Brewster County is defined by dramatic changes in elevation. It is home to Big Bend National Park; U.S. Highway 385 enters the county from the northeast and continues south to the park. The terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous, with elevations ranging from 1,700 to 7,825 feet above sea level. This difference in elevation is also reflected in the plant life.
Landscapes at Different Elevations
Drought-resistant desert shrubs grow at lower elevations, while oak, juniper and pine forests are found on higher slopes. Dry lowlands and wooded slopes therefore form contrasting landscapes side by side. Black Gap WMA covers about 103,000 acres in an area of low-elevation Chihuahuan Desert, where the Sierranias del Burro and Sierra del Carmen ranges extend into Texas.
Species found in Brewster County include desert bighorn sheep, black bears, roadrunners, painted buntings and Colima warblers. Bighorn sheep from Black Gap WMA have expanded their range into Big Bend National Park. This connection links a specific wildlife management area with a change in the species’ range, while the other species listed illustrate the county’s wildlife diversity.
Mercury Mining and a Long History
In the Terlingua Mining District, mercury was among the leading U.S. production commodities during most of the first half of the 20th century. Another notable mercury-mining site is the Mariscal Mine: abandoned since the 1940s, it is isolated because of its remote location in the heart of Big Bend National Park. It is considered the best-preserved mercury-mining site in Texas and is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Hot Springs Historic District preserves a history of human habitation spanning thousands of years through the recent past. Rock art is visible there, and several buildings remain. The Fossil Discovery Exhibit offers another glimpse into the past, illustrating changes in Big Bend’s plants and animals over 130 million years of Earth’s history. As of September 5, 2026, the exhibit is fully wheelchair accessible. The Brewster County Courthouse was built in 1887 and is recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
The Museum of the Big Bend is located on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Big Bend Ranch State Park also gives the region a distinct geographical reference point: it stretches along the Rio Grande from southeast of Presidio to near Lajitas and lies in Brewster and Presidio counties. In 2018, the International Dark-Sky Association designated the park a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park.
Trails and Practical Information
The Santa Elena Canyon Trail ends where the canyon wall meets the Rio Grande. Dog Canyon offers a different experience: the moderately difficult hike covers 4 miles round trip on a well-marked trail. One trail is defined by its endpoint at the river, while the other is described by a specific distance and difficulty level.
The Rio Grande Village Nature Trail includes a flat, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that crosses a wetland; the trail is suitable for birdwatching and photography. The river corridor at Rio Grande Village offers year-round birdwatching opportunities. Dugout Wells is a shady oasis with cottonwood trees and tables for picnicking and birdwatching.
Even finding a trailhead can be straightforward: the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail trailhead is across the road from the Dugout Wells picnic area and is marked by a brown wooden sign. To plan a visit to Big Bend National Park, visitors can download park maps and content for offline use with the National Park Service Mobile App.
Explore more destinations: Marathon, Alpine, Terlingua, Lajitas, Gray, Delta County, Frio County, Presidio County.
For the main travel overview: Texas.
