San Francisco

02. Pleasanton, NM to Clifton, AZ(San Fran WSA)

Reach banner
DifficultyII(III)
Length52 mi
Avg Gradient30 fpm
GaugeSan Francisco River at Clifton, Az
Flow Rate as of 43 minutes
5 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last UpdatedApril 11, 2023

River Description

For information, see New Mexico Whitewater, by NM State Parks & Rivers of SW.

River Features

Put-in

Distance: 0 mi
Access Point

Low-headwall dam @ Martinez Ranch

Class: III+Distance: 28.65 mi
Hazard
Waterfall / Large Drop

6 foot tall low-headwall dam with sloping apron.  Not as dangerous as most, but still has a recirculation hazard at the bottom - run center of drop or portage on river left

Take-out

Distance: 62 mi
Access Point

Choice of take-outs, near Clifton Visitor Center

Trip Reports

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Quinlan Pfiffer
Quinlan Pfiffer

Dec 14, 2020

I ran a chunk of this in a packraft yesterday (12/13/2020) at around 60CFS and there were a few barbed wire fences across the river, maybe a couple miles outside of Clifton. Heads up.

RM
Randall McFarland

Jan 1, 1900

This river has relentlessly swift current with many blind turns and river wide strainers like this huge cottonwood block the river in several places
most rapids are right angle bends that pillow off the canyon wall
This is a typical veiw down river.