Guided River Trips

Desert Magic
We don’t think of our deserts as having rivers, but there is the Rio Grande, the Devils River, the Rio Conchos in Mexico, and others. The Rio Grande offers several different trips, and though one river, can mean multiple adventures. The Devils River is a gem.

Water Levels
The Rio does not keep a constant level year-round, so be sure to check with us for forecast conditions. Some favorite river runs are not always feasible if the current is low, and some areas may have up to class III or IV rapids, perhaps a little too much excitement for some. The best river levels are in late summer and fall, but there are times during the remainder of the year when an unexpected surge can create perfect conditions for days or weeks.

Helping Your Crew
When we meetup for trips, unloading and transporting boats and gear down to the water can take time and effort, especially
for Santa Elena boomerang trips. The distance to carry/haul gear for this is about 200 yds; assistance from clients during this process is not only appreciated, but essential for efficient launch times. Please pitch in when possible! It takes a village to float the river!

Experience Levels
Those with little experience will feel most comfortable either riding in one of our big oar rafts or piloting a 2 person inflatable kayak with a partner. The inflatable kayaks are easy to maneuver and very forgiving when bumping into boulders. Depending on the wind and river current little effort can be required, or considerable effort. Water shoes or TEVA style sandals are recommended, flip-flops get lost or stuck in the mud easily. Old tennis shoes are also good, or any pair of tennies that you don’t mind having to clean up later. A big floppy hat to shade you from the sun is also recommended – keep the sunscreen off your forehead, it tends to run in the eyes when sweating. The Devils River recommends alternatives to most sunscreens. See the special notes for the Devils River trip.

River Trip Options
There are many routes on the Rio, some usually requiring multiple days, such as Santa Elena, Mariscal or Boquillas Canyons, or others generally good for day trips, such as Colorado Canyon or Hot Springs. Basic lunch (Ham & Turkey sandwiches, fruit, chips) can be provided for an additional cost or you can bring your own. We also provide ice water in coolers, bring your own personal water bottle to fill.

Food
On overnight river trips we can provide full-service food prep. for breakfast and dinner, ranging from steaks or chicken and veggies; for breakfast eggs, bacon, cereals and breakfast tacos.

Custom Trips
We can tailor our trips to meet your needs, what makes us unique from the other guides is our flexibility in start-up times and our ability to work with special requirements.

Private Tours
Due to scheduling, pre-existing bookings, and financial reasons we are not always able to make a tour exclusive to one group of clients. This is especially so on river trips, the most popular. We understand some folks desire for privacy but please realize that this is frequently not possible. Anyone who books a tour with us should have similar interests as yourselves: getting outdoors and experiencing the Big Bend of Texas; enjoy it with others!