6. Rio Grande Village to La Linda (34.5 miles)

This stretch of the Rio Grande does not have much in the way of whitewater, but Boquillas Canyon is one of the most scenic river trips in the country. It can be done as a 3-day trip, but a longer, 5-day trip affords more time for hiking and exploration. The normal put-in is at Rio Grande Village, although some choose to combine Boquillas Canyon with upstream reaches, such as Mariscal Canyon and Hot Springs Canyon. 150 cfs or higher is recommended for rafts and kayaks, but the river is known to be navigable at flows below 100 cfs on the Rio Grande Village gauge. Camping is not permitted along the 5.4 river miles between Rio Grande Village and the Boquillas Canyon entrance.  For this reason, as well as strong winds that sometimes blow across the open terrain upstream of the canyon, an early start is recommended on Day 1.  Once inside Boquillas Canyon, there are plenty of options for camping, including gravel bars and floodplain terraces.  The river exits the national park and enters private land a few miles below the mouth of the canyon, but when the river is relatively low, there are several islands in the stream that provide legal camping options along the last 8 river miles above the takeout.  The canyon itself stretches for 17 river miles, providing stunning scenery and numerous opportunities to explore side canyons. The Marufo Vega Trail offers additional options for extended hiking through the desert landscape (Marufo Vega is a loop trail, so it is accessible from both the river and the park road.) Logistics: - Prior to putting in, you must obtain the appropriate permits for river and backcountry access from the park headquarters at Panther Junction. - The normal put-in is at the river access point in Rio Grande Village, located near the group campsites. - The preferred takeout these days is at Heath Canyon Ranch at La Linda. Access is available on the downstream river left side of the abandoned Gerstacker Bridge, across from the fluorospar plant on the Mexican side. Arrangements must be made with the caretaker of the ranch (Fred) before arriving at the takeout. If you are driving in from Marathon to do this trip, then it is easiest to stop by the takeout first.  Fred can shuttle you up to the put-in, so your vehicle will be at the takeout when you get there. He charges a small landing fee ($10/person as of this writing), as well as a vehicle storage fee ($10/day) and additional fees for overnight camping and shuttling. A solo paddler reported, as of this writing, paying $160 total for a four-day canoe trip.  Other shuttle options (reportedly more expensive, as of this writing) are available through the outfitters in Terlingua. - For those looking to extend the trip, you can put in higher upstream or continue on past La Linda and through the Lower Canyons. See also Planning a Float Trip, provided by Big Bend National Park. See also the descriptions in Southwest Paddler. Distances and gradient measured using GIS tools in 2018.