The Castolon Visitor Center is located within the historic Garlick House in Castolon. This small adobe building is located on the edge of a bluff with expansive views of the Rio Grande floodplain, and 1,500 feet high cliffs of the Sierra Ponce extending into Mexico. The nearby Magdalena House exhibit building offers exhibits highlighting the lives of early bi-cultural, bi-national settlers who worked together to live in this remote area. The visitor center contains an information desk and some sales items. Historic images are on display that highlight the rich border culture and history of the Castolon area.

Located in the Castolon Historic District, the Castolon Visitor Center is open daily during the winter months. River use permits are issued during normal business hours, and entrance fees can be paid at the Castolon Visitor Center. The Castolon Visitor Center has a Big Bend Natural History Association bookstore and nearby restrooms. The visitor center is located in the historic Garlick House, immediately behind the Magdalena House Exhibits. Stop by to meet a ranger and plan your adventure.

Castolon Exhibit Building - Magdalena House

Magdalena House exhibits

The historic adobe Garlick House serves as the Castolon Visitor Center

Castolon Visitor Center

Open seasonally, November through mid-April 
Daily 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Closed for lunch.

Closed for Summer

Closed today for Volunteer Appreciation Event

Christmas Day

Castolon NPS Passport Stamp

The Chisos Basin Visitor Center is located in the Chisos Basin developed area, where the road into the mountains ends. It sits in a bowl or basin, completely surrounded by high mountains. A low "V" at the western side of the basin is the low point through which water exists the basin, and provides a stunning view to the desert below. Located near the visitor center are the hotel rooms, gift shop, restaurant, and campstore that are part of the Chisos Mountains Lodge complex. The inside of the visitor center includes a small bookstore, exhibits that talk about the wildlife and plantlife of the Chisos Mountains, and an information desk. Restrooms and a water bottle filling station are located out in front of the visitor center.

The Chisos Basin Visitor Center includes interactive exhibits on plants, animals, and birds found in the Chisos Mountains. Backcountry and river use permits are issued during normal business hours, and entrance fees can be paid at the visitor center. A Big Bend Natural History Association bookstore and restrooms are located at the visitor center. A water faucet is available on the east side of the building for filling personal water containers

Chisos Basin Visitor Center

Mountain Lion exhibit

Open all year, 8:30am-4:00pm. 
Closed for lunch. (12:00 pm-1:00 pm). 
Reduced hours on Christmas day.

Christmas Day--Reduced Hours

Chisos Basin Passport Stamp

Panther Junction Visitor Center is located at a major junction in Big Bend National Park. From here, roads continue in three directions: Rio Grande Village to the east, Persimmon Gap towards the north, and the Chisos Basin and Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to the west. From the large parking lot, the center includes an outdoor native plant garden, a covered porch area, and main entrance. Inside, there are interesting exhibits that highlight the many activities visitors enjoy throughout the park, as well as a Big Bend Natural History Association Bookstore. A large relief map of the entire park is especially popular. A theater room provides regular viewings of the park film. Adjacent to the visitor center you will find a small US Post Office, and restrooms.

Panther Junction Visitor Center is the best place to begin your visit. Backcountry & river use permits are issued here. Entrance fees can be paid here. Exhibits provide an overview of geology & natural and cultural histories of the park. The visitor center also has a theater with a park orientation movie shown upon request.The visitor center complex includes a Big Bend Natural History Association bookstore, U.S. Post Office, and restrooms. A water faucet is available for filling personal water containers

Panther Junction Visitors Center

Exterior View of Panther Junction Visitor Center

Big Bend Natural History Assn. Bookstore

Raised Relief Map of the entire park

Engaging exhibits at Panther Junction Visitor Center

Exhibits at Panther Junction Visitor Center

Panther Junction Visitor Center

Open all year, 8:30 am-5:00 pm. Reduced hours on Christmas day.

Big Bend National Park passport stamp

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River stamp

Panther Junction and Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River Passport Stamps are available.

The Persimmon Gap Visitor Center is located in a low pass between the Santiago Mountains at the northern end of the park. This pass has been a travel corridor for centuries for people entering and exiting the lower Big Bend country. The area around the visitor center includes the main building, a shaded picnic table with outdoor information exhibits, and a vault toilet. The visitor center is a one-story, white adobe structure with labeled desert plants growing in raised beds at the base. The inside of the visitor center contains a large open room with exhibits, a bookstore, and an information counter. To the right are indoor restrooms with flush toilets and sinks.

Located at the north entrance to the park, Persimmon Gap Visitor Center offers park orientation and information. The visitor center has exhibits, bookstore, mini-theater, and restrooms. River permits for the Lower Canyons are issued during normal business hours, and entrance fees can be paid at the Persimmon Gap Visitor Center.

A side view of a white-walled adobe building with desert plants out front.

Persimmon Gap Visitor Center

Persimmon Gap VC

Open daily from November 1 through April 25
10:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Closed for lunch from 12:30-1:30

Closed for summer

Persimmon Gap NPS Passport Stamp

At the Persimmon Gap Visitor Center, you can obtain the stamp for both Persimmon Gap and Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River.

The Visitor Center is located a short distance from the campground and the Rio Grande. It is situated in a flat area, surrounded by mesquite trees, cacti, shrubs, and other desert plants. A number of plants growing in front of the visitor center have been labeled with their names. Just outside the front door are restrooms, benches, and a water bottle filling station. A bookstore, exhibits, and an information table are located inside. An outdoor ramada showcases a large raised-relief map of the area, and life-sized bronze sculptures showcase some of the area's special wildlife.

The Rio Grande Village Visitor Center is located 0.25 miles north of the Rio Grande Village developed area. New exhibits focus on the Rio Grande (how it has changed over time, how the NPS works with our Mexican counterparts to protect and care for it, and the rich assemblage of species that it supports). An outdoor ramada showcases a large raised-relief map of the area, and life-sized bronze sculptures showcase some of the area's special wildlife. River use permits are issued during normal business hours.

A view from inside the visitor center through large windows, looking out to a covered patio.

Rio Grande Village Visitor Center

Three people stand inside a room with a high ceiling and tile floors.

Inside of Rio Grande Village Visitor Center

A relief map and information panels sit under a shade structure.

Outdoor exhibits at Rio Grande Village Visitor Center

Outdoor Exhibits

Open seasonally, November 1 through April 30, 9:00am-4:30pm. Closed for lunch.

Late season schedule

Closed during summer

Big Bend NP - Rio Grande Village Stamp

Big Bend NP - Rio Grande Wild & Scenic 

Both the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River Stamp and Big Bend - Rio Grande Village Stamp are available here.

There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and diversity of species is the best in the country. This magical place is Big Bend...