2016 Map of Smoky Creek

About this map

Big Bend National Park dominates the northern reaches of this borderlands survey, where the international boundary follows the winding course of the Rio Grande. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the river basin to the limestone uplands of Sierra de Chino and the distinctive peak of Triangulation Station Mtn. Drainage patterns such as Smoky Creek cut through the arid terrain, creating topographical features like Smugglers Canyon that historically provided passage through the high desert. Along the western edge, River Rd W offers the primary overland access through this remote section of Brewster County. This document details the intersection of national park conservation and the active international border during the mid-2010s.