Photographing Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is massive. It's the largest national park in the system. It's full of beauty, has excellent hiking but is accessible by vehicle (and as such has many scenic drives).

Big Bend is one of the darkest places on the planet and makes for great astrophotography, including photographing the Milkyway.

There is a campground in Chisos Basin with electrical hookups and bathrooms. There are several campgrounds in the backcountry that can be hiked to. These are on a first-come-first-serve basis.

There is a lodge located inside the park. Use recreation.gov to book a stay.

When to Visit

The best seasons for photography are the fall, winter and early spring. Winters can be cold. The park is just much too hot to visit in the summer.

Gear to Bring

Some good lenses to bring are 24-120mm on a full frame camera or 16-80mm on an APS-C sized sensor. Because the park is so large, long lenses certainly can be useful. Longer options include 200-500mm. Yes, 500mm, as there is wildlife. But do not think a lens this long is required, and if hiking, be wary of carrying this much gear. A tripod is optional.

Cellphone Service

Verizon cell service was available in some of the more populated areas of the park.

Relates links:

• Grand Teton National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Yosemite (Valley) National Park
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park
• Big Bend National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park