Santa Elena Canyon Trail

The route begins by crossing the bed of Terlingua Creek and climbing a short, steep bank. After rain, the bed can be thick mud or flowing water; at other times it may be dry sand. Wear shoes that can get muddy. Do not cross if the water is deep or swift. Summer rainy-season flooding can make the route impassable, so ask park staff about the crossing when conditions are uncertain.

The park warns hikers not to walk far upstream looking for a dry crossing. Those long detours head toward dangerous cliffs and are not the maintained trail. If the direct crossing is unsafe, turn around and enjoy the canyon from the road-end area.

Once across the creek, follow the maintained route into the canyon mouth. A series of concrete steps climbs to a high viewpoint. From there the path slopes gradually toward the river. Beyond the creek approach, the walking is mostly smooth, though the steps and uneven boulders still call for attention.

The last stretch winds among large boulders and ends abruptly where the canyon wall meets the Rio Grande. This is an out-and-back, so turn around at the end and retrace the same route. The viewpoint above the river gives you the broadest look at the gorge; include the river below the walls to show their scale.

Santa Elena Canyon runs for about seven miles, and the trail reaches one of its narrowest places. The canyon walls rise as high as 1,500 feet and are the tallest canyon walls in the park. You feel the walls close in as the path leaves the open creek bed and enters the canyon mouth; the route’s payoff is how quickly that broad desert wash turns into a steep-sided river gorge.

Pause to listen for the descending call of a canyon wren and the calls of ravens high along the walls.

Park at the paved lot at the end of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive; it holds about 20 vehicles and has a vault/composting toilet. No food or drinking water was identified at the trailhead or along the walk. Pets are not allowed on park trails.

This is a good choice when you want to get inside Big Bend’s river canyon without signing up for a long backcountry day. The walk is short, but it is not a level stroll: the creek approach has a steep bank, and concrete steps climb into the canyon. Check the crossing before you set out; water conditions matter more than the mileage.