2019 Map of Smoky Creek

About this map

Big Bend National Park defines this section of the Chihuahuan Desert, where the Rio Grande carves a meandering international boundary between the United States and Mexico. The landscape is dominated by the southern reaches of the Chisos Mountains and the prominent heights of Sierra de Chino. The drainage of Smoky Cr and the Smoky Creek Complex provide a topographical focus for the central portion of the map, while the isolated settlement at Smoky Creek sits near the river's edge. This 2019 survey documents a landscape of dramatic relief, from the depths of Smugglers Canyon to the high point at Triangulation Station Mtn. Movement through this arid terrain is limited to the primitive River Rd W, which follows the general course of the river, providing a look at the modern-day border geography within the park's protected boundaries.