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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature; Sites by State >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> Texas >> Big Bend National Park – Texas >> Big Bend National Park – Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive - Texas tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Big Bend National Park – Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive - Texas

Images of Big Bend National Park – Southwestern Texas, taken in March 2016.

Among the many interesting sites along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive the highlight had to be the spot where the Rio Grande enters Santa Elena Canyon. Its sheer 1500 foot limestone cliffs rising straight up from the river demonstrate the power of the water over thousands of years. As with all the terrain along the Rio Grande River the southern banks reside in Mexico while the northern side of the river belong to the United States,

I also hiked into the desert to get a closer view of the Mules Ears Peaks, another area where erosion, water and wind, played a big part in forming these odd shaped points. I traversed two trails to get “behind” the peaks and along the way passed through the Mule Ears Springs a true desert oasis which teamed with plant and animal life.
The Rio Grande River where it enters Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The Rio Grande River where it enters Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park		 The 1500 foot limestone cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The 1500 foot limestone cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park		 The Rio Grande River cutting through Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The Rio Grande River cutting through Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park		 The Rio Grande River in Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The Rio Grande River in Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park		 The Mexican cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The Mexican cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
Looking out of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
Looking out of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park		 The Rio Grande River where it enters Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The Rio Grande River where it enters Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park		 The Mexican wall of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
The Mexican wall of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park		 Santa Elena Canyon (Mexico on the left, US on the right) in Big Bend National Park
Santa Elena Canyon (Mexico on the left, US on the right) in Big Bend National Park		 Santa Elena Canyon as viewed from the Old Maverick Road in Big Bend National Park
Santa Elena Canyon as viewed from the Old Maverick Road in Big Bend National Park
View along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park
View along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park		 Cerro Castellan (3293 ft.) along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park
Cerro Castellan (3293 ft.) along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park		 A Roadrunner with its prey in Big Bend National Park
A Roadrunner with its prey in Big Bend National Park		 Lechuguilla plant in Big Bend National Park
Lechuguilla plant in Big Bend National Park		 A Prickly Pear cactus with long needles in Big Bend National Park
A Prickly Pear cactus with long needles in Big Bend National Park
Working windmill at the ruins of the Sam Nail Ranch site in Big Bend National Park
Working windmill at the ruins of the Sam Nail Ranch site in Big Bend National Park		 Remains of an adobe structure at the site of the Sam Nail Ranch in Big Bend National Park
Remains of an adobe structure at the site of the Sam Nail Ranch in Big Bend National Park		 Ravens perched in a dead tree in Big Bend National Park
Ravens perched in a dead tree in Big Bend National Park		 An old windmill at the Sam Nail Ranch with the Chisos Mountains in the background in Big Bend National Park
An old windmill at the Sam Nail Ranch with the Chisos Mountains in the background in Big Bend National Park		 Rock Nettle flowers in Big Bend National Park
Rock Nettle flowers in Big Bend National Park
Torrey Yucca plant blooming in Big Bend National Park
Torrey Yucca plant blooming in Big Bend National Park		 Box canyon along the Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail in Big Bend National Park
Box canyon along the Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail in Big Bend National Park		 Burro Mesa Pouroff, a sheer runoff chute, in Big Bend National Park
Burro Mesa Pouroff, a sheer runoff chute, in Big Bend National Park		 Canyon cliffs along the Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail in Big Bend National Park
Canyon cliffs along the Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail in Big Bend National Park		 Torrey Yucca plant bloom in Big Bend National Park
Torrey Yucca plant bloom in Big Bend National Park
Mule Ears Peaks from the overlook in Big Bend National Park
Mule Ears Peaks from the overlook in Big Bend National Park		 Hedgehog cactus with the Mule Ears Peaks from the Mule Ears Spring Trail in Big Bend National Park
Hedgehog cactus with the Mule Ears Peaks from the Mule Ears Spring Trail in Big Bend National Park		 Crystals on the Pack Trail past Mule Ears Springs in Big Bend National Park
Crystals on the Pack Trail past Mule Ears Springs in Big Bend National Park		 Sotol plants on the Mule Ears Springs Trail in Big Bend National Park
Sotol plants on the Mule Ears Springs Trail in Big Bend National Park		 Mule Ears Peaks from the Pack Trail in Big Bend National Park
Mule Ears Peaks from the Pack Trail in Big Bend National Park
Long needle Prickly Pear cactus along the Pack Trail in Big Bend National Park
Long needle Prickly Pear cactus along the Pack Trail in Big Bend National Park		 Moth at Mule Ears Spring in Big Bend National Park
Moth at Mule Ears Spring in Big Bend National Park		 Cactus along the Mule Ears Spring Trail in Big Bend National Park
Cactus along the Mule Ears Spring Trail in Big Bend National Park		 Butterfly on a Desert Marigold in Big Bend National Park
Butterfly on a Desert Marigold in Big Bend National Park		 Early morning light on a peak in Big Bend National Park
Early morning light on a peak in Big Bend National Park

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Pam Shanahan 13-Mar-2016 03:35
Incredible! So glad you got your RV and car fixed. Interesting photos from a NP I know nothing about....
Dale Gentry 08-Mar-2016 21:42
I have always wondered why there was a Big Bend National Park. It's on my bucket list, but I have never seen anything about it. Your photos are impressive. For a state that is basically rolling hills and prairie, these mountains are beautiful. Your photos have taken me there. I need to see this park. Thanks again.
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