Devils River State Natural Area
State natural area in Val Verde County, in the Big Bend Country region. 37,530 acres by TPWD boundary data.
Devils River State Natural Area protects one of the most pristine rivers in Texas, in remote country far from any city. Reservations are required, the two units (Del Norte and Dan A. Hughes) are far apart, and you have to pack in everything, including water. You can swim, fish and paddle the clear spring-fed river, but extended paddling trips are strenuous and need a $10 Devils River Access Permit.
Things to do
Swim and fish
At the Del Norte Unit, it's a third-of-a-mile hike from the parking lot to the river, so pack light. Check the Devils River fishing regulations before you go.
Paddle
Only experienced paddlers with at least three days of supplies should attempt extended downriver trips. Paddlers using the natural area or its paddler camps on an extended trip need a Devils River Access Permit ($10).
Hike and bike
More than 25 miles of trails cross the two units. The 12-Mile Loop is 12.4 miles and rated challenging.
Dark skies
TPWD lists Devils River as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, with a Bortle rating of 2.
Trails
TPWD counts about 25 miles of trails in the park. These are the named trails it lists, with its own distances and ratings.
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Newton Loop | 0.1 mi | Easy |
| 12-Mile Loop | 12.4 mi | Challenging |
| Firebreak Trail | 3.7 mi | Challenging |
| Finegan Springs Trail | 1.4 mi | Moderate |
Source: TPWD trail list. TPWD doesn’t list trail surfaces. Printable trail map (PDF).
Camping
All campsites are primitive, with no water or electricity. Both units have drive-up sites, plus hike-in sites at Del Norte and walk-in sites at Dan A. Hughes. Del Norte also has a group bunkhouse with restrooms and showers, and there are paddler camps along the river.
| Site type | Sites | Sleeps | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primitive Campsites (Drive-up | Del Norte Unit)Primitive | 8 | 4 | $10 |
| Primitive Campsites (Drive-up | Dan A. Hughes Unit)Primitive | 3 | 4 | $10 |
| Primitive Campsites (Hike-in | Del Norte Unit)Primitive | 2 | 4 | $10 |
| Primitive Campsites (Walk-in | Dan A. Hughes Unit)Primitive | 3 | 4 | $10 |
| Primitive Campsites - Mile 12 Paddler CampPrimitive | 16 | $5 | |
| Primitive Campsites - Mile 15 (San Pedro Point) Paddler CampPrimitive | 16 | $5 | |
| Primitive Campsites - Mile 20 Paddler CampPrimitive | 16 | $5 | |
| Primitive Campsites - Mile 29 Paddler CampPrimitive | 16 | $5 | |
| BunkhouseLodging | 10 | $150 |
Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.
Visiting with dogs
Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Like every Texas state park, they can't go into park buildings or designated swimming areas.
Swimming
Swimming is allowed in designated areas. There are no lifeguards at Texas state parks.
Best time to go
- Rain per year
- 17.2 in.
- Night sky
- Bortle 2
Summers are very hot (the July average high is 98°F), and campsites have little shade. The park is closed Tuesday through Thursday, and check-in ends at 4 p.m.
Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).
Getting there
The Del Norte and Dan A. Hughes units are 13 miles apart on the river and much farther apart by road. Make sure you're driving to the unit your reservation is for. The nearest big city in this guide is San Antonio, about four hours away.
15166 Private Road 1500Del Rio, TX 78840
(737) 289-3250
Open in OpenStreetMap (29.7299, -100.9602)
| From | Approx. drive | Straight line |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | 3 hr 56 min | 147 mi |
| Austin | 4 hr 52 min | 196 mi |
| Midland | 5 hr 2 min | 173 mi |
| Lubbock | 6 hr 28 min | 270 mi |
| Waco | 6 hr 41 min | 257 mi |
| Corpus Christi | 6 hr 53 min | 267 mi |
Nearby parks
- Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site
- Kickapoo Cavern State Park
- Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area
- Garner State Park
- Bear Creek State Park
Straight-line distance. See every park in the Big Bend Country.
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation for Devils River State Natural Area?
Yes. Reservations are required to visit either unit.
Do I need a permit to paddle the Devils River?
For extended trips that use the natural area or its paddler camps, yes: a Devils River Access Permit, which costs $10.
Is there drinking water at Devils River?
No. Pack in all your supplies, including water, and pack out your trash.
Photo credits
Sources
Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Devils River has current alerts and closures.
- TPWD: Devils River State Natural Area, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Devils River State Natural Area campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Devils River State Natural Area cabins and lodging, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Devils River State Natural Area trails, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Devils River State Natural Area history, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Boundaries (area computed from boundary), retrieved October 14, 2026
- OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Dark Sky Parks, retrieved October 14, 2026