Gorgeous gorges

Tucked in a remote corner of West Texas, Big Bend is one of only two national parks in the Lone Star State. Named for a crook in the course of the Rio Grande where the river flows through sheer gorges split between the US and Mexico, the park protects more than 800,000 acres of unique Chihuahuan Desert landscape. With elevations within Big Bend ranging from 1,800 to 7,800 feet, the high- and low-desert ecologies here support thousands of plant and animal species. That includes 60 types of cactus—so watch your step while you're gawking at this gorgeous view.