Rio Grande Village Spring

Terrell County, Texas · Near Sanderson
29.1780°N, 102.9530°W · 1,855 ft
97°F 82°F air 1,855 ft Open Short Walk National Park Service Camping nearby (0.3 mi)

Inside Big Bend National Park, down on the low ground near the river, Rio Grande Village Spring comes out of the earth at close to body heat. Access is listed as open and the ground belongs to the National Park Service. Sanderson is the nearest town on file and it is a long way off, roughly 75 miles, so plan on already being in the park when you go looking for it.

The walk from the road is short, about five hundred feet, with the Rio Grande Village Group Campground a few hundred yards beyond that. Terrell County here is desert floor, well under two thousand feet, hot in summer and almost rainless. Snow hardly ever falls. Park rules apply to everything you do here.

Go in the cool months. December through February are the ones the record singles out, and the park is far more bearable then. National Park Service land means park rules, and you should confirm current conditions with the park before counting on the spring. The group campground close by is the obvious base.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Rio Grande Village Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Rio Grande Village Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Rio Grande Village Spring
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
90 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
72 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 7% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
56°
Jan
62°
Feb
71°
Mar
79°
Apr
85°
May
90°
Jun
90°
Jul
90°
Aug
83°
Sep
77°
Oct
65°
Nov
57°
Dec
Annual Precip: 7.3 in Annual Snow: 0.9 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 56°F · Water 97°F · +41° contrast
December Air 57°F · Water 97°F · +40° contrast
February Air 62°F · Water 97°F · +35° contrast
January offers 34°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
82°F
Mostly Cloudy E 33.0 mph
Today 107° Low 75° Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms 25% precip
Wednesday 106° Low 75° Sunny 2% precip
Thursday 105° Low 75° Sunny 2% precip
Friday 105° Low 75° Sunny 3% precip
Saturday 105° Low 75° Sunny 10% precip
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Rio Grande Village Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx) 0.3 mi away

Overview The Rio Grande Village Group Campground sits on the banks of the Rio Grande, the International Boundary between the United States and Mexico. The four group campsites are great options for groups of nine people or more and is one of the most popular campgrounds in Big Bend National Park. It is located close to Boquillas Canyon and Hot Springs, and acts as a launch point for visitors accessing the river or the endless miles of backcountry roads. Rio Grande Village has an outstanding v...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
97°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 97°F (36°C)
Avg Air Temp 76°F
Above Ambient +22°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency National Park Service
Designation National Park
Unit Big Bend National Park
Manager National Park Service
Protection 1 - Permanent protection, natural state
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Rio Grande Village Spring?
Rio Grande Village Spring has a water temperature of 97°F (36°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Rio Grande Village Spring located?
Rio Grande Village Spring is located in Terrell County, Texas at 1,855 feet elevation, near Sanderson. Coordinates: 29.1780°N, 102.9530°W.
How do I get to Rio Grande Village Spring?
Rio Grande Village Spring has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Rio Grande Village Spring free to visit?
Rio Grande Village Spring has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.
Can I camp near Rio Grande Village Spring?
Yes, Rio Grande Village Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx) is located nearby (0.3 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS