Big Bend Country

Sunrise in the desert after a frigid night.


The Santa Elena canyon from the north. The Rio Grande makes a dramatic exit, turning sharply to the east (left) in the beginning of the "Big Bend."


The canyon is about 1500 feet deep, with sheer sandstone walls.


Looking north into the desert as the Rio Grande changes course.


Tom does Clint by a silty bank.


The sandstone dips quite sharply in the opposite direction from the river's flow, creating the illusion that the water flows steeply but smoothly downhill. We could only walk about a half mile into the canyon before the banks ran out.


The Chisos Range framed by the canyon walls.