Santa Elena Canyon

Arguably the most popular "must see" of Big Bend.

Plan Around Santa Elena Canyon

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Santa Elena Canyon Details

When you're driving down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, you catch glimpses of the Santa Elena canyon as you get closer. When you finally arrive you'll realize why this is one of the most famous sights in the park and the perfect way to end the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. The Rio Grande has carved a 1,500-foot vertical chasm out of limestone and it creates one of the most impressive structures in the whole park. There are so many different ways to explore the canyon: viewing from the scenic overlook, hiking or taking a river trip in between the two walls. When you look down the canyon from the overlook, the left wall is in Mexico and the right wall is in Texas, creating a beautiful and natural border within the park. The moderately difficult 1.7-mile round-trip hike leads you across the Terlingua Creek and along the river's edge until you reach the canyon walls. This is one of the most highly recommended hikes and overlooks in the whole park, so make sure to take the time to enjoy it!

Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

1.7 miles

Estimated time

1 hour

Region

N/A