Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park

[@EzeAdventurer]

Quality father and son time, well done boys!! On my list, to do with my son some day!!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for watching. Yes, indeed a memorable father and son adventure!

[@keitharterburn8593]

Just seeing this in 2022. What an inestimable trip of a lifetime with your Son doing the same thing your Dad with you! Great footage and story telling. I am ashamed to say I made my first trip to Big Bend in January of this year (a 4th generation Texan). But I am too old and worn out to make a trip like that (although I’d like too). Stayed at Maverick RV Park in Lajitas in my 5th wheel and just drove all around. I can see why people want to disappear down there. Took an airplane tour on our last day with a local retired National Park Ranger who’d lived there his whole life. Although a different view it still couldn’t compare with this fantastic journey’s views. BRAVO!!!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for checking out my video.

[@grocefamilyfarm3062]

Fantastic! Dreaming of doing father son trips like this in hopefully not too distant future

[@sheryllynrivera6391]

Amazing! I was just there a few days ago canoeing on the Rio Grande, but 7 days! Wow!

[@peggefields4774]

Excellent adventure for the viewer as well as the entertaining participants! Thanks!

[@sniper6878]

Excellent video and story telling!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thank you!

[@jimkanzelmeyer7722]

Great story! What a blessing to share such and exciting adventure with your father and son!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thank you Jim. Yes, it truly was an exciting adventure!

[@skylilly1]

I enjoy your videos and all the places you venture off to. Thanks for taking us along!

[@wilsondillon1]

Thank you for putting this together. Awesome and inspiring.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@onehot57]

Great trip! Thanks for taking me along!

[@briandspohn5260]

The video is perfect thank you Gentelmen..

[@TheOneCanoe]

Much appreciated. Thanks for watching.

[@mauricioortizbuitrago3183]

what a nice well done video! thanks for making and sharing. very inspiring.

[@laurieschaetzel-hill3310]

Nice trip! Fun! My husband and i canoed the entire river in the park in 1977 while studying breeding bird biology of the peregrine falcons at the end of the DDT era. It looks like the river is about 2 feet lower than it used to be! That is sad. We spent a week at a tie in Mariscal and other ;Canyons and then repeated immediately again for 3 times! It was fun to see the river and the sites again. Including the hot springs.

[@cq7415]

That's quite a canyon around 6:00 & 15:30. I enjoyed. Hot springs soak at 24:00.Thanks for sharing.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for watching. Yes, there sure is spectacular scenery in those canyons. Definitely one of my most memorable canoe trips!

[@leepritchet2292]

May your family trip always live on. May you always be welcomed to Texas sir. 1,000 thumbs up

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks Lee. I always enjoy my trips to Texas. I'm sure I'll be back someday. Thanks for watching.

[@heyyou1140]

You have a very nice canoe! Your video skills are great, as well. I am planning on heading back down to the Rio, soon, to paddle from RGV to La Linda, or Marvalis (sp) 11 miles below. This was a very informative video, and I'll search for you Boquillas trip video. Rock On, my river brothers! As an aside, if you want more wild scenic an remote, try the upper Missouri River (I avoid the lakes), as the unchannelized upper river is still wild, and has many challenges on its own. My beagle and I have paddled most of the freee-flowing Missouir from Three Forks, MT down to Natches, MS. (Yes, it is the Missouri that goes to the gulf; if you ever see the Mo/Miss confluence, you'd agree with Mark Twain (and me). Stay safe, and have a blast!

[@sharieilers1421]

Thank you for taking us along on your adventure. What a wonderful tribute to your dad as well! Due to an injured back and time constraints we won't be going (on the river) where my heart wishes to. But thanks to you two, I feel like I was along for the ride. Great video!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thank you Shari. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@pnkflyd61]

Epic is right! Fantastic video, and a wonderful adventure. Thank you for sharing it!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Glad you enjoyed it Marcus. Thanks for tuning into my channel.

[@mkwy8782]

Wonderful...incredible.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks. It was indeed a wonderful trip!

[@AlpooplA]

Very informative well made video. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@nestorg.7362]

Amazing video guys. Great scenery and made me feel like I was right there.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@nataliefoster549]

What an amazing experience. I sincerely hope you're both doing well. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Natalie, we are both doing great. We had an amazing time on our journey down the Rio Grande River. Thanks for checking out our video!

[@frontierflyer]

This was amazing to watch! I'm planning on going to Big Bend soon and stumbled upon this video. You guys look like you have tons of fun and a really great relationship. Really great!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Josh, Thanks for watching. Yes, we had an amazing time. I hope to get back to that part of Texas again sometime in the future.

