Bring inflatable kayak for day trips?

[Howler]

Hello,

I have been camping and backpacking in BBNP several times and have always enjoyed it.  We are heading down there again next week and I was considering bringing my two Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks. 

I've been reading and looking at some of the pictures and the river looks deeper and swifter than I've seen it.  I've waded into the river by the Hot springs and it was pretty shallow.

My question is, is it worth bringing the kayaks along?  Are there any easy spots to put in to do a quick afternoon paddle?  I'd really like to see the Saint Elena Canyon, can you put in right next to the canyon and float through and back?  I don't want to have to hire a shuttle.

My kayaking experience has been limited to North Texas Lakes and the Guadalupe river so not looking for anything to difficult.

Thanks!

[presidio]

Are there any easy spots to put in to do a quick afternoon paddle?  I'd really like to see the Saint Elena Canyon, can you put in right next to the canyon and float through and back?  I don't want to have to hire a shuttle.

Unless you want to piddle around up or downstream of the canyons (not too appealing for the effort involved vs. the return), any real trip is going to involve a shuttle, with one exception. That is to put in at the Santa Elena takeout and paddle upstream to Fern Canyon then float back to the takeout.

The full Santa Elena trip is not easy and may be quite difficult depending on water conditions. The Santa Elena put-in is outside the park.

Boquillas is a long trip down to the La Linda takeout and I really have no idea as to how feasible it would be to paddle into Boquillas and then turn around against the river. It would depend on water flow. Might be easy, might be impossible. The La Linda takeout is outside the park and doing that canyon would involve the greatest amount of driving and coordination to achieve.

Mariscal is a 10 mile float with almost no issues, but you do need two vehicles or a shuttle. If you park along the river in remote places like Talley or Solis, and are obviously gone from the area, be aware that vehicle break-ins do occur and are not necessarily an infrequent event.

Don't forget you need permits  and, depending on the current interpretations of hysteria that is called 'border security'    may need your passport.

[aggiehiker]

Don't know how long your inflatable is, but you can do Santa Elena easily in a day. If you've done the Guad, you can handle Santa Elena. The only problem is it's mostly flatwater and takes a long time to paddle in a short boat.

Colorado Canyon is another good canyon with some rapids you can easily handle in an inflatable. Both canyons however will require a shuttle or a long hike back.

[harold]

You could put in just up from the Hot Springs and float to Rio Grande Village. The hike back would be fairly interesting and only 3 miles. Just be sure to check the take out at RGV, so you recognize it from the river. We missed it once on a Mariscal Trip and had to hitch hike back from Boquillas crossing.

[presidio]

You could put in just up from the Hot Springs and float to Rio Grande Village. The hike back would be fairly interesting and only 3 miles. Just be sure to check the take out at RGV, so you recognize it from the river. We missed it once on a Mariscal Trip and had to hitch hike back from Boquillas crossing.

Good suggestion. I didn't think of that. Even though it's not a huge canyon, the float would be interesting.

[Howler]

Thanks for your replies everyone.  I emailed the park rangers as well and they said that the river is very low so I think I'll just bring along the kayaks and give it a try.  I am going to try to do the boomerang trip through Santa Elena.  I'll let you know how it goes!

[Mikel G]

The missus and I were just at Big Bend, and we used our SeaEagle330 like this:

- Paddled upstream from the mouth of Sta. Elena to Fern Canyon. A ranger said this was 4 miles, but I'd say less. Nevertheless, it took us about 6 hours, including an exploration of Fern Cyn. The water, being low, is either slow or shallow at any given spot. We dragged the boat many times; perhaps 20% of the total trip length.

- Left the boat at Gravel Pit #4 campsite; drove the van to the upstream end (picnic area) of Rio Village. Walked via Hot Spring trail to HS parking area; down into the Tornillo Creek wash; upstream until we found the 'social trail' that ends up at Gravel Pit #2. We did briefly lose this trail halfway, but it was still a pleasant walk. Got to campsite, ate lunch, paddled back down to the van.

Up until Tornillo, the river is deep and slow. No dragging, and no shade. Nice fast water at Tornillo (keep right) and just at the hot spring (keep left). After that, a few minor scrapes thru Hot Spring Canyon. Very scenic. Appreciated the decision to hike earlier, hit the water later. This was about 4-5 miles hiking and an equal distance on the river.

- Paddled up-and-back (about a mile) from Gravel Pit, at the end of a hot day. Lots of waterfowl. Pleasant bends and gravel bars.