Small Home – Big Yard

Road to Boquillas Canyon

The 118 miles of the Rio Grande that border the park wind through Santa Elena, Boquillas and Mariscal canyons. Santa Elena is near the Castolon and Cottonwood campground. Boquillas Canyon is just 5 miles from our campsite at Rio Grande Village. With temps forecast to the upper 90’s, we depart camp early before the sun has a chance to evaporate the cool 50’s that come overnight. The narrow paved road which dead-ends at Boquillas Canyon has several steep grades, making for a challenging ride in and an exhilarating downhill coast much of the way back to camp.

Along the Boquillas road is a soon to open international border crossing. The small, impoverished village of Boquillas del Carmen was turned into a near ghost town after events of 911 shut down all ability to obtain US products and trade with US tourists. The park service is hopeful that the crossing will be open soon, providing unique tourist opportunities to visit a small, rural Mexican village while providing a means to reduce the isolation for the residents of this forgotten part of Mexico.

A bit further along this rode is the trailhead for a short trail along the river into the canyon. During summer and fall rains, it’s said that the canyon roars with the onslaught of water, sediment and debris. However, at this time of year the river is mellow, nearly brackish and could easily be crossed, barely getting your shoes wet.

Into Boquillas Canyon

The Road to Boquillas Canyon

Prickly Pear

The Village of Boquillas, MX

The Village of Boquillas, MX