National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Rio Grande Wild & Scenic RiverRunning the Rodeo Rapids
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River
Things To Know Before You Come
Hot Springs Canyon of the Rio Grande with the Sierra del Carmen rising in the background.
NPS\Big Bend National Park
Hot Springs Canyon of the Rio Grande with the Sierra del Carmen rising in the background.
 
Here are some things you might want to know about the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River before you visit the area.
  • The Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River is administered as a unit of the national park system by Big Bend National Park.
  • Including including the portions of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, the National Park Service at Big Bend administers 245 miles of border—13% of the entire United States-Mexico border.
  • Congress designated this segment of the Rio Grande in Texas as the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River in 1978 because of its "outstandingly remarkable" scenic, geologic, fish and wildlife, and recreational values.
Park Rangers and Border Patrol  

Did You Know?
Since 2000, the number of undocumented aliens apprehended attempting to cross through the area of the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River has risen from 120 to 1200 annually. This traffic results in negative impacts on park resources, including erosion and trash.

Last Updated: July 29, 2006 at 17:33 EST