We're working on a long-term project on Dining Along Historic Highways, and thought you might like a peek at what we're up to.  Van Horn sits on both the Old Spanish Trail and the Bankhead Highway, and has served travelers for generations.  Want to see the entire "feature," including historic and modern photos, and the full recipe for Icebox Cookies with Pecans from a 1934 community cookbook?  Click HERE!

Join the Texas Mountain Trail!

Now you can join us by becoming a member of our non-profit organization serving Far West Texas, our Texas Mountain Trail!  We're offering great benefits for your support, including our heartfelt thanks for helping us do more to connect you with their own adventure in the Texas Mountains!

Follow this link to our membership page for a listing of all our benefit levels, and easy, safe giving!  Many thanks!

Shady Closed Canyon

Now that the summer's heating up, we've got a short trail for you that's in shade much of the time.  Just off the River Road, Hwy 170, in Big Bend Ranch State Park is Closed Canyon.

The 1.4 mile trail descends into a deep, draw with massive rock walls.  Here's the Backpacker magazine review of the trail. 

Water cut through rock to create the canyon, so take note of the weather.  When storms threaten, it is best to save this hike for dryer days. Flash floods can happen in sudden storms, and the steep rock make escape difficult.

In the heat of the summer, though, Closed Canyon offers a quiet shady respite from the road.

Pronghorn

Photo courtesy of Texas Historical Commission

Taken outside Marfa

While the drought has affected pronghorn populations, we still see them in the wild in our region, especially from the side of the road in grassland areas between Van Horn and Marfa, as well as the Alpine and Fort Davis areas.  Read more about pronghorn here and here!

Stormy May Skies

Another Marfa sunset beauty on a rare stormy night....taken last night!

Get Ready for Viva Big Bend!

Last year, the region was packed with music lovers.  This year proves to be the same.  Make your reservations now, buy your tickets now for Viva Big Bend, July 25-28, in Alpine, Fort Davis, Marfa and Marathon!  Already some accommodations are sold out, so act now!

Want to learn more?  Here's a link to the festival's FAQ page.  And one to their lineup page!

Birding in Big Bend

Birding in the Chisos Basin
of Big Bend National Park

Big Bend is a terrific place to see birds, and there are lots of resources to help you get the most out of your adventure.

The Big Bend National Park has a birding page, here.

The Far West Texas Wildlife Trail has many birding locations...read about them here.

Birding resources, trips, guides:

Birding in Big Bend National Park with Mark Flippo

Birding trips through Mountain Trails Lodge of Fort Davis

Big Bend - Texas Nature: Surveys, Scouting and Guiding