We have been planning a trip out west along I10 from Alabama to Big Bend National park. With all the border problems, I am wondering how safe it would be to do this. We had stops planned at Del Rio, Texas and at Big Bend National Park. While at Big Bend we were planning to do a float trip on the river, however, I am hearing that crossing the river is how a lot of the illegals are entering the US. Please share if you have any advice!

We just spent four days at Big Bend and never felt the least bit worried or uncomfortable.

The Rio Grande is only a few inches deep for several hundred miles and there would be no reason to pick out that area to cross with all those gringos watching from their RVs.Go, enjoy the Big Bend NP. It's really a neat place to stay for a couple days to refresh after a long drive. You can wave at an occasional Mexican villager up on the hillside across the river where there's a small village. And hike up and down the river bank. Or even wade across in places. There's a wildlife marsh area there too (snakes!) with a wooden bridge crossing it.

We too were there for 2 weeks - we took the international ferry ( rowboat) across to Boquilas Mexico and and a great breakfast and morning exploringTheir name tags really do say international ferry LOLNo crossings there - this is a very remote area and not a hot spot for crossings,you are worrying about nothing

Thank you all for your reassurance!!

Big Bend is one of the lowest activity of illegal crossings along the border. To get there from the Mexico side is 110-150 of unpaved, unimproved dirt road through rugged mountains. My opinion having lived in Dallas for 30+ years and having been a campground host at Big Bend NP is that any large US City is a more dangerous place than anywhere along with the Mexico border. The Del Rio to Persidio section of the border which includes Big Bend is safer than most US small cities.

safety at Big Bend | Good Sam Community

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Apr 28, 2018
No worries. Awesome place and excellent hiking. We always stayed at Rio Grande Village campground - pretty setting mountains and river and lovely yellow cottonwood trees in November.
fanrgs
Explorer
Apr 29, 2018
We spent a week there in January last year and saw no one crossing the river in the park. Much of the river adjacent to the park is in a canyon, so would be very difficult to climb down the cliffs to cross.

We were there in the cool season (there is no "cold season"), so had 60 degree days. But Presidio is located just a few miles upstream from the park and often has the highest summer daytime temperature in the nation. So, you would likely have more problems with heat stroke than crime if you are going to be in the park at that time of year!
scrubjaysnest
Explorer
Apr 30, 2018
We love stopping at both Del Rio and Big Bend. Been camping there since the 70's
GoHorns
Explorer
May 02, 2018
We were there for Christmas and loved it. The river road is 55 miles of 5 to 10 mph washboard gravel... took us 6 hours... but the scenery is worth it. We saw maybe 3 other cars on that route. Also, if you have a Texas LTC, you are legal in the park as well...

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