- Quick Reference
- What to Bring on a Devils River Trip and FAQ
- Watch the required videos First Second Third
- Note the new guidance on sunscreens
- Note the Meetup Info on this page
- Fishing Trips on the Devils River
- We do not do private shuttles on the Devils
- Photo Gallery for the Devils River
The Devils River is the cleanest, clearest river in Texas and all of the Southwest; it is used as the benchmark by the State to which all other rivers are compared to for clarity and purity. It is spring fed so it retains a consistent level year round, and although it has many deep stretches and pools it has several unnavigable spots that will require lining and dragging your boat through.
IF YOU HAVE BAD KNEES, BAD BACK, BAD BALANCE, OR ARE OVERWEIGHT, YOU WILL HAVE A MISERABLE TIME AND RUIN EVERYONE ELSES TRIP. SEE THE FAQ TOO.
If you disregard our warnings on the difficulty of this river trip your legs will end up like this and you will greatly suffer.
… On the other hand, if you are in decent shape, learn quickly, and are not a quitter, then this is one of the most spectacular and challenging rivers in North America!
REQUIRED WATCHING
“THE DEVILS RIVER IS TOUGH!”
Charlie,
Thanks so much for putting together one of the greatest trips of my lifetime! It gave me a chance to share an incredible outdoor experience with my son and nephew! The other two gents (Romero and Paul) were a perfect fit, we all hit it off from the start!
I also want to thank you for securing the take out at Gerald’s (?) place so we could run the original trip as planned!
The guidance, food and hospitality he provided was top notch, and, I appreciated how day one was spent upstream from Dolan Falls! It gave everyone in our group a chance to get their water legs! I’d highly recommend that approach in your future trips, once the Devils Back take out is reopened!
Third, I caught 14 fish including two big smallmouth (~14 – 16”) and a handful of 16 – 19” largemouth (I didn’t have a board or digital scale but referenced than against the 5 gal drinking water container on my kayak! Attached are two pics of the two smallmouth that I caught. One upstream of Dolan (second pic) and the larger one (1st pic closeup) caught at 6:45am in the runoff immediately below Indian Creek rapids (around the Mile 20 campsite)! Might make for a advertisement on your webpage!
Thanks again!!!
Sincerely
Bob
Photo by Patrick Black, Sycamore Chute Rapids Devils River
Typical Devils River Itinerary
The first day is the longest and toughest, 6 miles of paddling and dragging thru shallows, plus we have to unload all boats and portage all gear and watercraft over the 15 foot cliffs of Dolan Falls, a 1-2 hr. task. First night camp is a good site but not enough trees for hammocks.
Day 2 is the shortest distance, a little under 2 miles, with plenty of time to fish, swim, and relax. Bring a book, lots of trees and shade for hammocks and down time.
Day 3 is close to a 6 mile journey again, with the biggest rapid, Dandridge Falls, and lots of other challenging rapids and obstacles. This nights camp is the most picturesque, with options to hammock or camp on large limestone slabs.
Day 4 is final push to takeout, we aim to get there by Noon, with an hour to load up and another hour drive to the bnb. This day can involve a lot of boat dragging, depending on which takeout is available and water levels. The mileage can be 2 to 4 miles, depending on the above factors.
This itinerary is subject to change; various circumstances can cause us to shorten the distances or increase, please call us if you have any questions. Thanks!
Photo by Patrick Black, Sycamore Chute Rapids Devils River
Photo by Patrick Black, Sycamore Chute Rapids Devils River
One of the Rules we Follow for the Devils River
Portage over Dolan Falls Video
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcWbwSEFJQm/
Dandridge Falls
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYlPJtFG1x/
Big Steve using a Diablo Kayak
Negotiating the Reed’s Chutes
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcWcImRFV-1/
Dolan Falls Gear
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcWYuc4FyLf/
Our 4 day trip is only 15 miles but there are many obstacles that will require individual effort from you; in the first mile we will portage boats and gear over and around Dolan Falls, the most photographed waterfall in Texas, a wonder of hydrology! Please be aware that NO GLASS BOTTLES are allowed on this river. See our list of what to bring (and not bring)
For those who need a break from camping, we offer a night on the Devils River in a house overlooking the river. It does require an 85 step climb, and there is an extra cash fee to the owner for it’s rental, but for a group, it’s a nice break from roughing it. Ask us about the cabin on the Devils River.
