Have you ever stood in the middle of a national park and thought, “Is it supposed to be this quiet? Because that’s how this desert road trip began — in the eerie, silent vastness of West Texas and New Mexico, where the sky goes on forever, the bears wear eyeliner (more on that later), and there’s a random Prada store in the middle of nowhere.
👜 Marfa: Prada, But Make It Desertcore
We kicked things off with a necessary stop at the famous Prada Marfa art installation — aka a Prada boutique that doesn’t open, in a town that barely exists. You stand there, wind whipping, tumbleweed doing its thing, and just a random storefront that just doesn’t really have a purpose.
Still, it’s iconic. Weird, and Totally instagrammable.
🐻 Big Bend: Bears, Canyons & Beautiful Desolation
Big Bend National Park is the kind of place that humbles you instantly. You drive for HOURS through empty, otherworldly landscapes, only to arrive and realize you’re still not close to anything. But oh, is it worth it. A little scary, especially when there is no cell service, but strangely peaceful as well.
Highlights included:
- Canyons carved by time and occasional flash floods
- The Mexican Black Bear, spotted casually walking like he was late for brunch
- Stars so bright it made my phone camera cry, I really need to get better with night sky photography.
Big Bend feels ancient and untouched — like the Earth’s been keeping secrets here, and you’re just lucky enough to wander into them.
🏞️ Guadalupe Mountains: Wind, Peaks, and Almost Getting Blown Off a Trail
Next up: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas’ tallest point and maybe also its windiest. I didn’t get any hikes in here, and honestly, I doubt I did this park any justice. But the views? Chef’s kiss.
It’s a landscape of limestone cliffs, fossilized coral, and dramatic drop-offs — totally different from Big Bend’s volcanic ruggedness. Also, zero crowds. Maybe it was the time of year, but Big Bend was equally as empty. For those with two good legs and a bit more of an adventurous spirit than I had for my visit, check out the Guadalupe Peak trail that leads to the highest point in Texas. A shorter option would be the Manzanita Spring Loop, and a dog-friendly option is the Pinery Trail.
👽 White Sands: Aliens, Dunes, & Existential Sand Sledding
Finally, I hit White Sands National Park, and yes, it looks exactly like what you think the moon would look like if it was made of powdered sugar. The gypsum dunes are pristine, soft, and slightly suspicious — like maybe they were installed by aliens to distract us from something. It really looked like a winter wonderland, except 9000 degrees.
I would have loved to try some sand sledding, but I instead enjoyed watching everyone else scale the dunes and slide down. Many area stores rent out the equipment you need for this. No regrets, no sand to clean up, no faceplants into to the dune, which surely would’ve happened.
On the way out, I’m 93% sure I saw a UFO. Maybe?
Final Thoughts: Silence, Sand & Surreal Vibes
This trip was weird in the best possible way. It was barren and beautiful, full of quiet moments that felt almost sacred. Its really hard to describe how QUIET these places were. Especially Big Bend. From designer art in the desert to encounters with wild bears and alien landscapes, this was one of those trips that makes you realize how big the world is — and how fun it is to get lost in it.
Just bring water, sunscreen, keep your gas tank above 1/2, and enjoy the tranquility and absolute silence of being in the middle of nowhere.
~Kel
Wanderlust Kel 
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