The basics: This Texas park stretches along the Rio Grande, which marks the border with Mexico. A U-turn in the river gave the park its name. It is marked by weather-beaten mountains, desert and beautiful canyons carved into limestone from water flows. The park holds the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography in the U.S.
Visitors: 381,743 people visited the park in 2015.
Square miles: 1,250.
Established: 1944.
More information: nps.gov/bibe; 1-432-477-2251.
