Recreation on the Rio Grande

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Created on Tuesday, 29 March 2011 22:36

Published on Tuesday, 29 March 2011 22:36

Written by Abe Connally

Gazing out at the barren, baked landscape of the southwestern Texas desert, visitors to the Big Bend region may not expect a thriving population of plants and animals to be nestled inside the cracks and crevices of the volcanic rock that comprise much of the terrain. A closer inspection of the area quickly reveals that this is not the case, as interesting flora and fauna are discovered, vegetation and wildlife that survive the arid heat of the day and the deadly cold of the desert night. Many of the organisms that call Big Bend home owe their sustenance to the Rio Grande, the river that winds its way through this rocky domain. In fact, Big Bend National Park and the surrounding areas that share the moniker obtained their nickname from the large U-turn that the Rio Grande takes there. It is the Rio Grande itself that offers visitors to Big Bend a wide variety of activities that are certain to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Guests of Big Bend do not even need to navigate the waterways of the Rio Grande to appreciate its beauty. Depending on the weather, season, or time of day, the river displays the many facets of its personality. Sunsets along Big Bend's Rio Grande are unmatched, as the rose-colored water washes a calm over sightseers that puts the mind at ease. Even when the sky peers down with a sullen, hazy eye, the Rio Grande stares back with gleaming waters that shine beneath the gloomy skies. Soon after the sun has set or just before it has risen in the morning, deep blue hues mix with rusty reflections of the surrounding cliffs to paint a portrait on the water that makes it rather easy to forget that technological intrusions such as automobiles and computers exist at all.

If it is action rather than sightseeing you seek, the Rio Grande can accommodate you in this department as well. Because of various irrigation projects, the river is usually too dry to fish or raft upstream of Big Bend National Park. Near Presidio, however, the Rio Conchos drains into the estuary to resuscitate the Rio Grande. A 191-mile stretch of the Rio Grande has been designated a national wild and scenic river. The scenic aspect has already been made apparent, and the wild aspect is soon clear to those brave enough to tackle the rapids and currents found on the mighty waterway. Because of the potential dangers, visitors are required to carry a permit to float the Rio Grande while in the park. These permits may be obtained from headquarters, ranger stations, and from rangers themselves. If the river has reached flood stage, permits are not issued because the Rio Grande can be flat out deadly when the waters have risen that high. The summer and early fall seasons experience a number of storms, so flash flooding becomes a concern during this period.

Though kayaking and canoeing are certainly welcome on the Rio Grande, river runners would be better served to traverse the waters via an inflatable raft. Kayaks and canoes are made of less forgiving material, and suffer greater damage when cross currents slam them into the rocky protrusions found along the route. It is highly advisable that no one heads out on the river alone due to the unpredictable nature of the currents and unforeseen rapids that may spring up in front of the raft. Life jackets are a necessity, and the ability to swim is highly suggested. This is not to make the Rio Grande sound prohibitively treacherous, it is simply to emphasize the importance of preparedness.

Inside the boundaries of Big Bend National Park, the Rio Grande presents an aquatic adventure that is sure to please everyone from scenery lovers to marine thrill-seekers. It is an ancient reminder in an ancient land that nature still rules supreme, and that we humans are hardly grains in the sands of time. Those who have admired the Rio Grande both from its banks and from upon her waters are well aware of this fact.