SANTA ELENA CANYON

Santa Elena Canyon lies at the southern end of the park. We advise you to take Ross Maxwell Drive, a scenic road that offers sumptuous landscapes and a taste of what the Chihuahuan desert is like. The road is lined with ranch signs. Take a look and you'll plunge into the Big Bend's past. You'll see the canyon gradually approaching, like a natural wall advancing towards you. At the end of Ross Maxwell Drive is a parking area, and a sign points the way to Santa Elena Canyon. The canyon can also be reached via Old Maverick Road, if you're coming from Study Butte. You'll first come to the banks of the Rio Grande, which here is a rather narrow and shallow river. The opposite bank is therefore Mexican. If the river permits, you can head straight for the canyon, otherwise you'll have to take a path around the water to reach the trail. Santa Elena is one of the most majestic spots in the reserve, with its silence, its vertical walls and the colors that project from them. Climb the stone steps and play with the echoes. Huge walls surround you under the blazing sun. The water is quite red, and you're sure to see visitors in canoes gliding peacefully along. The hike ends with a small beach surrounded by a rock wall. The canyon is very popular. Early morning is recommended.