[@TexasDoctor7]

Why stop before you get to Boquillas Canyon....you were almost there! Ahhhhhhh!

[@majorpayne8373]

I want to watch the moonrise over the Rio Grande Stand in contemplation, hand in gentle hand Breathing the beauty of a pink and purple land High on the inspiration of the moon over the Rio Grande.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Well said!

[@majorpayne8373]

@@TheOneCanoe kzbin.info/www/bejne/l53JaHl9ls9lpsk. Were there any other people on the river in February?

[@margaretarross1712]

Two thumbs up. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. As a bred and born Westerner myself, I have an avid appreciation for Southwest photography and this was excellent as was the "reason for going back" to relive a memory. Thanks for letting me travel down the beautiful and legendary Rio Grande by proxy while you added the most recent chapter to your family history, sharing with your son while honoring your father with such a wonderful trip.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hello Margaret, Thank you so very much for the kind words, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.

[@dunnebug]

Great video guys. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Benjamin, Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@bumfit5491]

Well done! My wife and I, with two newfoundlands in tow ,spent 21 days on the same float but but in a 16ft raft.we did drag it a few times. , we went further. Del rio? Over 120* a few days!

[@MsLoversky]

Wow, very very very beautiful. I'd love to be there.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Yes it is truly an amazing place to paddle. Thanks for watching.

[@bigbranch1]

Wow....really great video...love the scenery and music...thank you and paddle on...

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Allen thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@floydljenningsjdphd3645]

It is nice to have someone in the family :-) who is also adventurous - I did Boquillas in the late 60's (the water levels would not permit Santa Elena).....

[@bmoore493]

Great video! Well edited and narrated!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@patd3888]

great video, thanks for sharing

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for watching!

[@westkomer5570]

Enjoyed this verymuch. Thank you

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@JamesJones-nu2fu]

Well done video gents. Getting stoked for my 4th trip down there this weekend. Fun to see it from other people’s eyes as well.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hope your trip goes well. It sure is an amazing place to explore!

[@hectorcervantes5260]

this kind of videos makes you tube awesome thanks.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thank You Hector. For a look at some other "winter escape" canoe destinations, please check out our Florida Everglades videos.

[@DjTherapy]

Fantastic job on this video, I will be taking my wife to this amazing park sometime this year, hopefully around September. All the best to you and your son, in your journeys.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time visiting this amazing National Park.

[@crushmandible6030]

Kudos! Excellent video documenting a great adventure. Thanks for sharing your experience!!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks for the kudos. It really was an amazing adventure!

[@brianspencer4220]

Thanks Guys for bringing me along on a very intriguing journey. Gives a whole new understanding to the term " Go with the flow" Were you ever concerned about quick sand? Thanks again . Brian 76

[@johanneskirsten2609]

Thank you very much for this nice video!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks Johannes.

[@alexdacostausa9471]

Kool and top adventure

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks

[@monicarivero1069]

We just came back to our small boring, IL town, from visiting those beautiful breath taking areas. On our journey we also stopped at some remote areas, but did not get to make it all the way to the majestic views you guys are showing us. Now we have a greater reason to go back... I thank our creator for giving us these to enjoy! Question for you: Is the place where you stop to see the abandon buildings part of the Lajitas, the ghost town? We didn't make it all the way there, but it looks awesome and this is the type of stuff I personally like to see. Please provide the landmark/s if you can, we are looking to go back to explore some more. Thank you for sharing, I learn a lot from your video many dos and don'ts to put them to practice on our next visit. May God bless you and keep you safe in you adventures...

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hello Monica, Thank you for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed our look at that magnificent part of Texas. The old buildings were part of the old Hot Springs settlement which is located just west of Hot Springs Canyon. Of course you can get to them from the river, but there is also a road so they can be accessed by car. It's not too far from the Rio Grande Village campground.

[@monicarivero1069]

Thank you for your quick response, I do appreciate it. I'll keep it in mind and google the road that you're talking about. When I read Hot Springs I was thinking Arkansas, which we've also visited... Nice little town, by the way! So just before I let you go - How did you guys get back to where you started or did the 3rd person doing the filming rode along the side of the river? which sound nearly impossible since there are no road/s along the river. Did you go as far as Del Rio, TX? I loved that little town, the people are super nice and the hospitality is two thumbs up. I love road trips in general, because you can actually embrace the beauty of God's creation. Thank you once again for sharing!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Monica, There was actually only my son and I on that trip. We had yo do a lot of pre-planning when deciding which shots and angles to film so as to make it look like there was a cameraman following us. I'm glad we pulled it off! As for logistics...we left our vehicle at the Rio Grande Village Campground(at the east end of the park) and had the outfitter from Lajitas pick us up there and shuttle us and all our equipment the 3 hour drive to Lajitas (at the west end of the park), so after 7 days on the river, our car was waiting for us at the end of our journey. I believe that shuttle cost us around $300.

