Paddling near Study Butte, TX

Study Butte sits at the junction of TX 118 and FM 170 in far West Texas, serving as a basecamp for the Big Bend region. The Rio Grande is the defining paddling water here, flowing along the border between Texas and Mexico through Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Multiple outfitters based in the Study Butte/Terlingua area run guided kayak, canoe, and raft trips through dramatic desert canyons — from half-day floats to multi-day expeditions — with Santa Elena, Colorado, Mariscal, and Boquillas canyons among the notable runs accessible only by river.