The vast country that is known as Big Bend has an incredible wealth of different terrain -- mountains, rivers, deserts, canyons and basins. I was constantly in awe of this plethora of varieties of landscape. Now, sit tight and take a virtual tour with me ...

1. A scene near Persimmon Gap, which is the north entrance of the park.
2. Rock formations near Persimmon Gap.
3. Desert near Persimmon Gap.
4. Giant yucca plant at Park Headquarters at Panther's Junction.
5. Casa Grande ("Big House" in Spanish) is the third highest peak in Chisos Mountains and it is my personal favorite. Case Grande is a rock with many faces (as you will see later on).
6. Giant yucca plants in Chisos Basin with Casa Grande in the background.
7. A scene in Chisos Basin.
8. Chisos Lodge with Casa Grande in the background.
9. At sunset, Casa Grande put on a different makeup.
10. A few minutes later, after the sun disappeared from horizon, Casa Grande changed its face again.
11. Sunset at the "The Window" in Chisos Basin.
12. The back side of Casa Grande at sunrise, with the crescent moon still setting.
13. A deer on the Lost Mine Trail.
14. A scene at the end of Lost Mine Trail.
15. The back side of Casa Grande in the early morning sun.
16. A deer in Chisos Basin.
17. A scene on the way to Rio Grande Village.
18. The Rio Grande ("Big River" in Spanish) at the Rio Grande Village.
19. Cactus flowers.
20. A scene on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, a stunningly beautiful moving gallery.
21. A scene on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive (I believe this one is near Sotol Vista).
22. Rock formations on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.
23. Another scene on Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.
24. Snow in Big Bend in June? White sand?  No, this is volcanic ash from millions of years ago.
25. Castolon, on the west side of the park, near Santa Elena Canyon.
26. A little canyon in Terlingua Ghost Town, which I suspect is part of the Terlingua Creek. Terlingua Ghost Town is actually outside the park.
27. Terlingua Ghost Town.
28. A scene on Old Maverick's Road.
29. The breathtaking Santa Elena Canyon.
30. The Rio Grande and Terlingua Creek seen from the cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon.
31. Santa Elena Canyon seen at the end of the trail (which goes up the cliffs then goes down to the Rio Grande.
32. On the cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon.
33. Lajitas, a town outside of the park (on the west side).
34. Oasis in the desert? No, this is a golf resort in Lajitas. The looks can be deceiving, as the resort sucks up a lot of underground water and is potentially devastating to the desert ecosystem.
35. The Rio Grande along El Camino Del Rio ("The River Road" in Spanish), which goes from Lajitas to Presidio.
36. The eternal Rio Grande along the beautiful El Camino Del Rio.