Access Site
TX
Santa Elena Canyon River Access
Source: texas_parks_and_wildlife_department Updated 1 year ago
City: TX
County: Brewster
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 29.15578000, -103.59872000
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Rio Grande near Castolon, TX
2.9 mi away
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Run
II(III)
Take-out
Rio Grande - 3. Santa Elena Canyon: Lajitas to Santa Elena Canyon River Access (20 miles)
7 ft/mi
Current Conditions
--
• 150.00-10000.00 cfs
Rio Grande near Castolon, TX
Whitewater Runs on Rio Grande
23 runs (6 nearby)Difficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site:
Put-in at this location
This location is on the run
Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Downstream from here Upstream from here
II(III)
Take-out at this location
3. Santa Elena Canyon: Lajitas to Santa Elena Canyon River Access (20 miles)
20.6 mi
7 ft/mi
II
Downstream from here (31.0 mi to put-in)
4. Mariscal Canyon: Talley to Solis Landing (10 miles)
10.2 mi
12 ft/mi
I-II
Downstream from here (34.9 mi to put-in)
5. San Vicente & Hot Springs Canyon: Solis Landing to Rio Grande Village (19 miles)
19.4 mi
I-II
Downstream from here (44.0 mi to put-in)
6. Rio Grande Village to La Linda (34.5 miles)
34.6 mi
4 ft/mi
II+
Upstream from here (14.8 mi from take-out)
2. Colorado Canyon: Rancherias Canyon to Lajitas (21 miles)
21.2 mi
6 ft/mi
II-III
Upstream from here (33.9 mi from take-out)
1. Hoodoos: Redford to Colorado Canyon (15.75 miles)
16.0 mi
6 ft/mi
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
II-III+
57 mi away
7. Lower Canyons: La Linda to Dryden Crossing (83.5 miles)
84.3 mi
5 ft/mi
III
486 mi away
08. Otowi Bridge to Cochiti Reservoir
22.3 mi
III
512 mi away
07. Quartzite River Access to County Line River Access
4.4 mi
12 ft/mi
II
513 mi away
06. Taos Junction Bridge to Quartzite River Access
6.6 mi
III-IV
517 mi away
05. John Dunn Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge (Lower Taos Box)
15.0 mi
31 ft/mi
II-III
530 mi away
04. Red River confluence to John Dunn Bridge
8.4 mi
12 ft/mi
V
537 mi away
03. Chiflo Campground to Little Arsenic Trail
7.8 mi
69 ft/mi
II-IV
543 mi away
02. Lee Trail to Chiflo Campground
9.9 mi
47 ft/mi
II-III
551 mi away
01. Lobatos Bridge(Colorado) to Lee Trail
24.0 mi
5 ft/mi
II
551 mi away
08. Lobatos Bridge to Lee Trail
21.0 mi
7 ft/mi
I-II
567 mi away
07. Lasauses to Lobatos Bridge
20.0 mi
3 ft/mi
II
581 mi away
06. Alamosa to Lasauses
20.1 mi
15 ft/mi
II
618 mi away
05. South Fork to Del Norte
20.9 mi
17 ft/mi
II-III+
625 mi away
04. Wagon Wheel Gap to South Fork
11.4 mi
21 ft/mi
II-III
634 mi away
03. Creede to Wagon Wheel Gap
10.2 mi
II-III
640 mi away
02. Box Canyon to Creede
23.7 mi
24 ft/mi
III-IV
643 mi away
01. Box Canyon (CO)
8.1 mi
38 ft/mi
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
Located in Big Bend National Park near Brewster County, Texas, this boat ramp provides access to one of the Rio Grande's most scenic sections. **A river permit is required and can be obtained at Big Bend National Park headquarters or in nearby Lajitas, TX.** The ramp offers convenient parking and basic amenities including picnic facilities and wheelchair-accessible areas.
Santa Elena Canyon is ideal for paddlers of varying skill levels, with generally mellow rapids that make the section accessible for kayaks and canoes. For most of the year, water flows at 500 cubic feet per second or less, creating a lazy float through the desert landscape. Be aware that during high water periods, inexperienced boaters should avoid this section, and watch for river cane along the banks. Pool-and-drop rapids and rock gardens add variety to the paddle, making this a popular destination for recreational boaters seeking manageable whitewater in a stunning canyon setting.
Santa Elena Canyon is ideal for paddlers of varying skill levels, with generally mellow rapids that make the section accessible for kayaks and canoes. For most of the year, water flows at 500 cubic feet per second or less, creating a lazy float through the desert landscape. Be aware that during high water periods, inexperienced boaters should avoid this section, and watch for river cane along the banks. Pool-and-drop rapids and rock gardens add variety to the paddle, making this a popular destination for recreational boaters seeking manageable whitewater in a stunning canyon setting.