Big Bend National Park - Boquillas Canyon

Monday November 9, 2026

On the east side of Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande is Boquillas Canyon, where the Rio Grande cuts through steep canyon walls. The road on the east side of the park ends at a trailhead near there. The trail takes you a short distance to the entrance of the canyon. This photo essay is the fifth in the series on Big Bend National Park.

On the way to the canyon you can see the town of Boquillas in Mexico. For a photo from a different angle and info on how to get there, check out the previous post on the Rio Grande Nature Trail.

Boquillas Town in the Distance The Town of Boquillas a Few Miles Away

River in a Canyon The Rio Grande in Boquillas Canyon

In the canyon there is not much trail. You will be looking for the dry areas and shallow spots to walk on. I walked as far as I could go before the there was no way to go where the water was not too deep from my boots. During this hike the water level of the Rio Grande was low. At high water levels many parts of it will have water wall to wall.

Boquillas Canyon Entrance Looking Out the Entrance of the Boquillas Canyon

Boquillas Canyon Reflecting in the Water Canyon Wall Reflection in the Rio Grande

Riverbed in a Canyon Low Water Level in the Canyon

Looking Downstream in Boquillas Canyon

On the way back I saw two white mules, mom with a young one. They did not appear to be afraid of people. I had seen one in the canyon as well, further downstream from where I turned around.

White Mules in the Bushes White Mules Not Far Off the Trail

Inside Big Bend National Park there are a lot of smaller bends in the Rio Grande.

A River Making a 180 Turn in the Desert A Bend in the Rio Grande

The hike took around an hour and may have been 3.5 km (about 2.2 miles) long (GPS does not work too well in canyons) with not much climbing. How far you hike depends on how far you want to go and the water level. From the Rio Grande Nature Trail trailhead to this trailhead is about 10 minutes, if you don't stop at the Boquillas Canyon Overlook.