![]() NPS/Big Bend National Park Lose yourself in the Lower CanyonsA five to ten day float trip through the Lower Canyons offers a true wilderness experience. The trip begins at Heath Canyon near La Linda and ends at Dryden Crossing (83 miles). The Black Gap Wildlife Management Area is a secondary option for put-ins. The terrain along the Lower Canyons is open desert, rugged hills, and deep canyons. Access to the river is difficult below La Linda and most of the land above the riverbank is privately owned. The rapids in the Lower Canyons are Class II-IV. Put-in and take-out information
Lower Canyons Assumption of Risk release form requiredThe Lower Canyons section of the Rio Grande passes through extensive private lands. All visitors who float the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande are required to fill out and sign the following release form: Please have this form printed, completed, and signed to give to the ranger when you arrange the river permit for your trip. ![]() River Guide to the Lower Canyons of the Rio GrandeThis full-color laminated trip-log is filled with detailed maps of the entire route, as well as historical and natural history notes. A must-have for any trip through the Lower Canyons, and excellent for trip planning. Bravo Y Grande FilmJoin a group of river guides, scientists, locals and NPS personnel as they travel 83 miles through the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande. Located on the US/Mexico border, the Lower Canyons is one of the most remote sections of river in the US. It is protected and managed by the National Park Service as part of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. Learn more about this new film Purchase a DVD through the BBNHA online bookstore A River Wilderness
Note: Border Crossing Activity Illegal border crossings occasionally occur within Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River. If you encounter anything that looks illegal, suspicious, or out of place, please do not approach or intervene. Note the location, description, time, direction of travel, and call 911 when possible. |
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Last updated: January 21, 2022