QUESTION: Santa Elena Canyon overnight trip - best time of year to schedule

[BigBendAg88]

I have wanted to take a trip down the Santa Elena Canyon for some time; presumeably through one of the local outfitters.  I live near Dallas.  On several trips during recent years (normally April or December), water flow has been insufficient for the overnight trip through the canyon.  At the time, the outfitters I spoke with said that the canoe trip (up and back from the mouth of the SE Canyon) was available at the time but that the water level was insufficient to run an overnight raft trip.  The canoe trip did not really appeal to me.  Maybe it was just bad timing/bad luck.


My question --  Does anyone have a good suggestion for planning (& scheduling) a trip through the Santa Elena Canyon?  I figure that I could plan a trip for mid September and hope for the best, but wondered how other, wiser individuals plan such a trip.

I could always plan backpacking/hiking activities if the river level was not sufficient for a raft/canoe trip, but am trying to stack the odds in my favor.

Thanks,
Bill

[Al]

I've done it in December and it was wonderful. But that was because we had good weather.  It all depends on the weather which is highly variable.  If you have flexibility in scheduling any time after summer will be good if the weather is good.  But if that cold front blows through while you're on the river, it could be miserable.

Al

[Hoodoo]

My question --  Does anyone have a good suggestion for planning (& scheduling) a trip through the Santa Elena Canyon?  I figure that I could plan a trip for mid September and hope for the best, but wondered how other, wiser individuals plan such a trip.

Don’t know about being any wiser, but the river levels on the Rio Grande are a bit unpredictable. The best flow usually occurs during late summer and fall when Mexico releases water from reservoirs located on the Rio Conchos; provided there has been sufficient rainfall during the year. I think last year was the first year in several that this has happened. So a September trip has potential for success. I agree with Al on the scheduling, personally it gets to cold for my thin blood on the rio past Octoberish.

I would suggest asking the outfitter of your choice “what is the minimum river level (and at which gauge) will they sponsor an overnight raft trip?” For Santa Elena the gauge is Castolon or perhaps Lajitas.

Then it is a matter of keeping an eye on the river and hope there is sufficient water when you arrive. Having a plan B is always good. What little exploring I have done in BiBe and BBRSP has been because the river was to low.

Rio Grande at Castolon

Rio Grande at Lajitas

[BigBendAg88]

Thanks for the feedback.
I will tentatively plan for Aug-Sep trip. 
If it works out -- fine; otherwise I will go with plan B somewhere in BBRSP or BBNP.
Eventually I will get to travel the full length of the canyon, until then, I will bide my time.

Bill

[Hoodoo]

Thanks for the feedback.
I will tentatively plan for Aug-Sep trip. 

I would include Oct. in your plan, some of my best trips have been in Oct. If the weather is agreeable it is great, if a front passes through it is typically a bit chilly in the morning, but by noonish it warms up nicely. But of course as they say in the stock market, past performance does not guarantee future results. 

[deadlizard]

I second the October suggestion.  Cooler on the river and still a good chance to catch good flows.  This past Oct had excellent flows pretty much the entire month.

For whatever reason, the USGS does not maintain much of a presence in the lower Rio Grande although they do maintain a height only gauge near Castalon.  Also
for whatever reason, the historical data is non-standard with queries only valid for one year.
http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08374550&agency_cd=USGS

IWBC has data, but it is in metric units and not kept current.
http://www.ibwc.state.gov/wad/flowdata.htm
http://www.ibwc.state.gov/wad/rio_grande.htm

I've done quite a bit of work crunching numbers, trends, histograms, and tea leaves to get the best odds on running a bigger boat from Redfield to Langtry this year.  In the end, I've decided with the drought it's just a crap shoot.  If the water is up you get to go, otherwise do something else.

[dave2]

Hello, deadlizard. If you haven't read The Tecate Diaries you realy ought to check it out.  Describes float from Redford to the Gulf.

[deadlizard]

Hello, deadlizard. If you haven't read The Tecate Diaries you realy ought to check it out.  Describes float from Redford to the Gulf.

Dave2,

Interesting that Keith Bowden, the author of 'The Tecate Diaries' is actually a member of BigBendChat.  I've never seen him post but I know he does read this boating forum.

We've exchanged quite a few emails and photos about running the Rio.  In a bit of a fix concerning the book.  I have it but am torn between reading it before or during the trip.  Have read the web summaries/extracts from it though.

My trip is currently in hold mode due to work.  Supposed to have been laid off in January after 26 years on the job.  Being kept on the payroll as an insurance policy in case the outsourcing hits a rock.

[jeffblaylock]

I would include Oct. in your plan, some of my best trips have been in Oct.

SHANEA and I went on a guided day-trip through Santa Elena in early October, and it was great -- even a little hot with the sun bearing down. Water flow was good, raising the pulse a bit through the Rockslide (although it's nothing compared to anything they have in Colo, Wyo, Idaho, or Ore). We passed by the main overnight campsites, and it looked like everyone was having a blast (except the tour guides, who were feverishly setting up a kitchen and cooking).