10-12-23
Santa Elena Canyon is on the far Southwest edge of Big Bend. This is where the Rio Grande enters the park.
The notch in picture #2 is the canyon. On the way there we pass these large white rock areas, that are actually solidified ash piles from ancient volcanic eruptions.
The path to the canyon gets washed out by a side tributary. You see Martha navigating a dangerous, visitor made trail, that eventually meets up with the original trail.
In #5 and #6, you see the straight up switch back trail we walked to get over to the river.
In pictures #12, #13 you will see a massive bldg size block. In #13, you will see Martha standing at the base of it.
Once in the canyon, you can wade in knee deep water to the Mexico side and clamber up the steep ledge.
