safety at Big Bend

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 exploring

Their name tags really do say international ferry LOL

No 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.

Jim@HiTek wrote:
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've been there at least three times over the years with zero problems. We spent 5 days there a few years ago. Not only is the Rio shallow it is actually dry in places. There is a slot canyon that the Rio runs thru down in the State park section that is bone dry. I suspect the river runs underground there.

For the most part the Mexican side looked very rough and inhospitable. I don't recall even seeing anyone on the other side. here is one place where you can get boated across at the eastern end of the river in the park but we haven't been down there.

If one should want to visit the other side would it be wise to have their passport in their possesion?

Yes. You must have a passport to cross the Rio Grande to Boquillas, Mexico. The park and Boquillas are perfectly safe. Boquillas is a long, long way from any other town in Mexico and really appreciates American $ spent in their little village.

As others have suggested, you're very unlikely to have problems with illegals but do exercise common sense when hiking or driving the backroads. Other than the period between Thanksgiving and New Year's and Spring Break in early to mid March, Big Bend is one of the least visited National Parks. And that's a good thing!

Just to add a little spice to your visit, this 1932 murder is detailed on the Park's website. Juan's grave is located on The Old Ore Road and well worth a visit. Also, Death in Big Bend by Laurence Parent is interesting reading. And A Murder in Terlingua was a multi-part TV special a few years back.

Seriously, we're from NC but Big Bend is our favorite National Park and we've returned many times since spending part of our honeymoon there in 78. In fact, we'll be there for a few days in late June.

Glad to see this post. My husband and I are planning to finally get to Big Bend. We've been trying for years and something always interfered. I've read enough posts, reviews, and blogs about the area that I wasn't worried about our safety, but never to hurts to have have additional confirmation from those who know firsthand about it.