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Print Friendly MapA 10.5-mile stretch of the developing Rio Grande River Trail begins near the Texas/New Mexico border and continues south, connecting the Texas communities of Anthony, Vinton, Canutillo and El Paso. Along the way, you'll enjoy wide open desert vistas and views of the Franklin Mountains.
A short, disconnected section of just over a mile lies farther south in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
The best access is at Mary Frances Keisling Park on Gomez Rd off Upper Valley Rd. Limited parking is available where the trail crosses Vinton Road in Vinton, Texas. From Interstate 10, take Exit 2 and travel west on Vinton Road (State Route 37). The small parking lot is located just beyond the bridge over the Rio Grande River, which you'll encounter just after the traffic light at Doniphan Drive (SR 20).
Nice trail, however, more maintenance needs to be done on the trail to clear away the weeds from cyclists. If you’re in Las Cruces consider starting at the top of the trail otherwise you will be driving half an hour to the end of the trail and riding it backwards. As a couple the trail was fine but I would not ride this alone as a woman.
Nice trail! It is within biking distance from me. You have nice views of the Rio Grande and of the mountains, other than that it is pretty boring. I do use the trail sometimes to commute from Santa Teresa to Anthony, New Mexico.
This trail is very poorly maintained. Bushes are over grown, puddles create mud which covers the hard surface in dirt, and and most recently horses have been using the trail and haven't been cleaned up after. I had to ride portions of this trail with my shirt over my nose. I've ridden twice and gotten thorns in my tires both times. This trail probably works for hiking or running but it's a bust for biking because of the maintenance issues.
This is an excellent bike trail, flat, empty, and scenic. I followed "bike chic's" excellent directions. I rode south from where I parked for a total of 15 miles round trip.
The best access is Gomez Rd--Valley Maple St off Upper Valley Rd just north of Country Club road.
I looked for the access to this trail, and FINALLY found it by accident! It is NOT marked, so you must know where to go. The easiest access point is off of Exit # 2 on I- 10. This is Vinton Road (Texas 37 spur). Go west about 1 mile, JUST PAST the stoplight at Doniphan Dr. (Texas 20). There is a Family Dollar store on the north east corner. Cross the bridge and the access is IMMEDIATELY, and I mean IMMEDIATELY on the left. It is JUST AFTER YOU CROSS THE BRIDGE!! You will see a gravel turn off that is only about 50 feet long. There is a gate with big red circle on it...it is closed. You can park right there, but make sure you park so you can get out when you are done...you DO NOT want to get boxed in by other cars!! Once there, you will see the pavement/path in front of you. The scenery is beautiful! You can see mountains on three sides, and you'll see why they talk about the West Texas sky being bigger than other skies!! You'll see roadrunners, and lots of vegetation. The trail goes parallel to the Rio Grande...tho empty, it's still impressive. Be careful...it can flash flood when it rains, so watch the forecast for storms.
The trail does go from Country Club Drive in El Paso to Anthony, New Mexico. As of 3/22/15, Country Club Drive is under construction and it is a nightmare. You have to ride about 1/2 mile along the river levee on gravel to get to the paved trail. I didn't go as far north as Anthony, so I don't know about the access point there. The total distance is 10.5 miles. There are no facilities anywhere, so make sure you take enough water. It's a great desert trail...enjoy!
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