The Devils River Conservancy is an important part of the preservation of the river. Visit their website.
Safety & Rules
Private landowners overlook the river. Anyone who floats the Devils River with us must realize that we paddle thru many peoples’ backyards, and eyes will be upon you most of the time. Strict adherence to Park rules and proper behavior must be followed at all times during your experience! Like all rivers, glass containers are prohibited, and awareness of the damage some kinds of sunscreen does to the ecosystem has prompted a careful look at less toxic alternatives. There is info on this page about sunscreens.
Learn more about the campsites along the Devils River here. You’ll see photos and what to expect at each camp.
Devils River is one of very few dark sky places, and the stars are amazing.
Logistics
We have a headquarters boathouse and RV trailer on the Who Cares BnB property
Phone 830-703-9210
1683 Miers Ranch Rd, Del Rio, TX 78840
GPS 29.951929, -101.05487
We usually arrive there the evening before the trip. The bed and breakfast is a separate charge from our fees. Vehicles are fine to be left there while we are on the river, and it is a safe location as well. There are hotels as well in Del Rio but they are some 45 minutes away, and her place works best. She also has outdoor shower, fire ring, bbq grills, picnic area and a large cattle tank for swimming. The road that we exit the river on our last day of the trip drives right to her house. See the map and inset map below.
Meet at 1683 Miers Ranch Rd
Photo by Patrick Black
PADDLER’S MANUAL – PLEASE WATCH BEFORE TRIP.
Photo Credit Guillermo Gonzalez
A new informational video is required viewing for our crew and clients heading out on a Devils River Trip. Please watch it before you leave good internet, and if you have any questions, we can answer them for you. It’s well done, and good to have the knowledge.
Here is a web page on paddling the Devils River prepared by the Devils River Conservancy. It has good info: www.devilsriverconservancy.org/paddlers-manual
PLEASE WATCH THIS ONE ALSO. YOUR DEVILS RIVER GUIDE COMPANY HAS PREPARED IT FOR YOU.
Day Three on the Devils River
Evening of Day Three on the Devils River
Charlie:
I hope you are well. Just wanted to let you know that Emily and I had a great time. We appreciate the hard work that you, Mike and Robin put in throughout the trip. We have recommended you to others already. I’ve put up a review on Trip Advisor and completed the TPWD survey. We look forward to travelling with you again in the future. Also, what was the name of the children’s book you told us about? It sounded like a great book for our grandkids.Thanks,
David
Charlie and crew,
Our Devils River trip exceeded our expectations and left us wanting to do it again. Despite the wide range of our group’s ages, from 11 to 72; and despite the differences in our kayaking expertise, from novice to pretty decent … you all were able to tailor the adventure accordingly for all of us. The adventurers got their share of fun, the novices had a very safe and enjoyable time. The surprise storm and fast rising river was an event that really showed how attuned you are to the potential dangers of the river, and how to mitigate quickly and appropriately. It was great to have you make all the necessary arrangements ahead of time, from the dependable shuttle to the three camping spots. We all appreciated the well prepared and abundant food, and never had a worry during the entire trip.You and your crew were top notch, and you allowed us to have a fabulous time.
Thanks
Michelle Rumbaut, Steve White, Clint Taylor, John Sieben, and the rest of the gang …
Devils River Pictographs
The Devils River has attracted visitors for thousands of years. For your visit, a multi-day river trip is required in order to access these pictographs. Rock art in the region depicts wildlife common to South Texas but also critters found in Colorado.
Captains Collective Fishing Podcast
#064 John Dunaway: Learnings from Life at Sea – Listen
“In this podcast, we sit down with John Dunaway who has traveled to over 35 countries, captaining large vessels. In this episode, John shares how he got started in the Merchant Marine Industry, his love for photography, and how he has learned to remove “blockages” that we all experience in order to pursue the next “trip of a lifetime.” John also shares some tips on planning, boat navigation, and a recent trip he too to Devils River with our friends at Turtlebox Audio.”