Canoeing Boquillas Canyon
Floating through Boquillas Canon NPS / G. Fisseler

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

Federal Recreation Area · Texas · National Park Service

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.

Plan your visit

Trails & hiking

Hiking

Camping

Camping · Backcountry Camping

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Know before you go

Phone
(432) 477-2251
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Highlights: Archeology · Geology · Geothermal · Hot Springs · Night Sky · River and Riparian · Scenic Views · Wilderness

Activities & features: Boating · Boat Tour · Canoe or Kayak Camping · Fishing · Food · Dining · Paddling · Canoeing · Kayaking · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching

Photos

  • View in Boquillas Canyon
    NPS / G. Fisseler
  • A desert river with a backdrop of mountains in the distance.
    NPS
  • People in two canoes paddle on a river threading through high canyon walls.
    NPS
  • A desert river with a tree lined bank in the background.
    NPS
  • A desert river with a rugged landscape of cliff faces and hills in the background.
    NPS

Parks of Texas

El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic TrailBlanco State ParkMartin Dies, Jr. State ParkWaco Mammoth National MonumentBig Bend Ranch State ParkBonham State ParkSouth Llano River State ParkBastrop State ParkBentsen - Rio Grande Valley State ParkLake Arrowhead State ParkEstero Llano Grande State ParKSeminole Canyon State Park & Historic SiteAtlanta State ParkLake Mineral Wells State Park & TrailwayCleburne State ParkHueco Tanks State Park & Historic SiteFalcon State ParkSan Angelo State ParkSheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning CenterVillage Creek State ParkDinosaur Valley State ParkMartin Creek Lake State ParkMcKinney Falls State ParkFranklin Mountains State ParkGuadalupe Mountains National ParkLake Casa Blanca International State ParkSan Antonio Missions National Historical ParkBarton Warnock Visitor Center State ParkAlibates Flint Quarries National MonumentLonghorn Cavern State ParkEisenhower State ParkEnchanted Rock State Natural AreaHuntsville State ParkLake Colorado City State ParkLake Bob Sandlin State ParkFort Parker State ParkGoliad State Park & Historic SiteFort Richardson State Park, Historic Site & Lost Creek Reservoir State TrailwayLost Maples State Natural AreaBrazos Bend State ParkCedar Hill State ParkTyler State ParkBlackwell School National Historic SiteAbilene State ParkPadre Island National SeashoreChoke Canyon State ParkHill Country State Natural AreaGuadalupe River State ParkLake Livingston State ParkDevil's Sinkhole State Natural AreaMustang Island State ParkMonahans Sandhills State ParkKickapoo Cavern State ParkMeridian State ParkBig Bend National ParkInks Lake State ParkLake Somerville State Park & TrailwayMother Neff State ParkDaingerfield State ParkFort Davis National Historic SitePalo Duro Canyon State ParkPedernales Falls State ParkLake Whitney State ParkBalmorhea State ParkAmistad National Recreation AreaPossum Kingdom State ParkLake Meredith National Recreation AreaGovernment Canyon State Natural AreaOld Tunnel State ParkResaca de la Palma State ParkLake Corpus Christi State ParkBuescher State ParkBig Spring State ParkBig Thicket National PreserveMission Tejas State ParkPalmetto State ParkLyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic SiteLake Brownwood State ParkStephen F Austin State ParkFort Boggy State ParkCaddo Lake State ParkLake Tawakoni State ParkLyndon B Johnson National Historical ParkGalveston Island State ParkGoose Island State ParkCopper Breaks State ParkPowderhorn State ParkChamizal National MemorialDevils River State Natural AreaPalo Alto Battlefield National Historical ParkRay Roberts Lake State ParkLockhart State ParkDavis Mountains State ParkColorado Bend State ParkGarner State ParkPurtis Creek State ParkSea Rim State ParkCaprock Canyons State Park & Trailway

99 parks mapped in Texas

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Guides for the trip

All guides →

Sources: National Park Service · updated 2026-08-12