The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River is a U.S.

National Wild and Scenic River The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542), enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free- ...

that protects of the

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The length of the Rio G ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

and

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. The designation was first applied in 1968 to a stretch of the river in New Mexico; an additional of the river in Texas was added in 1978, followed by another in New Mexico in 1994. The New Mexico portion of the Wild and Scenic River runs from the New Mexico–

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the ...

border approximately south. The lower of the Red River, a tributary of the Rio Grande in

Taos County, New Mexico Taos County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,937. Its county seat is Taos. The county was formed in 1852 as one of the original nine counties in New Mexico Territory. Taos County comp ...

, was also added to the Wild and Scenic River System. The two rivers intersect in the

Wild Rivers Recreation Area Wild Rivers Recreation Area is located in north central New Mexico within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Two rivers that run through the park, the Rio Grande and Red River are National Wild and Scenic Rivers. NM 378 that traverses t ...

. Approximately of the Wild and Scenic River in Texas is within

Big Bend National Park Big Bend National Park is an American national park located in West Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, and was named after ...

; the remainder is downstream of Big Bend. Three rugged canyons are preserved under this designation:

Boquillas Canyon Boquillas Canyon is a canyon in the Big Bend National Park Big Bend National Park is an American national park located in West Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert t ...

is the most accessible, as it can be reached via a popular RV campground;

Mariscal Canyon Mariscal is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alberto Mariscal (1926–2010), American-born Mexican actor and film director * Ana Mariscal (1923–1995), Spanish film actress, director, screenwriter and film producer * Ángel ...

can only be entered via a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle; and entrance to the Lower Canyon, due to rapid size, is only possible by signing a

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational properti ...

liability or "acknowledgement of risk" waiver. The Wild and Scenic River designation does not include

Santa Elena Canyon Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...

, which is the most popular recreational area in Big Bend.

Gallery

File:Rio_Grande_in_Big_Bend_NP.jpg, Rio Grande Bend near Boquillas Canyon

External links

*
Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
- National Park Service

- Bureau of Land Management Protected areas of Brewster County, Texas Rio Grande Protected areas of Terrell County, Texas Protected areas of Val Verde County, Texas National Park Service areas in Texas National Park Service Wild and Scenic Rivers {{US-NationalParkService-stub

Gallery

See also

External links