U. S. National Parks
Factbook

October 2026 edition
A Factbook library volume ↗

← Contents by designation

National Wild and Scenic Rivers · Texas

Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River

Official park website ↗

Introduction

Background: 1

For 196 miles, this free-flowing stretch of the Rio Grande winds its way through desert expanses and stunning canyons of stratified rock. For the well prepared, an extended float trip provides opportunities to explore the most remote corner of Texas and experience the ultimate in solitude, self-reliance, and immersion in natural soundscapes.

Geography

Designation: 2

National Wild and Scenic River

State or territory: 3

Texas

History and culture

History & Culture: 4

Prehistoric and historic sites are abundant along the river corridor, mostly on private property in the United States or Mexico. Preserving these sites is important in understanding human use and development of the Rio Grande and the Big Bend .

Visitor information

Physical Address: 5

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River 1 Panther Junction
Big Bend National Park, TX 79834

Mailing Address: 6

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River c/o Big Bend National Park PO Box 129
Big Bend National Park, TX 79834

Telephone: 7

Visitation

Recreation visits: 8

120 (2025)

Sources & field notes

Source records (8)

Select a numbered reference to open a source card. Retrieval dates describe this edition’s source capture, rather than an independent verification or the date of the underlying information.

  1. Background · Official park structured information. Open source ↗

    Information date
    Not supplied by the source
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
    Return to field ↑
  2. Designation · National Park System directory. Open source ↗

    Information date
    Not supplied by the source
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
    Return to field ↑
  3. State or territory · National Park System directory. Open source ↗

    Information date
    Not supplied by the source
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
    Return to field ↑
  4. History & Culture · National Park Service. Open source ↗

    Information date
    Not supplied by the source
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    NPS-authored U.S. government material is generally public domain; third-party material may have separate rights. No images copied.
    Return to field ↑
  5. Physical Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗

    Information date
    Not supplied by the source
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
    Return to field ↑
  6. Mailing Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗

    Information date
    Not supplied by the source
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
    Return to field ↑
  7. Telephone · Official park structured information. Open source ↗

    Information date
    Not supplied by the source
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
    Return to field ↑
  8. Recreation visits · National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics. Open source ↗

    Information date
    2025
    Retrieved
    2026-10-30
    Methodology
    NPS reporting unit; annual total is the sum of 12 monthly recreation visit estimates.
    Reporting unit
    Rio Grande W&SR
    Evidence
    Single source; not independently corroborated.
    Reuse
    Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
    Return to field ↑
Source information

NPS VISITOR USE STATISTICS

Recreation visits

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