Trip Planner:   USA  /  Texas  /  Big Bend National Park  /  Santa Elena Canyon

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park

4.9

#1 of 41 in Things to do in Big Bend National Park

Canyon Nature / Park Must See

• ©
• ©
• ©
• © +7
• ©
• ©
• ©
• ©
• ©
• ©
• ©

Santa Elena Canyon is located in Big Bend National Park. To visit Santa Elena Canyon on your holiday in Big Bend National Park, and find out what else Big Bend National Park has to offer, use our Big Bend National Park day trip planning tool .

more less Improve this listing »

Create an itinerary including Santa Elena Canyon

Start planning

Unable to display map at this time. Please try again later.

© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

Santa Elena Canyon Reviews

Rate this attraction

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

511 reviews

Google

5.0

facebook

5.0

85 likes

• By Robert S On June 19, 2018

  We were there in mid-April and although the temperature hit 100 later in the day, it was fairly cool in the morning shade. It is a short and relatively easy hike. It is well worth it. The canyon is na...  more »

• By mayost12 On June 15, 2018

  Considering how hot it was the visit to the canyon was worth it! It was so easy to get to with amazing sights along the way. My youngest was fascinated by skipping rocks in the river. You don’t have t...  more »

• By Melany V On June 10, 2018

  We visited in June and it was HOT! We did all our hiking in the mornings so it was bearable. Once we made the slow, long drive to the canyon we found it was a very small hike to the canyon. It was bea...  more »

View more on TripAdvisor »

Google

• By Mark Alexandre On December 31, 2017

  Wonderful way for people & whole families to spend an afternoon. If you're not exactly young & fit, don't be put off by the somewhat steep climb at the start — roughly equivalent to climbing 6-7 flights of stairs, but with beautiful vistas of the vertical canyon walls and back into the park. The rest of the trail is a comparatively easy walk on a slight incline back down toward the river then following along its bank to the end of the trail, which is well worth it for the many gorgeous views. Even young children handle this trail well, though you really gotta keep an eye on them — hold their little hands, as they tend to get really amped up by it all!!

  more less
• By Hal Evans On December 28, 2017

  Short, easy hike but dangerous climb up to the canyon floor. It is a great adventure and well worth the effort.

  more less
• By Marianne Galati On February 4, 2018

  Beautiful, but busy, lots of other people on this trail

  more less
• By Catjokeman Follow me on instagram On April 18, 2018

  Really awesome place

  more less
• By Amanda Horst On March 29, 2018

  Beautiful and unique!

  more less

View more on Google »

Plan your trip to Big Bend National Park

• Get a personalized plan

  A complete day-by-day itinerary
  based on your preferences

• Customize it

  Refine your plan. We'll find the
  best routes and schedules

• Manage it

  Everything in one place.
  Everyone on the same page.