Big Bend Float Trip

[displacedtexan]

Any of y'all ever floated the Rio Grande through Big Bend National Park?

My hunting buddy and I are planning a trip (me in my canoe, him in his kayak) for spring.

It will be the first overnight river trip for both of us. We'll stage a truck at each end.

 

[HingleMcCringleberry]

I haven't, but would love to do a kayak trip on the devils river. Good luck.

 

[displacedtexan]

I haven't, but would love to do a kayak trip on the devils river. Good luck.

Ironically when we first started talking about a river trip, it was the Devil's River.

Not even really sure what prompted the change.

 

[thegrouse]

I have done a small section. I would love to do Mariscal canyon. Be sure you have enough flow, I haven't been out there since the end of 2023, but the water was a trickle.

 

[displacedtexan]

I have done a small section. I would love to do Mariscal canyon. Be sure you have enough flow, I haven't been out there since the end of 2023, but the water was a trickle.

Mariscal Canyon is priority number one!

Historically we should have enough flow when we're looking... But you know how that goes.

 

[johnw3474]

I will echo what @thegrouse said about checking flows. I have not done a float trip but watched some guys drag canoes for a while before giving up at Santa Elena Canyon in March of 21.

Edit - I don't want to come off as a debbie downer, that is a bucket list trip of mine too! Would hate to drive all the way there and not have any river though.

 

[logem]

I was in Big Bend last week, but didn't do anything on the river. People were talking about having to portage due to low water levels. Call a couple of the outfitters in Terlingua or Study-Butte.

 

[diamond10x]

My old boss undid it several times. Water levels were always the issue having to shuffle dates around so they could float the whole park/bend. I always wanted to do it but just haven’t.

He personally much preferred the Devils float for the fishing compared to the Rio Grande.