Virtual Guidebook to West Texas

El Paso and Vicinity: Sweeping view over El Paso from Vista Road in the Franklin Mountains.; The grave of John Wesley Hardin, Concordia Cemetery, El Paso.; The Hueco Tanks are granite outcrops famous for petroglyphs and rock climbing.
El Paso Mission Trail: Mission Ysleta, El Paso landmark and center of the Tigua Pueblo.; Mission Socorro, founded in 1681.; Inside Socorro Mission, undergoing comprehensive restoration and reconstruction.; Los Portales, an historic home in San Elizario, now a museum.; Inside San Elizario Church, on the Mission Trail east of El Paso.
The Guadalupe Mountains: Gypsum and salt lakes west of the Guadalupe Mountains, scene of the El Paso Salt War.; The Pinery stage stop on the Butterfield stage line.; El Capitan, from Guadalupe Pass on the old stage route.; At the base of the Guadalupe Mountains, near Frijoles Ranch.; The old Frijoles Ranch buildings, now a small museum.; Sunset on El Capitan in the Guadalupe Moutains, from the south.
McKittrick Canyon: In the desert opposite the mouth of McKittrick Canyon.; Early morning on the trail in McKittrick Canyon.; South side of the historic Pratt Cabin, built of local limestone.; On the shady north side of the Pratt Cabin.; A glint of water in the riparian zone, McKittrick Canyon.; Near Line Cabin in McKittrick Canyon.
The McKittrick Ridge Trail: Looking east down the middle part of McKittrick Canyon.; Above the notch in the knife-edge ridge, McKittrick Canyon trail.; High above the canyon of the South Fork of McKittrick Creek.
Balmorhea State Park: The impressive spring-fed swimming pool at Balmorhea State Park, Toyahvale.; The clear waters of San Solomon Spring run through the grounds of Balmorhea State Park.; Rare fish habitat in a restored wetland (cienaga) at Balmorhea State Park.
Fort Davis National Historic Site: The parade ground, officers on one side, enlisted men on the other, Fort Davis.; Outside the barracks, Fort Davis National Historical Site.; Inside the "buffalo soldier" barracks at Fort Davis.; A display of artillery, including a mountain howitzer, at Fort Davis.; The commanding officer's house, Fort Davis.; Married officers housing, under restoration, Fort Davis.; A birds-eye view of Fort Davis from Sleeping Lion Mountain.; Ancient cottonwoods around the old well, Fort Davis.
The Davis Mountains: Looking south and west over Davis Mountains State Park.; Looking south from the Davis Mountains.
Marfa: Downtown Marfa, with the former Marfa Opera House and Presidio County Courthouse.; In the cupola of the Presido County Courthouse in Marfa.; In the lobby of El Paisano Hotel, built in 1929 for an oil boom that never came.; West Texas grasslands on the Cibolo Creek Ranch, between Presidio and Marfa.
Presidio: Looking over the Rio Grande floodplain from Fort Leaton, near Presidio.; A giant ox cart at Fort Leaton State Historical Park.
Lajitas and Terlingua: The Cavalry Post Motel, part of the resort development at Lajitas.; "The Ultimate Hideout" restaurant and bar overlooking the golf course at Lajitas.; Lajitas Boardwalk, a totally phony wild west street.; Road flood gauge, a common site in west Texas where flash floods are frequent.; Terlingua Ghost Town, which is actually fairly well populated.
Big Bend Ranch State Park: Stone ruins on the Rio Grande, Big Bend Ranch State Park.; High above short but deep Madera Canyon on the Rio Grande.; A lush riparian zone along the Rio Grande, Big Bend Ranch State Park.; The Contrabando movie set, a border village on the Rio Grande.; Contrabando movie set, Big Bend Ranch State Park.
The Chisos Mountains: Just below the mountain forests in Green Gulch, Chisos Mountains.; A hilltop near the lodge in The Basin, Chisos Mountains.; Chisos Window Viewpoint, looking down from the Chisos Mountains toward the Rio Grande.; Campground in the Basin, Chisos Mountains.
Ross Maxwell Drive: Early morning at Sotol Vista on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.; Distant view of the Mule Ears, volcanic dikes and necks.; The Burro Mesa Pouroff, a dry waterfall.; In Burro Canyon, below the pouroff.; Tuff Canyon, near Castolon.
Castolon and Santa Elena Canyon: Castolon Historic District, with general store and ranger station.; Typical low elevation Chihuahuan desert vegetation, near Castolon.; Santa Elena Canyon slices deeply through a limestone ridge.; The cliffside trail into the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon, 1500 feet deep.; On the Rio Grande in Santa Elena Canyon.
The River Road: International gauging station on the Rio Grande.; View of Punta del Sierra in the Chisos Mountains, from the River Road.; An old car and other junk at the Mariscal mercury mine.; At the base of the Mariscal Mill and Mine complex.; Next to where the furnace and still were located, Mariscal mercury mine.; Mine shafts pockmark the hill above the Mariscal mine.; The Rio Grande at Solis, halfway along the River Road.; Desert pavement, Chihuahuan Desert on the River Road.
Rio Grande Hot Springs and Boquillas: Rio Grande Hot Spring, actually in the river.; The old Rio Grande Hot Springs Hotel.; The Hot Springs general store and post office was in use up to the 1950's.; Looking across the Rio Grande to the village of Boquillas, Chihuahua, Mexico.; On the trail to Boquillas Canyon on the Rio Grande.; Prehistoric bedrock mortars on the bank of the Rio Grande.; In the upstream end of Boquillas Canyon, Rio Grande.

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