The history of the Rio Grande is as long and colorful as the
river itself. Spanish explorers traced the waterway inland in
their endless quest for gold. Comanche Indians crossed the river
to raid villages in Mexico. Settlers from the eastern United
States built farms and towns along this new national border.
Winding 1,250 miles from southern Colorado to the Gulf of
Mexico, the Rio Grande marks the edge of the nation and the
boundary between here and there, then and now. Much of the river
lies on private property. Some passes gently through the center
of towns like Albuquerque and El Paso. But for nearly 200 miles
bordering Big Bend National Park, the Rio Grande runs wild.
Designated a wild and scenic river, this section of the Rio
Grande is left to its own devices. It bends and flows through
canyons dotted with desert cacti and stratified rock. Take on
the Class II and III rapids in a raft or canoe through Mariscal
Canyon. Enjoy a leisurely three-day float through Boquillas
Canyon. Or attempt a longer ride in