Big Bend
Date Revised: April 2007
Big Bend trip leader is Pete King. Read our story from the 2000 trip to know what to expect. In 2001, 2002 and 2003 we cancelled the trip one week before launching, due to lack of flow. Don't miss out on this year's Big Bend trip (4 days on the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National park (Texas/Mexico border)). Expect cool nights and 70 degree days. Water is cold (dam released) and very shallow. Take a 14 foot boat or smaller. Only one significant rapid called Rockslide (Class IV, very tight squeeze). The trip is flow dependent and we will only go if flow 400 cfs or greater. Big Bend National Park flow link.
Tentative Schedule: TBD: 14 hour drive from Colorado Springs to put-in near Presidio, TX
Colorado Canyon Put-in: TBD - arrive and put-in. Camp at the Colorado Canyon campsite.
Date: TBD: On the river near Lajitas ( Lajitas link), 1-877-525-4827, rooms at resort in Lajitas start at $235/night!
Date: TBD: Camp above Santa Elena.
Santa Elena Takeout: TBD date - drive home
Directions to the put-in and takeout:
Put-in: From El Paso, I - 10 to Van Horn, TX. US Hwy 90 SE to Marfa, TX. Then US Hwy 67 to Presidio. Then State Hwy 170 runs parallel to the river. Rancherias Creek, Madera Canyon, Grassy Banks and Lajitas accesses (all apparently comprise Colorado Canyon) are on or near 170 between Terlingua and Redford. The highway out of Presidio is Ranch Road 170. Essentially you take this road, which runs along the Rio Grande until you reach the Colorado Canyon put-in. The put-in is not particularly safe, and if I remember correctly Presidio was a crummy border town.
Takeout: Santa Elena take-out is in Big Bend NP. Western Whitewater book says to see NP map. Take-out at Santa Elena Overlook (total approx. 41 river miles) is on an improved surface road back to choices of state hwys.
No vehicles will be left at the put-in because we don't return to the put-in after the trip, plus it's not particularly safe to leave vehicles there. Shuttle cost per car (paid by car owner) is $95
More details to follow, we'll work on logistics if Salt is not runnable.
Big Bend River Tours—800.545.4240
Desert Sports—888.989.6900
Far Flung Outdoor Center—800.839.7238
Tentative trip participants as of date?: Pete and Christina King