Rio Grande

Launch Site:

Hwy 149 Boat Ramp: The boat ramp is on the south side of the river (river left) just prior to the Hwy 149 bridge. You need a 4-wheel drive vehicle for this boat ramp and there is a public restroom present. Please do not park in the boat ramp turnaround area. 4.7 miles +/- to CR 19 boat ramp.

Alternate Launch Sites

County Road 19 Boat Ramp: The boat ramp is on the north side of the river (river left) immediately after the concrete bridge. 4-wheel drive is needed for this ramp and there are no restrooms at the launch. 11.4 miles to the CR17 boat ramp.

County Road 17 (aka Hanna Lane) Boat Ramp: Boat ramp is on the south side of the river (river right) just after the concrete bridge. This is the last public take-out. No other boat ramps below this point. 2-wheel drive is OK for this ramp. Public restrooms present. Do not park in trailer turnaround.

Takeout:

About 1 mile downstream of the Rio Grande Canal diversion, you’ll find a newly constructed play wave and boat ramp (river left), just upstream of the Hwy 112 bridge. The boat ramp will be open August 2020 and is wide enough for two trailers. Alternatively, you can take out using a small access trail just downstream of Hwy 112 bridge (river right). This takeout is not wide enough for a wide trailer.

There is a diversion dam on this segment that presents a hazard at all flows. Coordinates: 37.687412, -106.367658

There is a bridge at Hanna Lane/County Rd 17 that presents a navigation hazard at higher flows. Raft frames can pass under this bridge at flows less than 4,000 CFS and Dories can pass under the bridge at flows less than 5,000 CFS. Coordinates: 37.688828, -106.459997

The Flying W Bridge is also a hazard at higher flows. Dories can safely pass under the bridge at flows less than 3,500 CFS and rafts at flows less than 2,500 CFS. Coordinates: 37.683854, -106.380042