NPS/Big Bend National Park

The Rio Grande as seen from the Marufo Vega Trail

This is a strenuous, but spectacular day hike or overnight backpacking trip. The entire loop is a 14 mile round-trip. Temperatures may exceed 100°F. There IS NO WATER available along this trail—River water is not potable.

Once walked by the trail’s namesake, Gregorio Marufo, who grazed goats along the river, the route is poorly defined and overgrown with desert vegetation. Nevertheless, hikers use the cross country section today to join two ends of the popular desert trail to make a loop.

A hot hike
High daytime temperatures (as high as 110ºF during May!) and the absence of any drinking water or shade along the way make this trail and any desert hike potentially troublesome during the late spring and summer. Wear a hat, take along plenty of water, start early when temperatures are cooler, and take a map.

Marufo Vega Trail [290k PDF File]
Informational trail guide regarding the strenous Marufo Vega Trail; includes description of route and markers. Scheduled for updating in the fall of 2006.