Big Sky, Big Cloud, Evening Light

Most evenings in the mountains, the sunset takes on a drama. Sometimes the color is easter egg-soft, and others the clouds are bigger than life and boiling with energy.

Another Sun in El Paso

El Paso celebrates its sunny weather with artist-made orbs all over the city. Here's a detail from one gracing the grounds of the new El Paso Musuem of History, right downtown.

View from inside the stagecoach

Riding the Butterfield Overland Mail stage at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the 150th anniversary of the first ride.

For more information on Butterfield Celebrations around Texas, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

For more information about the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/gumo

Stagecoach at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Today's festivities celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Butterfield Overland Mail, the first transcontinental mail delivery by stagecoach offered visitors rides near the historic Butterfield route.

The celebration continues tomorrow!

For information about celebrations across the state of Texas, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Cholla Fruit

Visible all over the region, the cholla cactus.

When visiting the region, plan to stop at one of our Mountain Desert Nature Centers. Click here for a list!

Officers Quarters

If you are attending any of the statewide Butterfield Overland Mail sesquicentennial festivities, don't miss Fort Davis.

This small mountain community has the longest unpaved stretch of the stagecoach route, used a year after the Butterfield company started their transcontinental mail delivery.

Pictured here are the officers quarters at the Fort Davis National Historic Site, built after the Butterfield stages came rambling through the region. Plan also to visit Fort Davis' Overland Trail museum for artifacts from this fascinating mountain community.

For information on Butterfield events statewide, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Sign along El Paso's Mission Trail

When visiting El Paso County's Mission Trail, visitors are in the heart of an agricultural district near the Rio Grande. Signs like this are common, and there are produce stands and mom-and-pop places to visit, such as this small grocery.

Desert Wildflowers

Taken near Van Horn!

El Paso the Sun City

The sun shines 305 days out of the year in El Paso, leading it to be called The Sun City.

In honor of our great weather, you can see "suns" like this one all over the city. This one is located in Cleveland Square Park in downtown El Paso

Scenic Loop in Jeff Davis County

A tranquil view of the Scenic Loop near Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County. The route is a popular ride for cyclists.

For information on cycling in the Texas Mountain Trail region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Familiar Ranch Scene

Taken near Marathon, Texas.

Mountains in the Clouds

Our late summer rains are continuing, making the desert surprisingly green. Here's a shot just north of Van Horn on Hwy 54 on the way to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Urban Wildlife

Even in the center of the city, there's wildlife to enjoy. This photo was taken last week just outside the Museum of History in El Paso's downtown Cleveland Square Park.

The Gage Gardens

Just south of the train tracks in Marathon is a quiet place worth a stroll. The Gage Hotel has gardens open to the public, with serene places to sit and enjoy the green oasis.

Just to the east of the public area, is the hotel restaurant's organic garden. Diners at the Cafe Cenizo restaurant enjoy the locally produced fruits, vegetables and herbs.

The Gage is one of the Texas Mountain Trail region's historic hotels...check out the entire list at www.texasmountaintrail.com/historichotels

Butterfield Stage

The El Paso Museum of History is showing an exhibit of Butterfield Overland Mail artifacts to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the start of the stagecoach route across the country.

You can learn more about Butterfield festivities here: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Mule Ears

Another great photo from Rhonda Tipton of Houston, this time of Mule Ears in Big Bend National Park!

For a hiking guide to a region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Javelina

A great shot by Rhonda Tipton of Houston, javelina at Big Bend National Park!

Three Tops of Marfa

Another view of Marfa's skyline and the top of the Presidio County Courthouse. Visitors can climb to the top...and experience that is one of our region's Top Ten 15 Minute Rest Breaks from the Road, check it out here!

This photo was taken by Clara Riggs of Houston. Thanks, Clara!

Road to Balmorhea

It has been raining lately, transforming the desert into a very green place. Here's a lovely photo, taken by Clara Riggs of Houston on the road from Fort Davis to Balmorhea.

Highest Point in Texas

Just behind El Capitan (pictured here) in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park is Guadalupe Peak, which at 8,749 feet, is the highest point in Texas.

The park is also the location of the historic meeting of the first eastern- and western-bound stagecoaches on the Butterfield Overland Mail, which celebrates its sesquicentennial this month.

The park is hosting a celebration on September 27 and 28...read more about this event and others at: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

For hiking information, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Butterfield Overland Mail Celebrations

In the coming days, history enthusiasts will be celebrating the sesquicentennial of the first overland mail delivery by stagecoach, the Butterfield Overland Mail.

Pictured here is part of the southern route which wasn't used until 1859, through Fort Davis. Starting at the Fort Davis National Historic Site, and then along Fort Street in the community of Fort Davis, visitors can still walk the longest unpaved portion of the route, almost two miles.

Stop along the way to visit the Overland Trail Museum which celebrates local history!

And take a look at other celebrations planned across the state at: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

Cyclist taking photos in Big Bend

One of the great things about seeing Big Bend National Park by bike is the ease of getting off the road to take photos.

For information about cycling in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Indian Paintbrush

Blooming in Dog Canyon at Guadalupe Mountains National Park!

Subtle Color

Beautiful subtle color in this lizard. Photo taken by Houstonian Rhonda Tipton during her recent trip to Big Bend National Park.

Interior of Socorro Mission

Taken during renovation, this lovely altar graces Socorro Mission, part of El Paso County's Mission Trail.

Green, green, green after the summer rains

The desert floor and grasslands react beautifully to our summer rains.

Pictured here is the road from Alpine to Fort Davis.

Flowering Cholla

Found all over the region, the lovely flowering cholla.

Plan to visit one of our great Mountain Desert Nature Centers!

Cyclists leaving Fort Davis for the Scenic Loop

One of the best rides in the state is the 74 mile Scenic Loop...the starting point is Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County.

The ride goes by McDonald Observatory, the trailhead for the Madera Canyon trail, Prude Ranch, Davis Mountains State Park, and Fort Davis National Historic Site.

For more information on cycling in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Thanks to Bart Childers for this photo!

Football Season

One of the prettiest places to see high school football anywhere, is right at the Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail in Van Horn.

The stadium overlooks the cemetery (where Tommy Lee Jones filmed Three Burials of Melquiedes Estrada) and Turtleback and Six Mile Mountains.

Views from Pinto Canyon

A great drive awaits travelers with high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicles--Pinto Canyon in Presidio County.

This is a great shot by Mark Donet of Alpine, as he drove south from Marfa to Ruidosa.