Wild Water, Ancient Land — The Rio Grande Along El Camino del Rio

If you’ve ever driven FM 170 in West Texas — also known as El Camino del Rio, the River Road — you already know it’s one of the most breathtaking stretches of highway in the entire country. This shot was taken right along its margins, where the Rio Grande tumbles over a rocky riverbed, splits around sandy islands of dried grass, and reflects the kind of wide-open sky that makes you feel genuinely small.

And honestly? That feeling is appropriate. This river has been here a long time. Furthermore, the Rio Grande is one of the most ecologically significant rivers in North America. This stretch through the Big Bend region serves as a critical riparian corridor — a ribbon of life in an otherwise arid desert landscape.

Talk of physical walls in this region raises real environmental concerns. Construction would threaten species like the ocelot — currently being reintroduced nearby — and disrupt cross-border movement that black bears and other wildlife depend on for survival. Ironically, the numbers don’t make a strong case for it either: illegal crossings in the Big Bend Sector dropped 74% over the past two fiscal years, with only 3,096 apprehensions in FY 2025 compared to 11,823 in FY 2023. In a sector this remote and this wild, a wall would do far more harm to ecosystems than it would to illegal crossings.

This photo was captured with my Samsung S23 cell phone. Just the right light, the right moment, and one of the most quietly spectacular rivers in the American Southwest doing what it’s always done: flowing on, indifferent to borders, beautiful beyond argument.

That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Big Bend Ranch SP, Cellpic Sunday, FM 170, Landscapes, Parks, Rio Grande, River Road, and Texas. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.

Posted for John’s Cellpic Sunday.