Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, or El Rio Bravo del Norte, provides protection and maintenance of the pristine character of the Rio Grande from the Coahuila/Chihuahua, Mexico, state border upstream from Mariscal Canyon to the Terrell/Val Verde County line in Texas downstream. The Wild and Scenic River designation extends for 196 miles along the river’s course.

Approximately 69 miles of The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River designation lies within Big Bend National Park, and an additional 118 miles lies downstream of the Park. The National Park Service manages both the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, and the Rio Grande along Big Bend National Park’s boundary for recreation and preservation.