 BIG BEND FLOAT TRIPS - MULTI DAY TRIPS
Colorado
Canyon
- Put-in Location: Rancherias - on Farm Road 170 West
- Take-out Location: Madera Canyon - just off Farm Road 170 West
- River Mileage: approximately 11 miles
- Best Done in: Two
days
- Best Craft: Canoes
or Rafts
Notable Rapids: While
the Rio Grande in Big Bend is not noted for its whitewater, this section has a
number of fun rapids that are fairly easy to navigate. They include Rancherias,
Closed Canyon, Quarter Mile and the most notable - Panther, which can be a
large run at higher water. All of these are nice beginner/intermediate runs for
canoes.
Fun Facts about Colorado Canyon:
Colorado Canyon is part of the Big Bend Ranch State Park, a
250,000 natural preserve that includes the famous Camino del Rio (River Road)
from Lajitas to Presidio. Colorado Canyon is Big Bend's only volcanic canyon -
dark welded rhyolite ash flows and occasional basalt formations, which have
been worn smooth by the Rio Grande and its sandy, gravel mixture.
There are a number of great hikes in
Colorado Canyon including Corral Canyon and the great Tinaja (pool of water),
both on the Mexico side of the river. One should pay particular attention to
the columnar jointing along the southern boundary, formed when massive
volcanoes erupted millions of years ago.
In the spring, watch for an abundance of
Big Bend bluebonnets along river road and Colorado Canyon. Much taller than its
Central Texas relative, this flower blooms as early as February and can reach
heights of 2-3 feet!
Recommended reading:
The Big Bend of the Rio Grande
by Ross A. Maxwell
Click
here for pricing
 |
Packing list is in printer-friendly (Adobe Acrobat)
format
If you do not have the free Adobe Reader,
click here. |
|
