The wide-open spaces of west Texas lured a record 581,000 recreational visits to remote Big Bend in 2021. These numbers reflect a 25% increase since 2019 (464,000), the last year the park was completely open, and a 49% increase since 2016 (390,000). Once relatively unknown, the Big Bend area continues to see a significant increase in visitation, and the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in even more visitors seeking out the qualities of this special place.
“This is a significant milestone,” said Chief of Interpretation & Visitor Services Tom VandenBerg. “When Big Bend National Park was established in 1944, a mere 1,400 visitors arrived that first year, but park promoters dreamed of a day when the area would host half a million visitors. That dream has now become reality.”
Park managers continue to address the effect that increasing visitation is having on visitor and employee safety, resource protection, visitor experiences and operational capacity. Increasingly, during the busiest times of the year, it has been necessary for park employees to limit vehicle access to the popular Lost Mine Trail, Chisos Basin, Hot Springs, Boquillas Port of Entry, Boquillas Canyon and Santa Elena Canyon Trail when all parking is full and heavy congestion warrants. During the winter holidays, spring break and many extended holiday weekends, visitors may find “one-in, one-out” traffic control measures in these areas and should have alternative itineraries planned.
