The Official NPS websites

[BIBE Webmaster]

While various sub-pages of the NPS sites have been mentioned here, I feel it's important to belabor the obvious for a moment, and shamelessly self-promote the official website for both Big Bend National Park  and the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River.

Trip planning, news releases, management information, and all manner of cultural and natural resource articles can be found here:

Big Bend National Park
Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

[okiehiker]

The NPS has an easily navigable set of sites for the entire park system.  Just go to www.nps.gov and take it from there.  

You can often guess the specific site...

BIg BEnd is www.nps.gov/BIBE

GRand CAnyon is www.nps.gov/GRCA

CArlsbad CAverns is a notable exception... It is not CACA! ;-)

It is www.nps.gov/CAVE

Thanks Eric, for all the helpful posts.

[presidio]

CArlsbad CAverns is a notable exception... It is not CACA

Yeah, but it used to be, and still is to a lot of people. Pretty hilarious that it took so many years for them to realize they were a vulgarity in Spanish, a source of never-ending entertainment to those that knew. How's that for awareness and sensitivity and being clueless? I wonder who finally explained it to the NPS?

It's very much like the Chevy Nova that wouldn't sell in Mexico.....because it was a Chevy 'no va' or 'no go'. That little linguistics oversight probably cost GM millions since they couldn't sell a car that came from the factory proudly proclaiming it was unreliable.

Moderator note:  See Snopes.com on Nova

[Undertaker]

The 240Z was blue bird in Japan. :?  They might have sold three or four.

Great BB web site Eric.

[RichardM]

See http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parkmgmt/compendium.htm for everything you always wanted to know about regulations in the park.

[SHANEA]

See http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parkmgmt/compendium.htm for everything you always wanted to know about regulations in the park.

Except certain secret sections  

[tinneyr]

You've struck my curiosity.  Without naming locations, what kind of secret things are out there?  The only secret thing I was aware of (which I'm sure isn't much of a secret to the folks here) was the hidden hot springs.

[Casa Grande]

You've struck my curiosity.  Without naming locations, what kind of secret things are out there?  The only secret thing I was aware of (which I'm sure isn't much of a secret to the folks here) was the hidden hot springs.

The Bend holds many many secrets that very very few folks know all about, including myself.

[okiehiker]

One reason the members only area was established is because we sometimes wish to share information about places that would be irreparably harmed by excessive visitation, or would pose a risk to unprepared visitors.  BIBE contains fascinating and rapidly degrading remnants of recent and pre-columbian history.  The desert environment means that special care must taken protecting water, plant and animal resources.  

As time goes by you will discover the wealth of information and experience represented on this board, and the very special place the park and surrounding environment have in all of our hearts.

The park is full of amazing geological features, caves, ancient rock art, cemeteries, ruins of villages, ranch sites, Indian tipis and flint quarries, springs and potholes of water in the desert.  If you make an effort to get off the beaten path you will discover your own secrets none of us has yet found.

[Burn Ban]

The park is full of amazing geological features, caves, ancient rock art, cemeteries, ruins of villages, ranch sites, Indian tipis and flint quarries, springs and potholes of water in the desert.  If you make an effort to get off the beaten path you will discover your own secrets none of us has yet found.

this possibility is one of the reasons the region holds such fascination in my view.  the fact that people on this board (with immense knowledge and experience) admit to not knowing everything, is a testament to the "secrets" of the bend.

as for the nps site: we have been planning a trip for next week, and have found the site to be extremely helpful , easy to navigate, and voluminous in  content.  

to all park employees on this board:  thank you, i'll see you next week.

[RichardM]

See http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parkmgmt/compendium.htm for everything you always wanted to know about regulations in the park.

Back up a level and you'll find links to all of the various regulations:
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm

[TexasGirl]

from http://www.nps.gov/bibe/historyculture/a_rangers_lament.htm

 
Oren P. Senter was transferred to Big Bend from Hot Springs National Park in July of 1944 to serve as the first Park Ranger for the newly established park. At the time the park boasted a total staff of five, and Senter was quite literally the "Lone Ranger." Park Superintendent Ross Maxwell reported that Senter would devote his patrols to "becoming acquainted with the local ranchmen who were still living in the park, meeting local representatives of federal and state agencies, local civic clubs and other citizens." This poem by Senter vividly depicts his frustrations with the challenges this place had to offer.
 

 
THE LONE RANGER LAMENTS
By Park Ranger Oren P. Senter

'Twas once that I was happy,
My life was filled with cheer,
I never had seen Texas,
'Till the Park Service brought me here.

I've heard songs of her beauty,
Pretty girls and big strong men,
Rolling plains and majestic mountains,
Just heaven—from end to end.

The one thing that is certain,
Of this there is no denying,
The guy that started that noise,
Did a hell of a lot of lying.

Deep in the heart of Texas,
There is sand in all we eat,
The girls are all bowlegged,
The boys all have flat feet.

That's why they have to send me here,
To sit in sad dejection,
Out of this lonely desert,
For this park's protection.

No longer are we religious,
We drink, we fight, we curse,
No worry about going to Hell,
It can't be any worse.

Down here the sun is hotter,
Down here the rain is wetter,
They think it's the best state,
But there are forty-seven better.

Still there is no one to blame but me,
The Park Service never forgot it,
I asked for foreign duty, and
Believe me, By God, I Got it.

[RichardM]

I've got to remember to check the Live News Feed on the Portal more often.

Updated Content: High Chisos Backcountry Campsite
Posted new Backcountry Campsite booklet for the High Chisos area.

A most outstanding PDF booklet is now available with everything you always wanted to know about the High Chisos Backcountry Campsites but were afraid to ask:
https://imrcms.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/upload/Chisos_BCSites-2007.pdf

P.S.  I know there's already a Chisos Backcountry topic out there, but I'm too lazy to go find it right now...

[Casa Grande]

I've got to remember to check the Live News Feed on the Portal more often.

yes, what to do about that