The ultimate guide to Big Bend National Park

There are plenty of great hikes near Big Bend, and the Closed Canyon Trail is one. This slot canyon in nearby Big Bend Ranch takes you down to the Rio Grande and back. It's only 1.4 miles round trip, making for a quick and easy journey. If it has rained recently, prepare to be walking and wading through puddles in the canyon on your way down.

The closest major town to Big Bend is the funky, artsy community of Marfa. One of the most Marfa places you can eat is at Food Shark, a ramshackle food truck that serves up amazing Mediterranean-style grub for lunch. You'll find outdoor seating and light and healthy meals.

Pro tips: Food Shark is cash only and gives change with dollar coins. Also, food is served only until the restaurant runs out. Since this is a super popular joint, get there early.

The Pine Canyon Trail is a not-frequently-traversed hiking trail, but after a heavy rain, the payoff can be spectacular, offering views of a waterfall. Most of the year the falls just trickle, but after a downpour, there's a substantial cascade.

Back in Marfa, you can add a bit of the unexplained to your adventure. The Marfa Lights have been an unsolved mystery for decades. Most often described as an orb or several orbs that glow intensely, these lights reportedly can remain stationary, dart around, or even split into multiple orbs. The lights are usually white or yellow but have been seen as green, blue, and red. They often are first mistaken for car headlights—until they start moving in unnatural ways.

There's an official viewing center off Highway 90 where you have a good chance of experiencing the phenomenon for yourself.

The Gage Hotel in Marathon is home to the White Buffalo Bar. Its saloon-like ambiance makes it a great place to grab dinner or drinks. The bar menu isn't extensive, as the drinks are the star of the show. You'll find a wide array of margaritas, cocktails, and tequilas. For an upscale meal, visit the 12 Gage Restaurant.

In true Texas fashion, you can find Wild West ghost towns dotted in the region around Big Bend. In Terlingua, a former mining community, you can see the abandoned Chisos Mining Company buildings, where mercury was extracted in the late 19th century.

For kayakers, Santa Elena Canyon is another must. This spot is popular with paddlers looking to spend time exploring the river as it winds through the canyon, with its incredibly huge 1,500 foot walls. You can also paddle upstream to Fern Canyon and then float back to the put-in for a day trip.