Rio Grande

Wild and Scenic River

Texas

Established: October 2, 1968

9,600 acres

Annual Visitors: 330 (2018)

Official Site:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Wild_and_Scenic_River

The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River is a U.S. National Wild and Scenic River that protects 260 miles (420 km) of the Rio Grande in New Mexico and Texas. The designation was first applied in 1968 to a 55.7-mile (89.6 km) stretch of the river in New Mexico; an additional 191.2 miles (307.7 km) of the river in Texas was added in 1978, followed by another 12.5 miles (20.1 km) in New Mexico in 1994.

The New Mexico portion of the Wild and Scenic River runs from the New Mexico–Colorado border approximately 68 miles (109 km) south. The lower 4 miles of the Red River, a tributary of the Rio Grande in Taos County, New Mexico, was also added to the Wild and Scenic River System. The two rivers intersect in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area.

Approximately 69 miles (111 km) of the Wild and Scenic River in Texas is within Big Bend National Park; the remainder is downstream of Big Bend. Three rugged canyons are preserved under this designation: Boquillas Canyon is the most accessible, as it can be reached via a popular RV campground; Mariscal Canyon can only be entered via a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle; and entrance to the Lower Canyon, due to rapid size, is only possible by signing a National Park Service liability or "acknowledgement of risk" waiver. The Wild and Scenic River designation does not include Santa Elena Canyon, which is the most popular recreational area in Big Bend.

National Parks & Monuments in Distress: Big Bend National Park

https://sites.google.com/view/nationalmonumentsindanger/nps/big-bend-national-park

Links

The 10 Least-Visited Places in the Park SystemTake a peek at these underappreciated national gems where only a handful of adventurers go.

3. Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, Texas

Number of visitors in 2018: 330 (not including visitors to Big Bend National Park)

This world-famous river might not make a “least-visited” list when taken as a whole; however, the section of the river designated as “wild and scenic” in the National Park System is a 196-mile stretch that winds through some of the more remote vistas in the Chihuahuan Desert. Boaters looking for a Southwestern adventure can plan a float trip on this picturesque stretch of the Rio Grande to see its rugged canyons with 100-million-year-old rock walls and a diverse array of wildlife. Note that different sections of the river have varying difficulty levels, and traveling through the remote Lower Canyons area requires an access fee and release form, so be sure to research the options and speak with a ranger or hire a guide to help plan your trip.

Opinion | Forget Trump’s Border Wall. Let’s Build F.D.R.’s International Park.A joint U.S.-Mexico park along the Rio Grande would send a message of cooperation when the loudest words are of division.

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic RiverRio Grande Wild and Scenic River is a playground of rapids and three separate canyons, and includes float trips, canyon hikes, and rare wildlife species.