The Santa Elena Canyon Overlook in Big Bend National Park offers stunning views of the Santa Elena Canyon and the Rio Grande River.
Big Bend National Park
5-10 Minutes
Spring, Fall
$30 per Vehicle
Overview
The overlook has a small shelter with a couple of benches to rest on. There are some interpretive signs explaining the geology of the canyon as well as traveling by raft down the Rio Grande River on one of the river trips that are offered as long as there aren’t low water levels along the bank of the Rio Grande.
Santa Elena Canyon Overlook Plan
Before heading into the Santa Elena Canyon Trailhead at Terlingua Creek, we decided to make a quick stop at the overlook so we could look down at the river bank. We decided this was a good way to try to get a look at where we would be hiking from overhead since we knew we wanted to walk along the Santa Elena Canyon.
Getting There
Location
Big Bend National Park is known for its isolation from the rest of the parks and from most of Texas. The park is in Southwest Texas, a few hours drive from the closest airports. Big Bend shares the United States border with Mexico along the Rio Grande River for just over 100 miles.
Because of its location, you will have to drive into the park whether you make a road trip to the park like we did or fly and rent a car.
The closest airports are Odessa/Midland followed by El Paso then San Antonio. No matter which you fly into, though, you are looking at a few hours drive after landing.
Best Time to Go
Big Bend National Park is in the Chihuahuan Desert and experiences the extreme temperatures most people associate with the desert. The best time to go is in spring or fall, usually February to March or September to November.
In the summer months, the temperatures soar to over 100 degrees making Big Bend a dangerous place to hike.
Santa Elena Canyon Overlook
Who Can Go?
Since this is just the overlook for the canyon, not the trail, it is accessible to anyone. There’s a very short trail from the parking area to the overlook at the end of the trail.
What You'll See
The overlook provides a fantastic vantage point to appreciate the towering limestone cliffs that rise over 1,500 feet on either side of the river at the mouth of the canyon. The high walls on the left are on the Mexican Side of the banks of the Rio Grande and the sheer walls on the right are on the United States side. Right in front of you is the lush vegetation of the river area in the park. Behind you, you can get a view of the Chisos Mountains.
Santa Elena Canyon
What to Bring & Wear
The overlook is very close to the vehicle, so you don’t need anything in particular for this stop. Make sure you have a camera to capture a photo of the towering 1500-foot canyon. And as always, bring plenty of water and snacks to the park with you.
Where to Go
The Santa Elena Canyon Overlook is near the end of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive but the Castolon Visitor Center and Castolon Historic District. If you reach where the dead ends at the trail parking lot, you’ve gone too far. It’s almost across the street from Old Maverick Road, just before it on the left side of the road.
How Long Does it Take?
A stop at the overlook takes most people about 5-10 minutes to take in the sights and read the signs after the short hike from the parking area. While there aren’t picnic tables, it would still be a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Cost
The park does not charge a fee for the overlook or parking here, but there is an entrance fee for Big Bend National Park. A private vehicle costs $30 or you can use a national park pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass, to enter the park.
Tips for Santa Elena Canyon Overlook
- The colors of the steep canyon walls are especially vibrant at sunrise and sunset.
- Santa Elena Canyon at the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is one of the more popular places in the park, so be patient when it comes to parking and crowds.
- Make sure to plan time to follow the overlook with a hike through the Santa Elena Canyon Trail which is under 2 miles and one of the best hikes in the park.