Rio Grande A River of Life
From its pristine headwaters, approximately
fifty miles west of Creede, the Rio Grande
travels 1,885-miles through three states
on its journey to the Gulf of Mexico.
The mighty Rio Grande humbly begins as a trickle in the high alpine San Juan Mountains. From there, it slowly grows into a mighty torrent, carving its way through canyons of rock and open agricultural landscapes. For hundreds of years it has played an important role for wildlife, travelers, settlers, and neighboring communities — turning this alpine valley into a lush and fertile agricultural area.
Water — the building block of life on earth, supports nature and civilization.
The Rio Grande is the lifeblood of southern Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas. Between Creede, Colorado, and El Paso, Texas, over ninety percent of the water is used for irrigation and five percent is used for community drinking water.
The Rio Grande is the third longest river in North America and is surpassed in length only by the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. For more than half its length, the Rio Grande forms the international boundary between the United States and Mexico.
[Top left caption reads]
Hand-tinted, antique postcard of the "upper" Rio Grande near Wagon
this page online
[Remaining photos are informational]
Erected by US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Environment • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 37° 40.154′ N, 106° 38.502′ W. Marker is in South Fork, Colorado, in Rio Grande County. It can be reached from Silver Thread Lane. Marker is near the entrance to the South Fork Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 28 Silver Thread Lane, South Fork CO 81154, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies, in the San Juan Mountains, and in the San Luis Valley. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A Passport Through Time (a few steps from this marker); Living on the Byway (a few steps from this marker); Watchable Wildlife (a few steps from this marker); Traveling to South Fork (approx. 5.3 miles away); Gateway of the Rio Grande (approx. 5.3 miles away); South Fork Country (approx. 5.3 miles away); Explorers (approx. 5.3 miles away); Continental Divide Trail (approx. 15.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South Fork.
Also see . . .
1. About the Rio Grande National Forest. U.S. Forest Service website
2. Rio Grande. American Rivers website entry (Submitted on November 21, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 21, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
