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Rio Grande Through Big Bend National Park
Location: Southwestern Texas, on the Mexican border (about 250 miles southeast of El Paso). Length of trips: Boquillas Canyon 33 miles in three days; Mariscal Canyon 10 miles in one day; Santa Elena Canyon 20 miles in one to two days. Season: All year, although summer is hot; spring and fall are best. The water flow usually peaks in August, September, and October, when thunderstorms are common. Weather: Mild temperatures (40° to 60°F at night, 80° to 95° during the day) make March, April, October, and November popular for rafting, although water levels are low. Summer can be blisteringly hot, with temperatures topping 100°. The temperature cools off in fall. Winter days are cool (50s and 60s), nights chilly. Thunderstorms often spark flash floods from May through October. Lodging: Fine desert campsites on sandy beaches, under towering limestone cliffs, or on grassy stretches. Boats: Oar boats, paddle rafts. Rapids: Boquillas Canyon Class I and II (mostly small riffles); Mariscal Canyon Class II (depending on water level); Santa Elena Canyon Class II, III, and IV. The temperature of the silty water fluctuates from below 50° in winter to above 80° in summer. Special features:
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