Author: Desert Toad; Published: Jul 19, 2011; Category: Big Bend Info, Current Events, General, Rio Grande Info, Tours; Tags: Big Bend Info, Rafting, Tours; 4 Comments
Colorado Canyon at 1500 cfs
Rio Conchos joins flows with the Rio Grande as a release of water from Mexico’s reservoir, Luis Leon, has reached the Big Bend area. We saw Colorado Canyon at a ‘fun way to spend a hot day’ level of 1500 cfs yesterday in Big Bend Ranch State Park. And today, Santa Elena is at a lovely one-day level at 1750 cfs. And hey, there is shade at the take-out thanks to Big Bend National Park. Wheel keep you posted.
Author: Mike Long; Published: Jul 14, 2011; Category: Big Bend Info, Current Events, General, Rio Grande Info, Tours; Tags: Big Bend Info, Rafting, Rio Grande, Tours; 7 Comments
Yesterday we got notice that Mexico was going to start a release from the Rio Conchos. The Rio Conchos feeds into the Rio Grande just above Presidio and augments the river flows through both Big Bend Ranch State Park as well as Big Bend National Park. Based on information available on the web, Mexico opened the gates at the dam on the Luis Leon reservoir today and it is flowing about 1200 CFS. We should be seeing increased flows starting the first part of next week and it is supposed to last between 15 and 30 days.
If you have been thinking of coming out to the Big Bend to raft on the Rio Grande, this could be your window of opportunity. We should be seeing flows that will make it possible for us to offer all our river trips. We’ll keep you posted as the situation develops, but give us a shout if you have questions.
Let’s Go Rafting!!!
Author: Mike Long; Published: Aug 28, 2010; Category: Tours; Tags: Canoeing, Mountain Bike, Rafting, Tours; 2 Comments
With the launching of Desert Sports’ newly revamped website we have decided to post a few of our favorite trips as our “Featured Trips”.
Most of these trips are going to be our backcountry tours that require a minimum number of folks to book. If you have wanted to go on one of our mountain bike, hiking, or combination tours and cannot put together a group to meet booking requirements, this is your chance.
We also posted dates for our Lower Canyons 8-Day River Tour. This is one of our favorite river trips anywhere, and we have featured it with a couple of dates over the next few months.
You can check the dates for these trips in the sidebar here on the BLOG page or in the sidebar for each type of tour. Aside from being able to join with a group of folks that enjoy the same interests as you, we are also able to offer the Group pricing for everyone joining the tour. Final tour prices will be based on the total number of people on the trip. Check our Reservations page for details on booking.
Have a trip you want to do and don’t see it on the list? Let us know and perhaps we can get some dates posted. Check back frequently for updated postings of our Featured Trips – we’ll be adding itineraries and dates throughout the year.
Author: Mike Long; Published: Aug 28, 2010; Category: Big Bend Info, Current Events, Rio Grande Info; Tags: Big Bend Info, Canoeing, passport, Rafting, Rules & Regulations; 3 Comments
Ok, here is the latest update on Passport Requirements for going on river trips on the Rio Grande in the Big Bend area of Texas. We are in receipt of a letter from the National Park Service, United States Department of Interior, that relates policy changes for River Usage on the Rio Grande along the Texas/Mexico border. These statements reflect changes in the enforcement of existing regulations by US Customs and Border Patrol.
The following are direct quotes from the letter we received from Big Bend National Park:
“First, a U.S. Passport is not required to use the river in Big Bend National Park or the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. Additionally, a U.S. Customs declaration form is no longer required for river trips.
Second, visitors and river outfitters may not use the Mexican bank of the river, as international border crossing is only legal at a Port of Entry. Visitors may not hike into Mexico or the side canyons of Mexico. Visitors additionally may not plan a trip to camp in Mexico or on the Mexican shore. The exception is in cases of emergency: visitors may land on the Mexican side of the river to scout rapids, to bail out a boat, to repack gear, and for other safety reasons.”
These policy changes were presented to us in a letter dated August 20, 2010.
If you have questions on how this new interpretation of the regulations will affect Desert Sports river trips, give us a shout (either email or give us a call). While these changes will have an effect on some of our camps and hikes, we are still able to visit the fantastic canyons of the Rio Grande. Stay tuned for more updates.
If you have questions on the new enforcement of these regulations and how they affect the current NPS policy changes we suggest contacting the following folks:
Bill Wellman, BBNP Superintendent; bill_wellman@nps.gov
David Elkowitz, BBNP Chief of Interpretation, david_elkowitz@nps.gov
Bill Brooks, Customs and Border Patrol, Marfa Sector, william.brooks@dhs.gov
Author: Mike Long; Published: Aug 26, 2010; Category: Big Bend Info, Rio Grande Info; Tags: Big Bend Info, Canoeing, Rafting, Rio Grande; No Comments
The dam release on the Rio Conchos is still flowing. As of this morning, August 26, 2010, it has increased up to a bit over 2000 cfs (61 cms). This release has not reached the Rio Grande, but we would expect to see an increase in the gauge at the Presidio Bridge in the next 24 to 48 hours. The flow of the Rio Grande should come up a bit above the nice flow rates we have been having for the last few weeks.
Again, we do not have information on the duration of the Mexican Release and have no idea how long we can expect to have good flows in the Rio Grande. If you are planning a river trip for the fall, come on down while the river us UP!
