Elephant Butte to Caballo Navigable? (Truth or Consequences, Williamsburg: rentals, activity, car)

[AikenHorses]

Hi!

I've ready about people somehow going between Elephant Butte and Caballo by boat, but there isn't a lot of information on it. Is it navigable by all watercraft (including motorized boats and jetskis) or only non motorized rafts and the like? If the latter, I am assuming there's no way to get back up the river, so a second car would need to be available to enjoy this activity, right?

Thanks! :-)

[TKO]

You could go from below the dam at Elephant Butte to Caballo on a raft for sure at the right time of year. I don't think you would want to do anything larger or with more draft than a small john boat. It isn't that deep and depending on time of year there isn't that much water so you might have to portage in places. You would need two vehicles unless you had a some sort of shallow water setup. They have outboard lower unit conversions to jet that might work if the water was up.

I like the section of river between the lakes, it's very pretty.

[Poncho_NM]

Boat rentals at Elephant Butte Lake | Tubes & Kayaks for the River

"Kayaking, canoeing and floating the river is a popular activity in summer, when the river is flowing and the weather is especially hot. The 5 1/2 hour passage from Elephant Butte State Park to Caballo Reservoir is easy – two 18" drops in 17 miles, on a course that winds from Elephant Butte to Truth or Consequences / Williamsburg then through BLM land for the remainder of the trip."

Check some of the businesses on that page.

Also check these sites:

Rio Grande River - NM | Kayak Trip / Canoe Trip - Paddling.net

Best RIVER Adventures in Elephant Butte - New Mexico's favorite travel destination

I've seen people kayaking, tubing at various parts of the Rio Grande, but I am not that familiar with the above route.

I did capture this short video of the "Rare call of the New
Mexico Rio Grande Hooter":

[AikenHorses]

Thanks! So more of a fun outing at the right time of year than a "chain of lakes"... Good to know!

[TKO]

You got it. No way to navigate the dams they are very large.

[joqua]

Both dams are subject to periodic releases since the water is retained for use during the summer irrigation season. Other times of the year it's possible to float the river in shallow-draft inflatables, and possibly kayaks.

[bccruce pershing]

How is the fishing between the lakes?

[TKO]

I've seen the white bass running heavy between the lakes in the spring. Hard to fish though, lots of current. Be prepared to lose gear.

[GregW]

If you float past T or C stop for a hot soak at the Riverbend.