Fort Leaton State Historic Site

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Dia de los Muertos: Celebrate the families who called Fort Leaton home for generations by joining in the cultural traditions of Dia de los Muertos!
Why Does Everything Hurt?: Join us for a walk along the Fort Leaton Nature Trail to learn why desert plants are so prickly!
Desert Adaptations Night Hike: Join us for a night hike as we explore how plants, animals, and even people have adapted to the desert for thousands of years!
Legends of Fort Leaton (By Reservation Only): La Llorona, shots in the dark, colorful characters, and legends passed down through the oral traditions of the borderlands—all of these come to life through the stories and features of Fort Leaton.
You Woodn't Believe it: A guided hike learning about the sweet, and sometimes vexing properties of the honey mesquite trees as well as the natural medicinal properties of the creosote bush.
Rocking n' Rolling: See forces of nature at work, get your hands dirty, and test out your trail engineering skills at this geology program.
Go with the Flow: Go With the Flow. Join our Ranger for a walk down the Hoodoos trailhead about .7 mile to the Rio Grande and learn about the geological oddities of the Chihuahuan desert landscape. Total length of Hike is 1.4miles round trip.
Posada: 🎊Experience the holiday traditions of the borderlands at our annual Posada at Fort Leaton!🎊
Star Party at the Fort: The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve is the largest in the world and the Star Party at the Fort is a great way to view the darkest skies in Texas.
Solstice Sun Watch: Join us for a safe, close-up look at our star through a telescope.
Marvel at the Moon: Earth would be lost without the Moon. Join us for a fun, hands-on look at our lunar neighbor!
CANCELED- Perseid Meteor Shower watch party: The Perseid (Per-see-id) meteor shower is one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August, and is a highlight of many meteor hunters’ calendars due to its high hourly rate and bright meteors. In 2025 the Perseid meteor shower is active between 16 July and 24 August. The shower will peak 12 August.
Backyard Astronomy: Join us for some backyard astronomy at the Casa Agave restaurant in Presidio to celebrate Dark Sky month.
Indigenous Trade at the Fort: See how trade on the Chihuahuan Trail evolved between Native Americans and Europeans at the Fort Leaton then learn how to make your own pottery.
How WOOD you use it?: Mesquite is one of the most common woody plants of the Big Bend and has many uses. The Mesquite Bean is a highly utilized product of the tree and can be made into food.
Fort Leaton at a Crossroads: Step into the past and experience what life was like at a 19th-century Texas frontier Fort. Learn how cultures crossed paths here at the Fort Leaton over the decades.
Indigenous People's Day celebration: In coordination with Big Bend Conservation Alliance, join us for this FREE event at the Presidio Library. Let's honor the Indigenous People's of the La Junta area by making corn husk dolls and learning about their culture.
Rock N' Rolling at the Hoodoos: Join our Ranger for a walk down the Hoodoos trailhead about .7 mile to the Rio Grande and learn about the geological oddities of the Chihuahuan desert landscape. Total length of Hike is 1.4 miles round trip
Rock N' Rolling at the Hoodoos: Join our Ranger for a walk down the Hoodoos trailhead about .7 mile to the Rio Grande and learn about the geological oddities of the Chihuahuan desert landscape. Total length of Hike is 1.4 miles round trip
Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skulls and more: Join Presidio High School art students in making authentic sugar skulls, alebrijes and papel picado for the ofrendas of Dia de los Muertos. Come see how this day of remembrance is celebrated on the Borderlands.