Drive from Panther Junction to Maverick Entrance Station - Part 1: Panther Junction to Basin Junction (Chisos Basin Road) - Big Bend National Park

With desert daytime temperature in the 90s or higher when we visited Big Bend National Park in September 2021, we spent more time than usual on scenic drives in the park. In fact, we drove all 108 miles of paved roads in the park at least twice during our visit. We did stop at many of the numerous pullouts to enjoy the scenery and take photographs.

Lone Mountain (4143')

Prickly Pear Cactus

Nine Point Mesa (left 5520' 26 miles) and Rosillos Mountains (right 5445' 13.6 miles)

Slickrock Mountain (3985' 9.1 miles), Croton Peak (4601' 6.6 miles),
Paint Gap Hills (4263' 4.8 miles), and Grapevine Hills (3859' 5.5 miles)

Lost Mine Peak (7535'), two unnamed peaks, Casa Grande Peak (7325'),
Pulliam Peak (6870'), and Pulliam Bluff (6805')

Looking east at Lone Mountain with Ocotillo on the desert floor and
the McKinney Hills on the horizon

Grapevine Hills with Dagger Mountain (4173' 18 miles)

Another view of the Chisos Mountains to the south

A closer view of Pulliam Bluff

Panther Peak (6409'), Smugglers Gap (~5500'), and Lost Mine Peak (7835')

Prickly Pear Cactus and Creosote Bush

An entry fee of $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person is valid for seven consecutive days at Big Bend National Park. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($80 for a lifetime), Access Pass (free with a documented disability), and Military Annual Pass (free for active-duty personnel). Also available is a Big Bend National Park Annual Park Pass for $55.

The Big Bend National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm.