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1,896 miles

Rio Grande

Begins in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, crosses the San Luis Valley and cuts the Rio Grande Gorge near Taos, passes Albuquerque and Las Cruces, then forms the Texas–Mexico border from El Paso to the Gulf. Heavy diversions reduce its flow.

N500 mi
Course of the river, simplified. Orange dots are boat ramps and launches, blue squares are bait shops. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Weather at the Rio Grande (National Weather Service) ↗

River facts

Length1,896 miles
SourceCanby Mountain, San Juan Mountains, Colorado
MouthGulf of Mexico near Starbase, Texas
StatesColorado, New Mexico, Texas

Cochiti, Elephant Butte, Caballo, Amistad and Falcon dams are among those on the river.

Boat ramps and launches

Orange dots on the map. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps. Public ramps and launches along the Rio Grande in Texas, from OpenStreetMap. The list may be incomplete, so check the state wildlife agency for current access.

Closest bait shops

Blue squares on the map. Tap a name to open the shop's website, or its location in Google Maps if it has none listed. Bait and tackle shops closest to the river's ramps, from OpenStreetMap. Call ahead for hours and live bait.

Fishing regulations

Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:

Lakes on or near the Rio Grande

Lakes in our guide on or near this river:

Falcon Lake (International Falcon Reservoir)TXAmistad ReservoirTXElephant Butte LakeNMCaballo LakeNMCochiti LakeNM

Facts from Rio Grande (Wikipedia) ↗ · Boat ramps and bait shops: OpenStreetMap contributors · River course: U.S. Geological Survey

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View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map to follow the river past roads and towns. Red pins are boat ramps and launches; blue pins are bait shops. Tap a pin for directions.

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