Close to the campground was the road to Boquillas Canyon, which was only a few miles away.
Here is a view on the way:
This is the overlook towards the Mexican village of Boquillas:
Goods from Boquillas for sale. Contraband these days:
Before 2002 Boquillas was part of the Big Bend National Park experience. It was an open border, tourists would go over to Boquillas and shop and eat and the people of Boquillas would come over to Big Bend, buy propane, catch rides to stores and it was all sanctioned by the park. Then the Border Patrol and Washington, DC, ended it all. Now people must enter the U.S. only through border stations, the closest is in Presidio, TX, 160 miles of road from Boquillas. Goods must come through the border station, otherwise they are contraband. If a U.S. citizen crosses the river they have to come back through a border station. The citizens of Boquillas are not supposed to cross the river. They do and they hope someone buys. A walking stick from Boquillas costs $18 at the stores in Big Bend, they want $5 to $6 directly. The wholesale profit of the sales of the $18 walking stick goes back to Boquillas, so they do benefit. But times are certainly different.
A view from the overlook west:
A view from the overlook east:
Just before the canyon trailhead is the old tramway:
A bucket from the tramway:
This is where the tramway ran:
Diane around the old tower footings:
The Boquillas Canyon Trail:
The view just above the parking lot:
Wildflowers by the trail:
A view from a high point of the trail:
That is Boquillas Canyon in the distance:
A boat on the Mexican side:
Quicktime video (3.00MB) of the river so you can hear how fast it is rushing