|
Mariscal Canyon
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.
One Day
Mariscal Canyon River Trip Sample Itinerary
 |
Check in at our office at 8:00 a.m.
Your guide will provide small day bags and waterproof camera boxes for
your use. You will not need watches, jewelry, or money on the
river, so please lock these up before you check in. |
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 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." You may want to stop at Hermit's Cave
for a short hike during the afternoon.
Depending on water level we may also
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.
Shortly after leaving the canyon,
we'll arrive at Solis, where our shuttle vehicle waits for us.
After packing our boats and gear, we'll return to our office in
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'll arrive back in Terlingua with
time for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Two
Day Mariscal Canyon River
Trip Sample Itinerary
|
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 bags. Your guide will also provide smaller day
bags and waterproof camera boxes for your use.
- 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 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
"The Tight Squeeze." You may want to stop at Hermit's Cave
for a short hike during the afternoon. Later, we'll make camp at a
beautiful site 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 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.
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 at
the Breaks, 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.
|
