For Kids

Kids learning about fossils with a ranger.

 

Big Bend is fun for Kids!

Big Bend's diverse habitats—the Rio Grande river corridor, the Chihuahuan Desert and the Chisos Mountains—are all rich with plants, animals, and stories of human history that offer a variety of learning opportunities for children of all ages.

There are several easy hikes in the park that kids of all ages enjoy, including the Window View and the Basin Loop trails in the Chisos Basin. For older children, the Lost Mine Trail provides a good challenge and is an excellent day hike. Other hikes children may enjoy include the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail at Dugout Wells, the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail (with a boardwalk across a beaver pond), and the Boquillas Canyon Trail.

Kids may also enjoy viewing fossils and exhibits about dinosaurs at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit and Panther Junction Visitor Center. The Chisos Basin Visitor Center has an excellent mountain lion exhibit and neat information about bears.

The park offers a variety of ranger-led programs. These include guided hikes, evening slide programs, bird walks, and guided explorations of various park features. Stop by one of the park's visitor centers to meet a park ranger and learn more.

If you are writing a school report, or just want to learn more about Big Bend National Park, visit the History & Culture, Nature, Plan Your Visit, and Web Ranger sections of our website.

 

Become a Big Bend Junior Ranger!

To make the most of your visit, stop by any park visitor center and pick up Junior Ranger Activity Book. By visiting various places in the park and completing activities in the book, you may become a Big Bend Junior Ranger and earn a badge!

For those who can't make it to Big Bend right now, you can become a Big Bend Web Ranger from home. Become a virtual expert on Big Bend fossils, geology, plants, animals, and history and receive cool certificates.

 

Junior Ranger Critter Count Coloring Sheet

The desert of Big Bend is home to many creatures. Can YOU find them all?

 

Distance Learning

Explore Big Bend National Park virtually! Join a park ranger for a fun, free, and interactive distance learning program.

 

Kids in Parks!

National parks are great places to explore. Go on an outdoor adventure. Walk in the footsteps of famous people. Take in unique scenery. Explore new interests. Experience real places you may have only heard about. But most of all, national parks are places where you can have fun and create memories that last a lifetime.

 

Every Kid Outdoors

Hey Fourth Graders: You and your family get free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year. Earn a pass to all of your national parks.

Junior Ranger Park Explorer

What do volcanoes, forts, and rivers have in common? They can all be found in national parks! With over 420 national park units to explore, where will your adventure take you this time? Plan Your Park Adventure!

 

Big Bend Creature Quiz

• How well do you know the wildlife of Big Bend? Take the quiz below to find out!
• Try to match each clue on the left with an animal on the right. Drag the arrow in the middle to either side to see the answer.

 

Wildlife Quiz

Left image
Credit: NPS/CA Hoyt

Right image
Credit: NPS

 

Left image
Credit: NPS/R. Negele

 

Left image
Credit: NPS/M. Hench

 

Left image
Credit: NPS/J. Jurado

Right image
Credit: NPS