Big Bend is easily one of the most incredible places in Texas and it’s hiding a secret guaranteed to make your next trip unforgettable. Santa Elena Canyon, a majestic limestone grotto nestled deep within the mountains, provides a Rio Grande kayaking adventure that’s like a dream come true.

Santa Elena is by far the park's most popular canyon. That's due in part to the hidden grotto being easily accessible by car, but mostly because it's overwhelmingly considered the most beautiful piece of scenery in Big Bend.
Flickr/roberthensley
The Rio Grande meanders right through the canyon for 13 miles, making it an ideal kayaking spot. The trip is leisurely — well, aside from a rapid known as the Rock Slide two miles in.
Flickr/turcottes78
Several outfitters offer trips that range in length from one to three days, appealing to a variety of skill levels. Along the way, you'll pass rare wildlife and even get the opportunity to camp on spacious sandbars.
TripAdvisor/National Park Trips

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Hikers will be delighted to learn about a collection of side canyons that offer beautiful trails. This one is short and sweet, clocking in at just 1.5 miles round-trip.
AllTrails/William Heileman
Lush vegetation surrounds the pathway, and 1500-foot tall limestone cliffs tower endlessly up to the heavens. You'll cross Terlingua Creek, climb a few switchbacks, and end with unparalleled views of the mighty river.
AllTrails/Darcy Wheeler
Arguably the best thing about Santa Elena Canyon is that a gorgeous road called Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive leads straight to it. This thirty-mile stretch takes you on an unforgettable journey through mountains, ranches that early settlers lived on, and some of the most diverse ecology in Texas.
Flickr/johncutrer
You'll find the canyon eight miles west of Castolon. It is accessible via either the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive or Old Maverick Road.
Google Maps

Visit Big Bend’s website or Facebook page to learn more.

Have you ever kayaked through Santa Elena Canyon? If so, what was your favorite part of the experience? Let us know your thoughts! Check out our previous article for another jaw-dropping adventure in our state’s most iconic national park: This Just Might Be The Most Beautiful Hike In All Of Texas.

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