Big Bend National Park
The best sights, where to stay, what to eat, how to find a guide, and everything else you could possibly want to know about the most beautiful place in Texas.
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RIVER FLOATS
A raft trip through one of the canyons is an experience wholly separate from the mountains and the desert. Most trips are run by the two large outfitters west of the park: Far Flung Outdoor Center in Terlingua (800-839-7238) and Big Bend River Tours in Lajitas (432-371-3033, 800-545-4240). All offer guided trips that average $100-$130 per person per day; half-day trips are offered by Big Bend River Tours ($72), Far Flung Outdoor Center ($66), and Texas River Expeditions of Houston ($66). Far Flung Outdoors Center and Big Bend River Tours are especially creative at putting together special trips that emphasize food, photography, survival training, and music, such as Far Flung's floats with troubadours Steve Fromholz, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock. Texas River Expeditions of Houston (1-800-839-7238) also provides a variety of one to three day tours for $130 a day, many of which have themes and experts.
Santa Elena, the most popular canyon passage, can be done in a full day or overnight. The Rockslide is the most difficult rapid on this stretch of the river. The narrow, vertical-walled Mariscal, at the southern extreme of the river's big bend, can be done in a day via Outback Expeditions but requires several hours of driving on unimproved dirt roads; it is best attempted as an overnighter. Boquillas, the most visually spectacular canyon, as well as the easiest to float and to get to, takes a minimum of two days by canoe and three days by raft. Not suprisingly, it is also the most congested canyon during spring break. The remote Lower Canyons trip, downstream from the park, takes a week minimum. All river runners not traveling with an outfitter must have a permit (no reservation is necessary), obtained at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village, the Stillwell Store, or the Barton Warnock center. If you want to go on your own, Desert Sports (432-371-2727) rents rafts and canoes for trips to all canyons except Santa Elena.
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