[@philhollis1]

Great video! I was there last week and enjoyed it; however, water level was too high to get to the canyon.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Yes it’s a spectacular place, but the winter months are best for paddling as the water levels are lower that time of year, and the temperatures are milder.

[@evyze1]

Exellent video!

[@melissadiamond4814]

Anothony Bourdain has nothing on you guys! awesome vid

[@monicarivero1069]

Hi guys, I love your video! Are the abandon buildings part of Lajitas, TX? I understand there is nothing there and it is considered a ghost town, is that where you were? Thank you for sharing...

[@robertbaker997]

Really, really great video...the variety of your camera angles made the vid very engaging.....with informative narrative as well....

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thank you Robert. Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you found it informative.

[@brianbechtol7329]

Excellent video

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thank you Brian, please feel free to share it.

[@Melody615199999]

Beautiful work and so much fun to watch. Hope to head that way if this place (Texas) ever opens up again. I did not know they required a porta-potty for those trips. Can you tell me what your used, or recommend? Hopefully REI (currently closed) will have them.

[@handymanmlewis9566]

They make a lightweight one about the size of a 5 gallon bucket that has a smaller bucket in it. You can use Walmart bags in it. If you take about a 4" piece of pipe about 14 or 16 inches long and glue a cap on one end and a clean out plug on the other you can unscrew the plug and put your "waste' In it. Out of spite out of mind.

[@chrisrodriguez7957]

Thanks for sharing in your journey! Many years ago in another area of the Rio Grande, I remember encountering many large javelinas. Curious to know about any encounters with wildlife along the way?

[@TheOneCanoe]

We saw several of the wild-pig javelinas near the campgrounds at Rio Grande Village Campground, but along the river route we did not see any of those, or any other wildlife, apart from some overhead soaring birds or roadrunners darting across the desert floor, although on a similar trip many years earlier I do remember seeing several of the wild goats(Dall Sheep) that were scrambling up and down steep canyon walls. While hiking the Emory Peak Trail within Big Bend National Park we saw several of the Carmen Mountain white tail deer. Check out this link to see the hike and the deer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHO5loanf6uratU

[@paulsorrentino3195]

great video and very informative. i am dreaming about paddling this. it looks like a lot of fun! i noticed towards the end that you said your map was not very helpful. but still i'd like to take a look at a river map of this trip. not having much luck finding one online yet. any recommendations? thanks

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Paul, yes it was a very fun trip. I hope to head back to that area again someday. The map that was not very helpful was from an old guide book, and not very detailed. Your best bet for a detailed map is the one published by National Geographic. Check the description below the video and you'll find a link to Amazon where you can purchase that map. -Wayne

[@paulsorrentino3195]

@@TheOneCanoe Wayne, thanks for the reply. let me know if you're looking for someone to paddle it with. I'm eager to do this trip, but not by myself.

[@joew.3400]

What would happen if a hole were poked into the canoe while in those deep canyons I would hope a secondary floatation device would be necessary

[@TheOneCanoe]

That’s why on an extended expedition like this you always take a fibreglass repair kit with you, a satellite communicator and extra food.

[@BrianMorelli14]

Great video and helpful. I am planning a paddling trip here with a group in the next few months. What time of year did you take this trip?

[@TheOneCanoe]

We were there in February. Water levels were quite low, but adequate for a canoe.

[@ben2thewild]

Hey guys! Great video here. A friend and I are planning on heading there in two weeks but the outfitters are saying it's too low just like they told you.... can you remember the water level when you ran it? Thanks!

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hello ben2thewild, I can't remember exactly what the water flows were when we took our trip. I seem to recall the measurement at the Johnson Ranch Gauge was around 110-130 cms. When I checked yesterday it showed 65 cms, so it looks like it's pretty low and slow.

[@matthewmackley2969]

Nice video! I've seen a lot of your videos of Ontario. I was surprised when I searched "Big Bend Canoe Trip" and you guys came up. Did you guys use a shuttle service to get back to Lajitas?

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Matthew, Yes, since we live in Ontario most of our canoe trips are featured here, however during the winter we like to venture south and explore the warmer U.S. states. We have also done a few videos on paddling the Florida Everglades... if you are interested, please check them out. We did hire a shuttle. We left our car at the Rio Grande Village campground and had a shuttle pick us up and take us to Lajitas where we started our trek. At the end we arrived where our car was waiting for us. I don't remember the exact price we paid, but I think it was in the area of about $400 for the shuttle.

