The Chisos Mountains of Big Bend were born 45 to 30 million years ago when the region experienced several episodes of volcanism followed by periods of quiet. We found the mountainous region to be quite beautiful. Our drive from our campsite at Rio Grande Village to our campsite at Castolon took us around much of the mountain range as shown in the National Park map below.Our drive from our campground at Rio Grand Village on the right to our campground in Castolon on the left took us around a significant portion of the Chisos Mountains. Most of our photos of the mountain were taken when we retraced our drive up from Castolon to visit the Chisos Basin. We did, however take photos from the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail on our way to Castolon. This is a Big Bend National Park map.The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail provided several views of the eastern side of the Chisos Mountains. I believe this is a view into Pine Canyon.Any view of the ‘Old West’ is enhanced by an old-fashioned windmill (not the gigantic modern types). We found this along the nature trail looking out at the mountains.Farther up the road, after we had cut off onto the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, the Chisos Mountains Exhibit gave us a northwestern view of the mountains. Emory Peak, the slight knob on the left, is the highest point in the park at 7,825′ (2385 m).Once situated in Castolon, Peggy and I decided to make a more leisurely trip up the Scenic Highway along the Chisos Mountain to the Chisos Basin. Our first view along the way was one of Big Bend’s most photographed sites: The Mule Ears. They look a bit devilish to me.Another perspective. Do they actually look like mule ears? Close…I took this photo at Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon.Next up on our list of things to see was Goat Mountain. It’s the peak on the left.Closer…Closest! Actually, Goat Mountain was misnamed. What the early pioneers were actually looking at were big horned sheep.But, hey, an ungulate is an ungulate, right? Can you spot the sheep? Just kidding.Remember the old ditty, ‘the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see,’? I’m like the old bear. Always curious. Goat Mountain is the peak on the end. Getting close to the turn off to the Chisos Basin, this was our view. Note the red ridges in the foreground.The red ridges are the Fins of Fire shown on the map. They are volcanic dikes formed when lava forces its way into crevices in rocks as it works its way to the surface and solidifies. Erosion has exposed the red dikes here.Close up of the dikes.Now it’s time to work our way into the Chisos Basin. A window view of where we are going. The large flat rock is Casa Grande.A grand house indeed! But it’s only one of the many views we found in the basin.They range from rocks with character like these…To rocks I found particularly beautiful. Like this.And this. Note the trees and bushes. We are no longer in the desert!Variety in the basin…Is truly…The spice of life.This is Emory Peak, the highest point in the Chisos Mountains.And this is a view back out into the Chihuahuan Desert, where we will return in our next post. See the slight notch on the horizon…It’s this: The Santa Elena Canyon. Located in the Castolon area, it is one of the places we will be exploring.
You sure cover a lot of terrain in your travels and your photos are exquisite. I almost feel like I don’t have to leave how when I see your snap shots and read your commentary, Curt! My fav is the Chisos Mountain to the Chisos Basin photo so vivid and serene. If you ever get tired of the travel, you could house and animal sit and we could trade places for awhile. ha🤣💕💓
Hahahahaha… YES to that.. I wouldn’t want you bored.. lol It really is.. and I wish i had your skill! 💓
I doubt there would be a moment of respite. Grin. I think I’ll keep taking photos.
That’s some rugged country. I’d love to visit at the right time in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. One of our bluebonnet species is known as the Chisos bluebonnet: it’s very tall, and is limited to these mountains and other areas of Big Bend. Here’s one image I found of them. The red dikes are really interesting. There have been so many ways of the earth shaping itself over the years; every time I turn around I’m learning about something new.
You’d feel right at home, Linda, visiting all of the wildflowers and blooming Cacti. And don’t the bluebonnets add a wonderful splash of color to the mountains. Our greatest enjoyment of traveling through deserts is how obvious that “earth shaping” is, right down to the faults.
Hello Travelers! If there wasn’t a bit of green on the ground, some of your pictures look like craters on the moon or some other planet! How wonderful and amazing how they all are such individuals! I know I may have said this before but when we travel from west to east in our state, there is such a definite line when the vegetation becomes dry and brown. It has amazed me all of my life! On the home front, the debate was not really a debate as I would term it. Pretty much an argument. I don’t know your voting choice but Chris Christy has said that the Donald reminded him of a 24-hour leaf blower! I am a Harris supporter myself. You remember the nickname for Nixon so long ago…Tricky Dick. I grew up in a very active political family so my interest is always there. Take care! I really look forward to your travels!
