Located in Southwest Texas, Big Bend National Park is a spectacular sight. With over a million acres of public land, visitors can easily spend days in this gorgeous landscape filled with mountains, rivers, desert land, forests, and ample wildlife. Thanks to daytime activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, river trips, and sightseeing, it isn't hard to keep oneself entertained here for hours at a time. But, unlike most state or national parks, when the sun goes down in Big Bend, the fun doesn't just end (Big Bend is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day). So, when planning your next outing, don't hesitate to add a few more activities, like these eight things to do in Big Bend National Park after dark.
8 Stargazing
Big Bend is known for its stunning star-filled skies. Here, you can truly take in all the beauty above due to this national treasure's lack of light pollution. Stargazers will find that there is more than one way to marvel at Big Bend's nighttime skyline (DIY or Night Sky Programs). What's more, there is an abundance of amazing spots throughout the park that offer spectacular views like Santa Elana Overlook, Tuff Canyon, Mule Ears View Point, Maverick Junction, Grapevine Hills, and Chisos Basin Overlook—to name a few.
7 Hike By The Moonlight
Yet another great nighttime activity to partake in at Big Bend is a moonlit hike or moonwalk. One of the best spots for a hike/walk by moonlight is at Grapevine Hills. Sound interesting? You can join a ranger-led hiking group for a two-mile hike in the enchanting desert, which is the safest way to go, even for those with extensive hiking experience. Hikers can also make reservations in advance for free transportation to other ideal moonlit spots throughout the park. As an added bonus, if you head out early enough, you can catch one of this area's phenomenal sunsets.
6 Catch Some Fireflies
There are more than a few species of fireflies in Texas, so nighttime park guests should make it a point to check out this free light show of sorts. That said, it is highly recommended that you practice catch and release if you do happen upon any fireflies and their delightful and dreamy light display. In addition to possible firefly sightings, visitors should be mindful of the nocturnal wildlife in the park. This means keeping your eyes peeled for anything that goes bump in the night, including gray foxes, kangaroo rats, black bears, coyotes, rattlesnakes, cougars, and more than a dozen species of bats.
5 Night Photography Workshops
If you fancy yourself a photographer, you should check out one of the night photography workshops available at Big Bend. Photographers can take their night mode shots to the next level for a nominal fee. These workshops teach important photography skills, cover major nighttime photography techniques, offer the latest creative tips/hacks, and provide the chance to capture the Milky Way in all its stunning glory (depending on the time of year). You can register now or reserve your spot for this September's Milky Way In Big Bend Workshop.
4 Nighttime Music, Concerts, Festivals, And More
Big Bend park guests can enjoy live music, concerts, and regularly scheduled music festivals. For instance, the Viva Big Bend Festival is set to return this summer. This festival promises music lovers a large-scale lineup with over 50+ bands across ten nearby venues. Since Big Bend is open all year round, many of these same festival venues have live bands playing nightly and host the occasional concert. Plus, there is always that one camper who seemingly has their guitar handy no matter where you are in the park, and rightly so; after all, what is camping without at least one of your musically-inclined friends.
3 Campfire Storytelling
Big Bend is no stranger to Airbnb stays, glamping, nearby resorts, hotels, cabin rentals, and the standard everyday lodgings. But why would anyone want to miss the opportunity to camp out under the stars or sit around the campfire with friends in such a beautiful place? Well, the good news is there are several campsites, campgrounds, outlying areas, and even ghost town lodgings—all of which provide the perfect backdrop for campfire storytelling. Better still, being able to utter the words: submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society just one time in Big Bend should be reason enough.
2 Get Out Your Glow-In-The-Dark Games & Gear
Big Bend after dark can truly be anything your heart desires, or you choose to make it. So, why not change things up a bit by making sure to pack any glow-in-the-dark games or gear you have. As briefly mentioned, Big Bend has little to no light pollution—which makes for optimal glow-in-the-dark fun. Therefore, some glow-in-the-dark activities and outdoor shenanigans are more than warranted here. Everything from glow-in-the-dark ring toss to bowling to golf to TikTok dance challenges can happen, so put away that classic game of charades and plan accordingly.
1 A Party Under The Stars
Ultimately, the best thing about Big Bend National Park is that it does not close at dusk, and there are more than a few activities to choose from to keep everyone content. Park guests can truly pick their poison here, no matter the time of day. Of course, if you are a person who prefers to play things by ear, or you have one of those people in your travel group, then there is no harm in combining all the suggested activities above and simply calling it a party under the stars.