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.
Course of the river, simplified. Map data from Natural Earth (public domain).
Weather at the Rio Grande (National Weather Service) ↗
River facts
| Length | 1,896 miles |
|---|---|
| Source | Canby Mountain, San Juan Mountains, Colorado |
| Mouth | Gulf of Mexico near Starbase, Texas |
| States | Colorado, New Mexico, Texas |
Cochiti, Elephant Butte, Caballo, Amistad and Falcon dams are among those on the river.
Boat ramps, launches and bait shops
Detailed ramp, bait shop and lock-and-dam listings for the Rio Grande are coming soon. Until then, these searches open Google Maps along the river:
- Boat ramps on the Rio Grande in Colorado ↗ · Bait shops near the Rio Grande in Colorado ↗
- Boat ramps on the Rio Grande in New Mexico ↗ · Bait shops near the Rio Grande in New Mexico ↗
- Boat ramps on the Rio Grande in Texas ↗ · Bait shops near the Rio Grande in Texas ↗
Fishing regulations
Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:
- Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife ↗
- New Mexico: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish ↗
- Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ↗
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) ↗