Visitors listen to an interpretive program on the Nature Trail

Rio Grande Village Nature Trail
3/4 mile roundtrip
Although a very short and easy trail, the RGV Nature Trail is very scenic and offers fantastic opportunities for wildlife viewing, especially birds. A self-guiding leaflet describes the area's natural and human history. Pick up the trailhead behind RGV campground site #18. After crossing a boardwalk through a spring-fed wetland, the trail gradually ascends a small limestone hill. A side trail leads to the banks of the Rio Grande. From trail's end, hikers are rewarded by a magnificent panorama of the Sierra del Carmen, the river floodplain, Boquillas, Hot Springs Canyon, and the Chisos Mountains. This is probably the best sunset view in the entire park.

Overlooking the Rio Grande

Boquillas Canyon Trail
1.4 miles roundtrip
From the parking area at the end of the Boquillas Canyon Road, the trail climbs over a low limestone hill and drops to the banks of the Rio Grande near some Indian mortar holes. Hikers enjoy great views of the river and mouth of Boquillas Canyon. Further down the trail is a huge pile of wind driven sand below a shallow cave.

Ruins of the Ore Terminal

Ore Terminal Trail
8 miles roundtrip
This strenuous day hike leads through rugged limestone desert following the remains of a 6-mile long ore tramway that once carried ore from the Mexican mines to a large terminal structure in the Ernst Basin. This is NOT a trail to hike during the summer months. This trail begins at the same trailhead as the Marufo Vega Trail. After one mile up the wash, the Ore Terminal Trail veers to the left and heads up the hillside. You will see the remains of the tram towers and cables. The trail ascends the hillside, veers around the head of a deep canyon, and generally follows the tram route to the old wooden tramway terminal in the Ernst Basin.

The Sierra Del Carmen as seen from the Marufo Vega Trail.

Marufo Vega Trail
14 miles roundtrip
For hikers searching for solitude and a longer loop trip, the Marufo Vega trail provides a strenuous but spectacular journey through the rugged limestone of the Dead Horse Mountains to the banks of the Rio Grande. This trail has NO WATER and is NOT recommended during the summer months when the heat is unbearable. From the trailhead along the Boquillas Canyon road, this trail heads 1 mile up a sandy wash and then turns sharply up a high limestone ridge to the east. After 3 more miles, the trail splits into two forks. The north fork descends for two miles to the Rio Grande. The south fork crosses another high ridge and after 3 miles also descends to the river through a steep 800 foot canyon. Between the two forks, a trail parallels the river from high above. Be sure to watch for trail markers, carry a good map and plenty of water whenever hiking this rugged yet spectacular trail.