Visit the Lower Pecos
Welcome to Del Rio and Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas
Looking for a new experience? Something unusual and exciting? Explore unknown territory in and around Del Rio, Texas. Adventure awaits!
Visiting Del Rio, Texas
If you’re looking for year-round outdoor adventure, Del Rio, Texas is a hidden gem. Located 150 miles west of San Antonio, Del Rio is the gateway to the Lower Pecos and all its treasures. Del Rio is a crossroads of American and Mexican culture, with a dash of old-West charm. You’ll find friendly people, good food, and fascinating art — both ancient and modern — amid the blue skies and scrub brush of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Del Rio History
Del Rio has deep roots going all the way back to Spanish Colonial times, although permanent settlement was not established until the mid-19th century. The areas ample water supply in the forms of springs and creeks helped early settlers plant farms, orchards, and vineyards — all still viable today. A modern day excursion to Del Rio would be incomplete without a trip to Blue Lake or Horseshoe Park. These beloved swimming holes provide cool clear water for locals and visitors to enjoy during a hot Texas summer.
Check out the link below to see American Way’s video about Del Rio and learn more about the town just about 30 miles east of Shumla’s headquarters in Comstock.
DISCOVERING DEL RIO « Destination possibilities on American Way.
Area Travel Info
Where to Stay
There are lots of great hotels and motels to choose from in Del Rio.
- For ideas visit the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Lodging Page
- Or try a scenic getaway on Lake Amistad. Visit AirB&B for listings, or check out one of our favorites The Lodge at Sander’s Point or Lake Amistad Rentals. You’ll be amazed by the selection of properties around the lake. From cute cottages, decked-out condos and large haciendas — you’re sure to find the right fit for your visit.
Where to Shop
- Plaza del Sol Mall has all the stores you need for clothes, bags, accessories.
- Shop for any last minute supplies at Del Rio’s several groceries, including HEB & Wal-Mart. You’ll want to have food for lunch, snacks, water, sunscreen, etc. for your rock art tours. Don’t forget the cooler and ice!
What to Do
- Enjoy art galleries full of uniquely Texican works. See a list of some options here.
- Explore life on the frontier at the Whitehead Memorial Museum. It’s a small pioneer village in the heart of Del Rio with memorabilia and artifacts from Del Rio’s historic past.
- Memo’s Restaurant features live music on Thursday nights.
- If boot-scootin’ is more your style, try Doc Holliday’s, and spin your partner around the dance floor!
- Visit the Val Verde Winery! This historic winery is the oldest continuously running winery in Texas. Owned by the Qualia family for generations, their love of family, tradition, and quality is evident in every bottle sold. Enjoy award-winning wines, take a tour, and relax in their beautiful vineyard. Tasting & Tours offered: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where to Eat
Del Rio is home to numerous eateries that cater to every palate. Enjoy classic Tex-Mex, interior Mexican, steaks, seafood, exotic game, and even Asian cuisine! Here are a few of the local favorites:
- Have a nice dinner at Manuel’s Steakhouse or one of the numerous other local foodie havens in town. Try one of their amazing Mexican dishes — enchiladas, mollejas, cabrito — truly a culinary delight!
- Need a breakfast taco fix? Try Chinto’s Mexican Restaurant for amazing breakfast tacos and other breakfast delights!
- Looking for something legendary? Try Memo’s Restaurant — the popular eatery has been a mainstay since 1936. They feature live music on Thursday nights. It’s not to be missed! If boot-scootin’ is more your style, try Doc Holliday’s, and spin your partner around the dance floor!
- It’s all about meat at the Cripple Creek Steakhouse — mouthwatering steaks, prime rib, and other Southern specialties are sure to satisfy your inner carnivore. For those looking for lighter fare, they offer a nice selection of chicken and fish… with a side of steak…
- Wright’s Steakhouse is also great for steak. Give their Chicken Fried Steak a whirl, you won’t be sorry! It sets a high bar for classic comfort food.
- If you are in the mood for a craft beer in the heart of downtown Del Rio, Mesquite Creek Outfitters is the place to be. They offer a rotating menu of beer and wine, southern style snacks, and outdoor apparel.
Ready for an Outdoor Adventure?
Just a few miles north of Del Rio is Texas’ third largest lake — Lake Amistad and the Amistad National Recreation Area. This national park is a paradise for outdoor thrill seekers of all ages looking for an amazing place to swim, kayak, boat, scuba dive, and fish. A desert landscape of limestone canyons and mesas surround the lake and beckon hikers to explore. Try one of their hiking trails, spend the day fishing, or rent a boat and tour the lake. A short drive west of Del Rio will bring you to Seminole Canyon State Park, where you’ll find rock art painted by the ancient people of the Lower Pecos. You’ll be fascinated and intrigued by the intricate designs and complex meanings these canyon dwellers left for future generations to discover on the walls of Seminole Canyon. Ancient rock art will draw you here, but you’ll find other things to do as well — camp, mountain bike, geocache and take a walk along one of the many park trails. There are over 10 miles of trails to explore. Take a virtual tour with their Interactive Trails Map. As mentioned above, don’t miss the Galloway White Shaman Preserve — recently acquired by the Witte Museum. Visit their website and register for a tour (scheduled every Saturday, September through May) to see the wonders of the White Shaman mural. This rugged two-hour hike will take you through scenic canyon lands with views of the Pecos River.
“The prehistoric hunter-gatherers of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas and Coahuila, Mexico, created some of the most spectacularly complex, colorful, extensive, and enduring rock art of the ancient world. Perhaps the greatest of these is the White Shaman mural, an intricate painting that spans some twenty-six feet in length and thirteen feet in height on the wall of a shallow case overlooking the Pecos River.”
Dr. Carolyn Boyd, Author, The White Shaman Mural: An Enduring Creation Narrative in the Rock Art of the Lower Pecos