Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River Custom Search 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 borders the Park. The National Park Service manages both the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, and the Rio Grande along the park’s boundary for recreation and preservation.      CONTACTS Email - BIBEinformation@nps.gov Write to Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River - c/o Big Bend National Park P.O. Box 129 Big Bend National Park, TX 79834 Phone Visitor Information - 915-477-2251 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open 24 hours daily all year. Getting There PLANE - The nearest airports served by major airlines are located in Midland/Odessa, Texas and El Paso, Texas. Rental cars are available at both airports. CAR - Several highways lead to The Rio Grands Wild & Scenic River through Big Bend National Park: TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte or FM 170 from Presidio tthrough Study Butte, or US 90 or US 385 through Marathon. Distances between towns and services can be considerable. Always be sure you have plenty of gas, oil, food, and water for your trip. The Big Bend National Park has four camper stores, but supply and selection can be limited. The last major shopping areas (grocery and hardware stores) are Alpine, Fort Stockton, and Del Rio. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - No public transportation is available to this site. Weather & Climate Sunshine is abundant year-round on the Rio Grande. While this sounds welcoming, heat stroke and heat exhaustion are dangers to guard against during the hot months. Conversely, hypothermia is a life-threatening danger during the balance of the year. Infrequent and brief periods of cloudy weather are confined mostly to the winter months. Appropriate clothing and other gear should be carried from November through April as cold fronts can bring freezing weather with rain or snow. The 'rainy season' extends from mid-July through early October and can result in locally heavy thunderstorms and flash floods. Rapid river rises can be dangerous if unprepared. Relative humidity is normally between 25% - 40% year around. FEES/PERMITS Permits BACKCOUNTRY RIVER USE Free! A backcountry use permit is required for day and overnight use of floating craft on all sections of the Rio Grande administered by the National Park Service, except for persons day-fishing downstream from the National Park boundary. The permit is free and can be obtained at park visitor centers and at self-permit stations at Lajitas (Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center--only for Santa Elena Canyon) and the Stillwell Store and RV Park on FM2627 enroute to the Lower Canyons put-in at La Linda. A group of up to 30 persons, not including professional guides, may put on the Rio Grande daily on the Lajitas to Talley sections and the Solis to Boquillas Canyon entrance sections. Elsewhere in Big Bend National Park, a group of up to 20 persons, not including guides, may float on the river each day. Along the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River downstream from the National Park, a group of up to 20 persons, not including guides, may float per day.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River.   Campgrounds Near Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River: Chisos Basin, -blank-, 8 miles away Rio Grande Village, -blank-, 16 miles away   Trails Near Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, Brewster County , 3 miles away Pine Canyon Trail, Brewster County , 5 miles away Lost Mine Trail, Brewster County , 6 miles away Juniper Canyon Trail, Brewster County , 7 miles away Grapevine Hills Trail, Brewster County , 7 miles away   Whitewater Near Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River: Rio Grande, Brewster County , 15 miles away, Class I-II - 20 miles long (Solis to Rio Grande Village) Rio Grande, Brewster County , 16 miles away, Class I-II - 23 miles long (Rio Grande Village to Stillwell Crossing) Rio Grande, Brewster County , 18 miles away, Class II - 10 miles long (Talley to Solis) Rio Grande, Brewster Terrell County , 26 miles away, Class II-III+ - 83.5 miles long (La Linda to Dryden Crossing) Terlingua Creek, Brewster County , 26 miles away, Class II - 16 miles long (FM 170 to Rio Grande)   Public Lands Near Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River: Big Bend National Park, Big Bend National Park - TX , 0 miles away