River Rafting, Kayak, Canoe, Floating... (Albuquerque, Rio Rancho: how much, camp, restaurant)

[tank83]

I will be moving down there in December. I have a kayak and was wondering if anyone floats down the river or takes their kayak down? Mainly referring to down through town area.

If anyone is from New Braunsfels, TX you know what i'm taking about.

Thanks.

[Poncho_NM]

They re-started the yearly raft race in ABQ. I have dropped people off in the past about 40 miles North and they came down to Rio Rancho. That's about all I know.



Rich

[red46]

Originally Posted by tank83

I will be moving down there in December. I have a kayak and was wondering if anyone floats down the river or takes their kayak down? Mainly referring to down through town area.

If anyone is from New Braunsfels, TX you know what i'm taking about.

Thanks.

Folks do it all the time. I've noticed the water has stayed pretty high all through the summer. It's pretty unusual but even when it's low, there's always one side running well.

Just don't get hung up on one of the bridges. Always stay at least 4' away from the pilons.

[Ketabcha]

The whole adventure sounds like a lot of fun.

[filihok]

Make sure you take it up to Taos in the spring and go through 'the box'.

I google mapped New Braunfels, it looks nice.

Albuquerque is a little different, but the area between the Nature Center and Tingley Beach could be a fun little ride.

[jrobb505]

Looking to plan a whitewater rafting trip this year on the Rio Grande. Anybody have any recommendations?

My friend had a great experience with these guys:
New Mexico River Adventures

[Road-Runner]

Originally Posted by jrobb505

Looking to plan a whitewater rafting trip this year on the Rio Grande. Anybody have any recommendations?

My friend had a great experience with these guys:
New Mexico River Adventures

The Taos "Box."

Depending on where and how far you go, the rapids go from Class 1 - Class 3 with the Spring runoff.

It has some beautiful scenery, concluding as you go underneath the bridge that spans the Rio Grande Gorge (a little further down).

Go with a good outfit - mostly known for safety. Ask for statistics from them - how long they've been in business, number of overturned rafts, experience of the guides they plan to use, injuries, and deaths. Do not be afraid to ask. If they don't want to answer, that in itself is a red flag. Go with someone who is candid with that information. Be willing to pay more if another outfit sounds more safety conscious.

I've organized trips for groups of colleagues and went every week for many summers with a friend who traveled the country following the white water. I know that over-turned rafts in the "Box" have resulted in some deaths due to life vests not being fastened securely. Some outfits will even practice retrieving you, as they throw a long line out in the water (slow moving area) and you get in the water and practice grabbing the line as you go by.

As many times as I've done the "Box," I've never been in an overturned raft there - just in Maine. But I've known friends of friends who have overturned, and if their vests weren't secured on tightly the results have been tragic as they slipped out of their vest in the white water. Use helmets too (though no one did this when I rafted regularly, it is a good idea).

It is a blast! - and probably the best local white water rafting trip if you are up to Class 3 level. If not, there are other areas and even different seasons will make a difference, depending on the water levels, and how much water the dams upstream are releasing on any given day. The outfits will know.

We would arrive the day before, camp out, and go have huevos rancheros for breakfast in Taos right as the restaurant opened. Then we rafted for most of the day. I'm sure one can go for less time than that, if wanted.