Upper & Lower Madera Campground — Big Bend Ranch State Park
Jacob  W.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Mar. 7, 2022

Nice place with Rio Grande access

My brother and I layed our sleeping bags under the big sky stars after an evening dip in the Rio Grande at the Lower Madera campground in March 2022. There are about 17 sites that you must reserve at one of the 3 visitor centers in the park. You cannot reserve a specific site in the campground—just a space generally and then you go select your site. We stayed at site 17–closest to the “boat ramp” but shielded by a sandy berm. The campground is on the US-Mexico border but it feels safe because there are cliffs on the Mexico side with no sign of people. The river was about waist high at the boat ramp when we visited but if you walk about 100 yards upstream, there is a grassy bank along gentle rapids with boulders. There is a bathroom at the entrance. Good times.

Site17
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Upper & Lower Madera Campground — Big Bend Ranch State Park by Jacob  W., March 7, 2022
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Upper & Lower Madera Campground — Big Bend Ranch State Park by Jacob  W., March 7, 2022