Experience authentic Texan hospitality in Alpine, a high-elevation town surrounded by arid deserts and rugged peaks. The lively downtown district features shops, cafes and colourful street murals. Throw on a cowboy hat and embrace the town’s Old West roots or hit the road and explore Big Bend National Park.
Things to do in Alpine
Downtown Alpine will charm you with its red-brick shopfronts and turn-of-the-century buildings. Shop for souvenirs at mom-and-pop stores, sip milkshakes at old-fashioned soda shops and hunt for treasures at antique emporiums. Custom-made cowboy hats and hand-stitched leather goods are the ultimate Alpine keepsakes. Satisfy your appetite at Mexican restaurants and American diners.
Discover more than 3,000 square kilometres of windswept deserts, limestone canyons and lush river valleys in Big Bend National Park. The enormous park is almost as large as the State of Rhode Island and protects a unique patchwork of ecosystems. Drive to scenic viewpoints or lace up your boots and hit the hiking trails.
The Lost Mine Trail is one of the best and takes around three hours to complete. You’ll hike through woodland and grassland before reaching an elevated lookout. Hike up the 2,387-metre-tall Emory Peak for sweeping views over the surrounding plains and mountains. Look out for local wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions and elk.
Learn about Native American culture, natural history and more at the Museum of the Big Bend on Sul Ross State University campus. View a collection of 19th-century maps created during the Republic of Texas period and learn about the legacy of Spanish missionaries.
Getting around Alpine
Downtown Alpine is compact and easy to get around on foot, though you’ll need a car to explore Brewster County at your own pace. The town is a 5.5-hour drive from San Antonio and San Antonio International Airport. El Paso International Airport is a 3.5-hour drive away.