NatParks-Lily+S.

=Big Bend National Park=

Founded in June 12, 1944, Big Bend National Park is located in Texas and is on the largest national parks in the United States with an area of 801,163 acres. The highest point of this part is the Chios Mountains at 7,832ft and its lowest point is the Rio Grande at 1,800ft.

The **climate** can vary but it has mostly blue skys and warm weather though it can change quickly and dramatically. The humidity is low and the rainy season is from mid-June to October and consists of heavy thunderstorms. Though it may not seem so, the rainy season can actually be a good time to visit the desert. The hottest time of the year is may to June. Temperatures are very warm and the desert is hat and visitors must dress and prepare accordingly if they plan on a desert hike. If a trip to the mountains is what you plan on, know that every **1000** ft, the temperature will drop **5** degrees.


 * Desert Saftey:**
 * Alway carry water, about 1 gallon per person per day
 * Wear long sleeve shirts, pants, and a hat to protect from the sun and use sunscreen on any exposed skin
 * Springs are unreliable for water as many of them often dry up
 * Do not hike mid day in the summer, hike in the early morning or late evenings to avoid heat
 * Carry a map, compass, first aid kid, phone, flash light, and whistle
 * 3 blows on a whistle is a recognized as a distress call
 * Inpect shoes, sleeping bags, and clothes for any insects or animals as some could be poisonous
 * If encountering a mountain lion: hold your ground, shout, throw stones, and wave your arms. **DO NOT RUN**
 * Swimming in the Rio Grande is not recomended due to micro-organisms and dangerous rocks and currents
 * Store food in cars to prevent attracting animals

There are many recreational activies offered by different resorts and companies arounf Big Bend National Park. One of the most popular activities is hiking the desert trails. The Big Bend Natural History Association offers a hiking guide of the park. However if you don't feel up to walking the trails there are other modes of transportation. There are certain marked trails open to mountain biking like those at Lajitas Resort. Desert Sports offers guided bike trips, bike rentals, bike repair, and any other necessities you might need for your bike trip. Big Bend Expeditions offers guided 4x4 tours as well as hiking tours. If you want to experience the desert the way the pioneers did, you can try your hand at horseback riding. [|Big Bend Stables]offers horse back riding as well as [|Lajitas Stables], located just 3 miles away from Lajitas Resort. Another resort located only three miles from the park is Big Bend Resorts, which offers dining, shopping, golfing, and camping.

__What to see in Big Bend__
There are also many other smaller canyons and rivers located through out the park. media type="youtube" key="oOL4FpnXklI" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="o3on3C7mR8k" height="315" width="420"
 * Santa Elena Canyon** - One of the best known features in the park and the best way to view the canyon and to get the full experience is to canoe or raft through it.
 * Chisos Mountains -** Know as the heart of Big Bend, it is the only mountain range completely contained inside a national park. There is a seven mile long road that goes through the chain.