Big Bend National Park (Episode 2)

Send us Fan MailThe deed establishing Big Bend National Park crossed President Roosevelt's desk on June 6th, 1944 — D-Day. Even on the most pivotal day of World War II, someone thought it was worth setting this place aside.Big Bend sits at the edge of the United States, sharing 118 miles with Mexico and protecting the darkest skies in the lower 48 states, more bird species than any other national park, and 10,000 years of human history in its desert, canyons, and mountains.Tom Vandenberg, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at Big Bend, joins The Parks Podcast to tell the full story — the park's remarkable origin, the communities that called this land home for generations, and everything you need to know to plan your visit.In this episode: — Why the park deed was signed on D-Day — and what that says about why parks matter — The biodiversity that makes Big Bend unlike any other park in the system — The history of the communities that lived here long before the park existed — A guide to the park's key areas: Chisos Basin, Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village, and Castolon — River trips through Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas Canyons — The darkest skies in the lower 48 — and how to plan around the moon cycle — Why birding at Big Bend belongs on every birder's bucket list — Camping reservations, peak season, dogs, and everything else you need to know before you goLinks mentioned:Plan your visitCamping reservationsChisos Mountains LodgeRiver outfittersSupport the show