Big Bend River Tours

   P.O. Box 317

   Terlingua, TX 79852

   1-800-545-4240

   1-432-371-3033

Mariscal Canyon

This itinerary is intended as an example only.   Your trip may vary somewhat depending on weather and river conditions, your guide and your group's interests.  If you enjoy you trip, gratuities for your guides are always appreciated.

Mysterious and intimate, Mariscal Canyon is the most remote canyon in Big Bend National Park.  Here the Rio Grande swings northward, forming the "big bend" of the river.  Mariscal Canyon is accessible only by a primitive dirt road which, although lengthy, affords spectacular and seldom seen views of the Chisos Mountains.  Our adventure covers a 10 mile stretch of the Rio Grande through beautiful rock formations that have narrow canyon walls reaching 1,800 feet above the river.

Two Day Mariscal Canyon River Trip Sample Itinerary

  • Day One:     Check in at our office at 8:15 a.m., with your overnight things packed into the large gear bags.  Your guide will also provide smaller day bags and waterproof camera boxes for your use. 
    • Day Before Trip:     Pick up waterproof gear bags at our office in Terlingua.  If you arrive after office hours, you can get the gear bags on the morning of your trip.
    Day One:    Check in at our office at 8:15 a.m., with your overnight things packed into the large gear bag.  Your guide will provide smaller day dry bags. We'll board our shuttle vehicle and head to the put-in point at Talley, a three hour drive through Big Bend National Park.  Along the way, we will pass the historic Mariscal Mine, where we often make a short stop for photographs and sightseeing.  Lunch will be served at Talley.
     
  • After Nightfall:     After a delicious dinner, enjoy the warmth of the campfire and look up to see more stars that you ever though possible.  Look for the Milky Way "cloud": and, depending on the time of the year, the planets Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, or Jupiter.  A trip scheduled during the full moon will provide you with a glorious moonrise over the mountains and moonlight so bright you can almost read by it.  You may choose to sleep under the stars or inside one of the cozy tents that we provide.
  • Day Two:    Wake up to the sound of birds singing and the smell of cowboy coffee brewing.   After a hearty breakfast, we will break camp and pack the boats to continue floating through this majestic canyon.  We may stop to hike at The Breaks before exiting the canyon.  As we leave the high canyon walls behind and float out into the open desert, the magnificent Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park can be seen shimmering in the distance.
  • Early Afternoon:     Shortly after our lunch stop, we'll arrive at Solis, where our shuttle vehicle waits for us.  After packing our boats and gear, we'll return to Terlingua via the River Road.  Toward the east, watch the afternoon sunlight play on El Pico, the highest point of the Sierra del Carmen Mountains in Mexico.  You arrive back in Terlingua with time for dinner and a relaxing evening.
    • After Lunch:     We begin our peaceful float trip through the dramatic entrance to Mariscal Canyon, one mile down river.  Once inside the canyon, prepare to splash through two fun rapids known as "The Rockpile" and "Tight Squeeze."  We will make camp at a beautiful site called Cross Canyons surrounded by cathedral-like rock formations on the canyon walls.  As your guide prepares a delicious evening meal, you can hike, explore, or just relax and enjoy the song of the canyon wrens, watching for hawks and swallows to perform their aerial acrobatics near the canyon rim.

    After Nightfall:     After a delicious dinner, enjoy the warmth of the campfire and look up to see more stars that you ever thought possible.  Look for the Milky Way "cloud" and depending on the time of the year, you may see the planets Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, or Jupiter.  A trip scheduled during the full moon will provide you with a glorious moonrise over the mountains and moonlight so bright you can almost read by it.  You may choose to sleep under the stars or your tent.

    Day Two:   Wake up to the sound of birds singing and the smell of cowboy coffee brewing.  After a hearty breakfast, we will break camp and pack the boats to continue floating through this majestic canyon.  As we leave the high canyon walls behind and float out into the open desert, the magnificent Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park can be seen shimmering in the distance.  We will then arrive at Solis (take-out), where are shuttle vehicle awaits us.  After packing our boats and gear, we will return to our office in Terlingua via the River Road. Toward the east, watch the afternoon sunlight play on El Pico, the highest point in the Sierra del Carmen Mountains in Mexico.  You will arrive back into Terlingua in time for dinner and a relaxing evening.
     

    3 Day Mariscal Canyon River Trip

    Our three day trip covers the same 10 mile stretch as the two day float. It is our most leisurely trip, with plenty of extra time for longer hikes and explorations.  We will spend two nights at the same camp and use the lay over day for relaxing, swimming, eating, hiking and playing.

    4 Day Mariscal Canyon River Trip

    Our four day extended trip encompasses 18 additional miles of river and two short but scenic canyons, San Vicente Canyon and Hot Springs Canyon.  This trip begins at Talley and ends at Rio Grande Village.  A highlight of this trip includes a soak in the hot springs at the historic Langford Bath House on the final day of your float.