See all 3 routes on Rio Grande
Texas | Big Bend
Rio GrandeGravel Pit to Rio Grande Village
Short Big Bend National Park day float through Hot Springs Canyon from the Gravel Pit river access on River Road East to the Rio Grande Village take-out. NPS publishes the five-mile route, the 30 cfs canoe/kayak low-flow cue, no-overnight rule for the stretch, high-clearance road caveats, and river-permit requirements, with USGS 08375300 providing the direct same-corridor gauge.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch from the Gravel Pit river access and float through Hot Springs Canyon to Rio Grande Village. NPS identifies 30 cfs as the canoe/kayak floor; shallow water and slow travel become more likely near or below it, so check current conditions along with high-clearance access, heat, and permit requirements.
Access map
Put-in
Gravel Pit river accessThe Gravel Pit coordinate is an access anchor for the river access/campsite road area, not a guaranteed wetted-edge launch point. Use the signed NPS river-bank access at the end of the road and current bank conditions.
Take-out
Rio Grande Village take-outNPS says River Road East and Gravel Pit Road require high-clearance vehicles and can become extremely muddy or impassable after rain.
Road shuttle
Stage the Rio Grande Village take-out first, then use River Road East and the Gravel Pit access road only when current NPS road conditions support high-clearance travel. Bring two vehicles or arrange a local shuttle or guided trip.
Additional access notes
- NPS says no overnight camping is allowed along this stretch of river. Use only separately permitted primitive roadside campsite plans at Gravel Pit or normal developed campground plans away from the route.
- Near or below the 30 cfs NPS canoe/kayak floor, expect shallow riffles, slow travel, and possible dragging; check the current gauge and trend before launch.
- This is a border river trip. The NPS river permit does not authorize entering Mexico, and parties should follow all current park, private-land, and river-use rules.
More route and safety guidance
- Gravel Pit access is on River Road East and requires a high-clearance vehicle. NPS warns River Road and Gravel Pit Road can become extremely muddy or impassable after rain.
- NPS river regulations still require a backcountry river permit before watercraft is placed on the Rio Grande within Big Bend, and the permit does not authorize entry into Mexico.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Rio Grande at Rio Grande Village, Big Bnd NP, TX. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Rio Grande at Rio Grande Village, Big Bnd NP, TX |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 30 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | NPS Hot Springs Canyon flow guidance |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeGravel Pit to Rio Grande Village, about 5 mi
NPS identifies Hot Springs Canyon as a half-day float from the Gravel Pit put-in along River Road East to the Rio Grande Village take-out.
- Public access coordinates29.151417, -103.002417 to 29.179840, -102.960850
NPS documents Gravel Pit river-bank access and Rio Grande Village as the take-out; published Gravel Pit coordinate references are stored as access anchors rather than guessed wetted-edge launch points.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-10USGS 08375300 at 31.5 cfs / 2.33 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Threshold posture30 cfs minimum-only
NPS says the spring-recharged Hot Springs Canyon stretch is possible in a canoe or small kayak down to 30 cfs.
- Camping and permitsDay float only; permitted Gravel Pit basecamp nearby
NPS says there is no overnight camping along the Hot Springs Canyon stretch, so the route is day-use only; Gravel Pit itself has primitive roadside campsites that require a separate backcountry permit.
- SafetyLow water, heat, high-clearance access, permit and border rules
NPS documents low-water paddling, River Road mud and high-clearance requirements, mandatory river permits, no Mexico entry, required PFDs, storm/high-water caution, and day-only camping limits.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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