Sunrise over the Chisos Mountains
Sunrise over the Chisos Mountains
Big Bend National Park, TX
Image by Deb Snelson @ www.debsnelsonphotography.com
One of the impetuses to getting up at 5AM in the dark and driving to a photo location is that it is like a box of chocolates – you don’t know what (light) you will get. On those rare occasions you may be blown away, as in this case. What started as a blue hour photo graduated into this multi-color display over the Chihuahuan Desert and the Chisos Mountains as the sun peaked above the horizon.
The Chisos Mountains have been described as sky islands surrounded by desert. The 40 square mile mountain range is entirely contained within Big Bend National Park and formed during volcanic eruptions between 38 and 32 million years ago. A 7-mile long paved road climbs into the Chisos Mountains Basin, a circular valley ringed by craggy peaks.
The National Park is 1100 square miles and contains mountain ranges, desert plains and river habitats. The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River forms the southern boundary of the park and the border between the United States and Mexico.
Images and location summary by Deb Snelson
Trail Difficulty - EASY
There is a roadside pullover just big enough for 2-3 vehicles, with a slab of concrete leading into the desert. The Trail from the park road into the desert is short (0.1 mi), easy and flat. The trail will make a 90-degree turn to the left to the gravesite of Nina Marie Seawell Hannold, an early pioneering woman who, with her husband, built a ranch on this site in 1908. While the gravesite can be used as an interesting foreground, at any point you should start searching for the most appealing foreground for your photo.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
3,125 Ft. Elevation
Photography Tips
To capture a photograph like this, remember this compositional tenet – foreground, midground, background. In the photo above all three of these components are stars. The best shot is at sunrise but arrive much earlier to scout out the best foreground with leading lines (such as the animal paths) to the mountains and healthy cacti. For me, I was capturing blue hour when the sky began to transform into multicolor patterns that continually changed and enlarged. When the sun peaked over the horizon it lit up the mountains and the foreground completing the best photo of the session – color in the sky (background), light on the mountains (midground) and light on the desert with the best foreground I could find.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to this location.
From Fort Stockton, TX - (Midland, TX is the closest Airport) travel south on US-385 for 89 miles (you will drive through the town of Marathon) until you come to the entrance to Big Bend National Park (Persimmon Gap Visitor Center). From the Persimmon Gap Visitor Center continue south on Main Park Rd for 22.2 miles and you will see a small pullout on the left side of the road.
From the pullout, the location of the shot is about 75 yards from the road.
Google Earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 29 mm
Exposure – 1/8 th sec @ f 18.0
ISO – 100
Date – Jan 24th
Time – 7:35 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Sunrise
Best Time of Year
Winter, Spring
Your best times are Nov - early April. The photo above was taken January 24. and was taken from the desert floor. Winter and early Spring are generally mild and sunny although periods of cloudy weather and freezing cold do occur. Temperatures prior to sunrise are considerable colder than after the sun has moved above the horizon. Be aware that extreme temperatures can occur in the Park and can vary from below freezing (at higher altitudes in the Mountains) to above 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the desert , so be prepared. Snow is rare and generally light.
Summers are hot; temperatures vary greatly between the desert floor, which is often above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Chisos Mountains, which are ten to twenty degrees cooler. June-August are the hottest months. Summer visitors should be familiar with heat safety. The rainy season runs from May through September, with locally heavy thunderstorms and some flash flooding.
The above image was taken on January 24th @ 7:35 am
Lens(es) Needed
For this location I used a wide angle lens to capture all of the Chisos Mountains but since I shot this at 29mm, mid range lenses from 24 - 105 will also work. Panorama photos also produce stunning results.
The above image was taken a 29 mm.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
This location is in Big Bend National Park. Once in the park, there are no additional permits required. As of the writing of the summary (2025) the entry fee was $35 per vehicle.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is west by southwest, around 240°.
Equipment Needed
A tripod is always recommended for low light photography; a polarizing filter, plus sturdy hiking shoes/boots that can withstand a prick or two from cactus. Also recommended are a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable clothing and sunscreen, plus carry plenty of water. Summer visitors should be aware of heat safety, such as wearing clothing that protects from the sun and avoiding activity during midday.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The desert is a wide open expanse and you are not likely to meet other photographers here except workshop tour participants who know this location or anyone who has read this trail note.
Weather
Cell Service
Cell service is said to be spotty and unreliable in Big Bend National Park overall, with the best service at Chisos Mountain Lodge and Panther Junction. This photography location is near to Panther Junction but there is no guarantee of good service.
Area Guides and Workshops
None