere to the trails. No dogs allowed in the Cactus Museum Collection. They're having their succulent sale on March 10, 2025 from 9 am - 5 pm. For more information, go to https://www.cdri.org/

I did not do any hiking here so I can't speak to the trails available. I arrived in the early…read moreafternoon and it was to hot for a long hike. The botanical gardens is very nice with a significant collection of native desert plants. All are very well labeled. Out back of the garden is a "Cactus Museum," a small greenhouse with a great collection of different Cactus. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Admission is only $7. Definitely worth stopping by.

A beautiful historic site that's a great place to stop if you're on a road trip or swinging by the…read moreMcDonald Observatory. The visitor center is great with nice bathrooms and a ton of informative displays, some of them very beautiful! There's also a small shop if you want any keepsakes and if you have a national park passport book, you can also grab a stamp to commemorate your visit. The guy that helped us was so nice, and the pamphlet you get when you buy your pass has a great layout of the fort with explanations. The walk around takes maybe 30-45 minutes, and they've kept so many of the original structures and foundations, and there are plenty of signs that help you identify what you're looking at. With the cliffs behind the fort, it's really a beautiful walk and we enjoyed stretching our legs and learning about this unique and well-tended fort!

As a historic site, this frontier fort is very well packed with information…read more Hidden outside the small West Texas town of Fort Davis you can find the old fort grounds with remnants and renovated parts of the original fort It speaks to the experience of settlers of the area and their skirmishes with bands of native Americans for the little resources that the land had to offer. The 10th Cavalry - Buffalo Soldiers were posted here and made their mark in West Texas. The first bAfrican American to graduate West Point LT Henry Flipper was also posted here. They have a museum in the visitor center, but the entire site is the museum. There are exhibits, interactive activities. Hey, the Junior Ranger program is for everyone, not just kids . For the outdoorsy, the historic site also has some hiking. We took the short hike up the hills to the top to view the down upon the site. It's not a big place, but we spent a good two hours there, and didn't see all of it. There was much more hiking to do, so if I were in the area again I'd be interested in how an undressed (for Xmas) Fort Davis NHS would look Recommended.

My husband and I made a trip out to Big Bend National Park before the Texas summer heat.....but it…read morewas unfortunately unseasonably hot this year. The dessert was beautiful and the park as a whole was very well taken care of! Old Mine Trail: Since we went around "Spring Break", the parking lot was very busy and spaces were limited. I would recommend downloading the "All Trails" app to gauge how busy the trails are. By 7:30, all the spots in the small parking lot were already taken. The trail itself was very well managed. Although the parking lot was busy, the trail was not bad! We were pretty spaced out between hikers! Take lots of water and snacks! The views up top are spectacular. Star Gazing: We were at Sotol Vista (for panoramic stars). The stars were especially beautiful inside the park because there was no light pollution (aside from the headlights from passing cars down below us).

I once hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and spent a few nights camping down there. While…read moredown there, an elderly man easily every bit of 70 years old asked me if it was my 1st time down at the bottom. I told him that it was and asked him if it was his 1st time. He chuckled and said, "No this is my Sanctuary". After my 3rd visit to Big Bend in 12 years, I think Big Bend may be my sanctuary. Big Bend is in the middle of nowhere. You do not just stumble upon Big Bend; it is a planned destination. You won't find a Gatlinburg like town next to it or an exit sign off the interstate saying 8 miles from here. It's miles from anything. The type of place you don't pass a gas station, and you carry a case of water in the vehicle. We have hiked various trails before and canoed Santa Elena Canyon, but I will focus on the trails we hiked this visit. Note: I have only done day hiking here, so no Insite in this review about backpacking although I would love to at some point. We started off at the visitor's center at Panther Junction as everyone should do in my opinion. Rangers can give you up to the minute updates like telling us the Hot Springs road was still closed because of a flood this past July (2025). She said we could still hike it but it would add an additional 4 miles (2 each way) to our trip. Good Insite. Our 1st hike was a short one in Boquillas Canyon. It was a short 1.4-mile round trip up a small cliff and back down to the Rio Grande river. It was an extremely easy hike that anyone who can walk can do. we then did a forementioned Hot Springs hike. This is a very cool spot with old, abandoned buildings from a time when the area was a resort. There is still a hot spring alongside the river that had people soaking as we walked past. The only downfall of the area was it still hadn't been repaired since the flood, so picnic tables were under sand, and I don't want to tell you what the bathroom looked like. The next day we did the Window Trail and it's a 5.6 miles hike right in the middle of the Chisos Basin. This one was I guess I would call moderate, but I am also an overweight old fart. It's really not bad except if it's hot out because you will be in the direct sun and the small number of switchbacks on your return trip. Other than that, the views are gorgeous. Just don't slide off the rocks at the "window", it's a long way down. The last hike we did was the Grapevine Hill's Trail aka The Balanced Rock. This one is a little more challenging to get to as you have to drive miles down a dirt road that is a little rocky. You don't need a 4-wheel drive, just don't be a speed demon. The hike itself is short, 2.2 miles each way and 95 percent of it is easy. The last little bit is a rock scramble up to see the balanced rock. It is worth it. Amazing views. We had the whole area to ourselves for most of the hike but saw lots of people on the way back so go early. Big Bend is amazing but requires some planning. Don't wing it. Bring lots of water and be smart. Cell service is limited but a lot better than 13 years ago.

The hike to Emory peak is iconic and stunning. You get an amazing view of the window along the…read moretrail, and from the top you can see all the way out to the south rim - it's like you really can see forever. The hike is fairly moderate up until you get to the scramble at the very end, which really does require using your whole body - arms and legs. The climb up really isn't all that bad, but coming down was a little bit tricky, even if just because it's easy to forget the path down and there's only one or two feasible options for a normal sized human. That said - I would recommend making the climb to the very top. It's a narrow area, just a few boulders wide - I'd guess that 15 people or fewer can actually fit up there at one time, and that would be standing close to one another. Overall: if you're going to do one long hike in big bend, I would say this should be it. You can do the whole thing round trip within 4ish hours if you walk fast, or take your time and spend longer. But seriously, you cannot beat the views.

Good hike. A bit strenuous, but worth it…read more But, if I had to choose between the South Rim, and Emory Peak, I would go for the South Rim. It's longer, not quite as strenuous, and more scenically diverse. Seeing the Rio Grand, from the South Rim, was amazing, but this is the Emory Peak page. If the South Rim had it's own Yelp page, I would go 5 stars! Once you get to the top, you are rewarded with a pretty good view, and cell phone coverage. At least we had it on two different networks. So get that selfies stick out, and watch your step. If you are aggressive, fast, and start early, you could probably do Emory and South Rim in the same day. Heading to the South Rim takes you to the path for Emory Peak, but it will add several hours. We did not start terribly early, so we just did a quick out and back, from the Chisos Basin Campground ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/chisos-basin-campground-big-bend-national-park ), which is where we were camping. Bottom line: If your pressed for time, I would skip it. Since we did South Rim, I would rather have seen more of the park, but hiking to the tallest spot in the park was pretty cool! PS. Review is a bit late. We were in early March, 2018.