[@MySelfReliance]

Is this from this year Wayne, or last year?

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hi Shawn, This Texas trip is actually from 2015. It just took me forever to get around and edit it! Brad did head down to Texas this year with David Lee (but without me) and he basically picked up the route on the Rio Grande where we left off, paddling a section referred to as the "Lower Canyons". I'm sure in due course he'll have that trip video posted as well. -Wayne

[@theheatfann11]

Great video! I enjoyed it so much! If I may ask, how did you get back to your car, 120 km away?

[@TheOneCanoe]

We hired an outfitter from Lajitas to shuttle us. They picked us up at the Riverside Campground where we left our car and drove us to Lajitas where we began our river trip. We ended our trip at the Riverside Campground where our car was waiting for us. I think the cost for the shuttle was around $330 - $400.

[@theheatfann11]

TheOneCanoe awesome thank you!

[@bbrown2239]

Hello--Nice video and father-son trip! Do you recall the cfs or gauge height at Castolon?

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hello Betsy Brown...Thanks for watching. I'm sorry, but I do not recall thew specific CFS or gauge height at Castalon. I think the measurements for Johnson Ranch Gauge were somewhere around 110-130 cms when we did our trip. I do remember the outfitter telling us we'd probably be walking our boat a lot, but we only had to do that a few times.

[@majorpayne8373]

How many other people or groups were on the river in February? Thanks.

[@TheOneCanoe]

The year we were there, the water levels were quite low. The park rangers told us a group had just completed that route the week before us. On our journey we did not encounter any other paddlers.

[@majorpayne8373]

@@TheOneCanoe Thank you. Hope you enjoyed the Michael Nesmith song.

[@rachelhosna5275]

What was the flow during your trip?

[@TheOneCanoe]

I seem to recall the measurement at the Johnson Ranch Gauge was around 110-130 cms.

[@joshuacoleman4817]

Awesome

[@TheOneCanoe]

Thanks

[@oscarmolinaoutdooradventur1648]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰

[@kylealtman7222]

What time of year was this? Looks like a good time to be there.

[@TheOneCanoe]

It was February. Water levels were low, but good enough for our canoe.

[@BigOleWhatchamacallit]

Guy in the canoe looks like John Denver…🤔

[@tonyrobinson1623]

What, you didn't do Boquillias Canyon? That's the longest one.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Ah yes....Boquillias Canyon. Another scenic wonder. That was from a different Rio Grande River trip. At some point we'll post that video too!

[@tonyrobinson1623]

@@TheOneCanoe I just got back from a Mariscal through Boquillias trip. Your video was very helpful with the planning.

[@salifmahamane9780]

What month of the year was this?

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Salif, Thanks for watching. We took that trip the last week in January. We've also paddled the Rio Grande in December and late February. Winter is the best time...the days are warm, the nights are cool and the water levels are low, but manageable.

[@Chadh9322]

Ain't no reason to get all handsy with the ham man .... Just take the slices needed and keep the rest in the bag

[@TheOneCanoe]

Cool Dude, but sometimes you just gotta 'Ham' it up a little!

[@TubeYou7]

It's such a shame this River so absolutely nasty and disgustingly polluted. I was going to drop my kayak in there but after putting my hand in the water and it coming out literally itching and realizing that there's not really even any fish in that River from all the pollution I decided against it.

[@stephengutsch6957]

I think I saw some illegal cows crossing the river behind you at the beginning of the video, LOL

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Stephen, I think you are correct. We assumed they were Mexican cows, crossing over to Texas to graze, or perhaps Texas cows returning from grazing on the Mexican side, LOL. Thanks for watching.

[@louie115]

you guys sound canadian

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Louie, That's because we are Canadian. We just love heading south during the cold winter and exploring warmer areas like Texas and Florida's Everglades.

[@louie115]

TheOneCanoe great video. What part of Canada are you from?

[@TheOneCanoe]

Louie Verdin ..From London, Ontario.

[@louie115]

TheOneCanoe awesome. You're welcomed back to Texas anytime my friend! Be blessed!

[@ricklobello]

There is no such thing as the Rio Grande River. Rio is river is Spanish, Grande is Big. When you say Rio Grande River you are actually saying River Big River. The correct name is Rio Grande.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Huh, really. Well seems to me it is a River, and I believe it is called the Rio Grande, hence Rio Grande River.

[@ricklobello]

@@TheOneCanoe you can call it by any name you want just letting you know for future consideration. You will Find more books and reports about the Rio Grande then you will the Rio Grande River.

[@treyn-hv4ye]

what time of year was this ?

[@TheOneCanoe]

February