Comparing leaf blowers to DT, Wendy, would be unfair to leaf blowers. Grin.
Having lived in Sacramento with frequent trips into Nevada, I have a great appreciation of just how dramatic a rain-shadow desert can be. Given the rainforest nature of the northwest, your appreciation would be even greater, Wendy. As for Craters of the Moon, Peggy and I love its desolate look. It’s easy to understand how NASA could have chosen it to train our early astronauts!
These land formations are outstanding! Thank you for explaining so much. Love those volcanic dikes and the red colour, and also all the prickly pear in the foreground.
Nice to have the land formations standing out there to see, Crystal! I meant to show some of the prickly pears partially eaten by the peccaries. Neat little round bites. All I could think was what tough mouths they must have. Apparently, in addition to food, they are a major source of water during times when there isn’t any rain!
You noticed how much I like rocks. I do recall Dave, one of may all-time favorite class in college was one on geology. Maybe there was a message for me there…
Laughing, Dave. Pretty funny. Actually, really funny.
Wandering through Time and Place 
So much varied scenery! I think the mule ears are my favorite.
Definitely the most distinctive! LOL
You sure cover a lot of terrain in your travels and your photos are exquisite. I almost feel like I don’t have to leave how when I see your snap shots and read your commentary, Curt! My fav is the Chisos Mountain to the Chisos Basin photo so vivid and serene. If you ever get tired of the travel, you could house and animal sit and we could trade places for awhile. ha🤣💕💓
You might even throw in the grandkids for a brief period of time. Laughing. And thanks. Nature is very accommodating when it comes to photography.
Hahahahaha… YES to that.. I wouldn’t want you bored.. lol It really is.. and I wish i had your skill! 💓
I doubt there would be a moment of respite. Grin. I think I’ll keep taking photos.
That’s some rugged country. I’d love to visit at the right time in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. One of our bluebonnet species is known as the Chisos bluebonnet: it’s very tall, and is limited to these mountains and other areas of Big Bend. Here’s one image I found of them. The red dikes are really interesting. There have been so many ways of the earth shaping itself over the years; every time I turn around I’m learning about something new.
You’d feel right at home, Linda, visiting all of the wildflowers and blooming Cacti. And don’t the bluebonnets add a wonderful splash of color to the mountains. Our greatest enjoyment of traveling through deserts is how obvious that “earth shaping” is, right down to the faults.
Hello Travelers! If there wasn’t a bit of green on the ground, some of your pictures look like craters on the moon or some other planet! How wonderful and amazing how they all are such individuals! I know I may have said this before but when we travel from west to east in our state, there is such a definite line when the vegetation becomes dry and brown. It has amazed me all of my life! On the home front, the debate was not really a debate as I would term it. Pretty much an argument. I don’t know your voting choice but Chris Christy has said that the Donald reminded him of a 24-hour leaf blower! I am a Harris supporter myself. You remember the nickname for Nixon so long ago…Tricky Dick. I grew up in a very active political family so my interest is always there. Take care! I really look forward to your travels!
Comparing leaf blowers to DT, Wendy, would be unfair to leaf blowers. Grin.
Having lived in Sacramento with frequent trips into Nevada, I have a great appreciation of just how dramatic a rain-shadow desert can be. Given the rainforest nature of the northwest, your appreciation would be even greater, Wendy. As for Craters of the Moon, Peggy and I love its desolate look. It’s easy to understand how NASA could have chosen it to train our early astronauts!
Love the colours and contrast in that northwestern view of the mountains.
Lots of color in Big Bend, Peggy. Just about everywhere we turned our cameras!
These land formations are outstanding! Thank you for explaining so much. Love those volcanic dikes and the red colour, and also all the prickly pear in the foreground.
Nice to have the land formations standing out there to see, Crystal! I meant to show some of the prickly pears partially eaten by the peccaries. Neat little round bites. All I could think was what tough mouths they must have. Apparently, in addition to food, they are a major source of water during times when there isn’t any rain!
Amazing to imagine just chomping at a cactus.
I’ve eaten cactus, but only after the thistles were removed!
Spectacular scenery!
Alison
Yes, it is!
So, in another life, would you be a geologist?
I’ve always thought “ungulate” was a strange word. Especially, as at least back in the days, they used hooves as a glue-ant.
You noticed how much I like rocks. I do recall Dave, one of may all-time favorite class in college was one on geology. Maybe there was a message for me there…
Laughing, Dave. Pretty funny. Actually, really funny.