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Rio Grande Village is an area of Big Bend National Park in Texas. It contains a handful of trails and overlooks as well as a campground.
History
Rio Grande Village was originally the settlement of Boquillas. It was known for Chata’s Place, a store and restaurant that operated from 1901 to 1936. The store was owned by María Sada (1884-1973) and it was the last store in Boquillas in the 1930s. Today, there’s a campground, visitor center, and the border crossing to Boquillas del Carmen in Mexico.
Rio Grande Overlook
The first stop approaching Rio Grande Village is the Rio Grande Overlook. The overlook was created in 1959 and looks out onto the former Daniels Ranch (see below) and the Sierra del Carmen Mountains across the river in Mexico. Cottonwood trees block the view of the Rio Grande.
Daniels Ranch
The road forks shortly after the Rio Grande Overlook. Following the fork to the right leads you to Rio Grande Village, where there’s a visitor center, campground, a store, and some trails. There’s also a small adobe house that was once part of the Daniels Ranch, which was founded in the early 20th century. The house is all that’s left of the ranch structures. An elaborate network of irrigation ditches is still visible as well.
Boquillas Overlook
Following the fork to the right takes you down Boquillas Canyon Road. It first leads past the border crossing then forks itself. To the left are two trailheads, and the road to the right ends at the Boquillas Overlook.
From the Boquillas Overlook it’s possible to see the mouth of the Boquillas Canyon and the Rio Grande. You can also see Boquillas del Carmen and the Sierra del Carmen Mountains in Mexico.
