Embracing the park, I explored around for nearly two weeks visiting many campsites and taking in all the diverse and massive park had to offer. Maybe not all...but certainly some. Down on the Rio Grande near the south-eastern portion of the park exists a number of hot water seeps into the river. These geothermal springs range from natural horizontal slits in the mud to established concrete pools with structure. The most popular is just 6mi or so from Rio Grande Village. Once an established resort on the river, today the remnants of an office/store and rooms of a motel are all that remain. The view of the river and surrounding hills still unchanged. Following the cliffside along a 1/4mi trail brings me to a concrete tub filled with sand and algae and a soothing warm heat radiating. A tub full of Austin firemen who just finished a Canyoneering expedition in the Santa Elena Canyon country. A lone traveler I met briefly at the ranger station swims across to the far bank and back, an action punishable by hefty fine. "It ain't illegal if you don't get caught!" Mexcians cross the river illegally to sell walking sticks and metal artwork along many of the trails near Boquillas. The same items are for sale in the park too for about twice the price. The cross-border activity is overlooked by the CBP unless incidents of stealing from campers or crime occurs, in which case they confiscate the items and monitor the border closely. I would later find what I like to call the "hidden hot springs" near my camp for the following couple of evenings. The weather guessers had threatened rain and cool northern winds but the days remained mostly sunny and shower-free. I had finally found the old man-made hot spring kept up by locals who frequent the park. What a joy it was relaxing in solitude on the early mornings as the sun rose above canyon cliffs above me.
1 Comment
Andrew
12/24/2018 04:02:09 pm
Hi, I'm a big fan of your site. I'm going to big bend in a few weeks and am totally looking forward to it? Any chance you could let me know more specific information about where the 'hidden' hot springs are. Any advice would be much appreciated!
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Mike SaundersIn May 2014 I quit my job to ride a Honda Ruckus over 69'000 mi and counting. Wild camping most nights and cooking most of my own meals, I keep the costs low and the landscape changing. Archives
April 2018
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