Rio Brazos

01. above Corkins Lodge

Difficulty	V+
Length	20 mi
Avg Gradient	n/a
Reach Info Last Updated	May 8, 2026

River Description

Detailed info in Colorado Creeks and Rivers 2, by Gordon Banks and Dave Eckardt as well as Stafford/McCutchen's Guide to SW Rockies.

This is one of the best, if not the best, wilderness multi-day runs in the lower Rocky Mountains. It's an early season run that requires a healthy snowpack and lucky timing.

Difficult access is guarded by hostile landowners although there is legal way to get in here. You just have to time it luckily. If the FS gate is open, chances are the flows have dropped out. Study Google Maps diligently and look for the multiple ways to access the putin for the run. Look over the route to the putin description in Stafford/McCuthchen's guidebook for beta.

Plan on 2 days and lots of scouting. The run is steep, boulder choked with 3 distinct portages. You can pick apart each portage yet at some point you're going to walk sections. The portages are difficult and the rock in the river bed is relatively new and always changing. Bring a fresh boat because the rock is brutal on old plastic. Expect a broken boat or two, sieves and wood.

The best camping exists river right after Bird Nest, a distinct double drop. Look river right for possible camp spots. You'll most likely have to fashion a place in the woods because it's so rarely run that overgrowth and downfall is everywhere.

As you move downstream you'll arrive in the gorge proper which is spectacular and very unique. It's the deepest part of the canyon approaching 1500ft with rock walls coming straight out of the river all the way to the rim.

This is a fantastic run that will test your group's teamwork and skills. Bring a good 1st aid kit and an extensive boat repair kit. You'll need it :)

Take out at the bridge at Fishtail Road.

River Features

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Take Out

Distance: 14.5 mi

Take Out

Trip Reports

Dave Farkas

Aug 27, 2020

We had a diurnal of 400-600cfs on the Brazos gauge for our trip which I think is a medium flow. I'd like to go back with flows a little higher. In the 500-700cfs range. Any higher and you'd be getting your stomp on because the run is continuous. We did it in 2 days giving us plenty of time to safely navigate and not get rushed into camp. The rock is brutal on your kayak and we had 2 broken boats. Bring your welding/repair kit for sure. Trying to send SPOT messages out of the canyon was pointless due to the gorge and massive walls. Rescue here is dubious at best and trying to escape the canyon vertically would be extreme. Escape downstream without a boat would be extremely difficult. We camped about 1.5 miles downstream of Bird's Nest in a wooded area. Not the best camp yet the only one we could find. We found evidence of other camps yet the shoreline has changed making them no bueno. Bring a solid crew who's comfortable boat scouting through complex grade IV/V.

Craig Phillips

May 19, 2012

A few notes.

2 very gnarly rapids that are generally portaged. First is about a mile into action, second is a little ways after birds nest, usually at the start of the second day.

The 30 footer was run on 5/13/2012 by Craig Phillips, and then run a second time by Tom Janney.

It is a nice run to take your time and do in two days, but an allstar crew with a shuttle bunny could do it in one.

There is a lot of water that flows in the canyon, you could tell by the giant trees 30 feet up the banks, the rapids are changing from moving boulders. All in all though most things can be seen from upstream, when in doubt get out! When it looks like a big horizon you are generally at the portages. Only two log portages but who knows what can lurk in this run (its done rarely). I it was 3 years between runs, now that the 30 footer goes I would say it will get much more popular!

EDIT:Gauge info- Take 1/2 of what is in the Rio Chama at La Puente. Possibly a little lower than half, you want something in the 300-500 range for less bumpy and good class V.