Rio Grande

Although flows across New Mexico were low in May, we decided to run the Race Course section of the Rio Grande. We connected with several guides from Far Flung Adventures and launched from their private access in Pilar, just upstream of the Quartzite put-in. Our group included a mix of hard-shell kayaks, packrafts, and inflatable kayaks.

The river was flowing at 217 cfs, definitely near the lower end of the runnable range. The channel was technical at this level, requiring careful boat maneuvering, but it remained fully navigable and provided an enjoyable run. Despite the low water, there were plenty of local paddlers on the river, along with a couple of rafts.

We launched at approximately 10:30 a.m., passed the Quartzite put-in around 11:00 a.m., and reached the take-out shortly before 1:00 p.m.

It was a beautiful day on the water and a great opportunity to paddle with the local boating community. While everyone agreed that runs upstream like the Taos Box would have been too low to run at these flows, the Race Course still offered an enjoyable and worthwhile outing, even near the bottom of its navigable range.