Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is a wild & scenic river run by the National Park Service in Texas.

In the park service’s words

For 196 miles, this free-flowing stretch of the Rio Grande winds its way through desert expanses and stunning canyons of stratified rock. For the well prepared, an extended float trip provides opportunities to explore the most remote corner of Texas and experience the ultimate in solitude, self-reliance, and immersion in natural soundscapes.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Big Bend Junior Rangers: Big Bend National Park invites young visitors to become official Junior Rangers.
• View the Night Sky: Far away from most city lights, Big Bend National Park preserves pristine darkness. Take this chance to stargaze, and experience the half of the park that many of us miss - nighttime.
• See the Rio Grande: The Rio Grande is accessible from a number of places in Big Bend National Park, and a variety of hiking trails provide even further opportunities to get up close and personal with our watery border with Mexico.
• Visit Boquillas, Mexico: Visiting the small village of Boquillas, Mexico through the park's Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry is an option for visitors possessing a valid passport.
• Join A Ranger: Join a Park ranger for a guided hike, talk, or evening program. Discover the amazing stories behind the scenery of Big Bend.
• Become a Big Bend Expert: The bookstore carries a large variety of educational books, videos, park information, and high quality souvenirs to help you learn more about the park and its resources or just help you remember your trip to Big Bend.
• Find The Perfect Sunrise & Sunset: Where is the best place to see the sunrise or sunset? Truly, the answer is anywhere in the park! With huge horizons and dramatic scenery, it is spectacular wherever you are.
• Enjoy Sunset at Rio Grande Village: Photography can be a rewarding experience for visitors. One of the best places is the Nature Trail at Rio Grande Village

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

Getting there

Several highways lead to Big Bend National Park: TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte or FM 170 from Presidio to Study Butte (then 26 miles east to park headquarters) or US 90 or US 385 to Marathon (then 70 miles south to park headquarters). Distances between towns and services are considerable. Be sure you have plenty of gas, food, water, and supplies for your trip.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Rio Grande Village Visitor Center

Weather

Variable -- February-April: High temperatures range from mid-70sF (23C) to low-90sF (32C) with lows from the mid-30sF (2C) to mid-50sF (12C). Cold fronts can bring freezing weather with rain or snow. -- May-August: Temperatures are hot and the weather can be stormy. Temperatures over 100F (more than 38C) degrees. -- September-January:Temperatures are cooler. The weather can turn cold any time during these months.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Big Bend, about 71 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.